Re: Boattail....not always the best!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: boltgunluvr</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Daniel308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd say that it depends on the distance that one plans on shooting.
Flat base may be superior for short range.
Boat tail is superior at long range. </div></div>
My point is if a BT bullet isn't providing good accuracy...... what's the point! Forget all about BC/Drag...it's meaningless when one's gun won't shoot worth a damn. If it isn't accurate at 100, it's worse at 500, 1000, etc. Why waste any more time & money on BTs when one's gun won't shoot it well. </div></div>
You're exaggerating the effect on the boat tail. A BT bullet is still going to be very accurate, heck, my BT 200gr. TTSX shoot better than my FB 200gr. TSX, like I said, it depends on the rifle and rounds used. With the correct crown (one that deflects the gases outward) the BT WILL be more accurate than the FB, as in my rifle's case. Here is a reason why BT are more accurate at long range:
flat bases tend to warp when fired, due to the inertia of the mass as its being fired, some of the mass bulges at the base. The picture showcases some extreme cases of this, but the one on the left is more common. As you can see, the BT doesn't have this kind of bulge, or at least its not dramatic enough to have any sort of effect.
What this means is that initially the FB will be very accurate, you have the rifling to thank for that. As the round continues through its trajectory, the bulge begins to destabilize the round, causing it to be less accurate at longer range. The BT doesnt suffer from this, so even though it initially may not be as accurate (were talking a very miniscule difference in accuracy, but that difference may vary depending on rifle), the BT will be more stable the further out it is shot, and thus why it is more accurate at long range.