Ammunition Question?

Question

This is going to sound like I'm stupid, but I'm going to ask it anyway.
I do a good deal of shooting, I currently own a Remington 700 BDL .30-06, and a Winchester Model 70 Carbine .243Win. I also have, in my possesion a Marlin Model 60 .22LR and a Marlin 336C .35 Remington. I was also a 2nd Award Expert in the Marine Corps. Having said that. Can anyone tell me what a 'boat tail' means when applied to rifle cartridges? I know that it is the shape of the rear of the bullet, but no one can tell me how that affects it's performance. Answers are great, references are better. Thank you.

I do LOVE the Remington. This one is about a 1982, and belonged to my father. Excellent rifle. The Winchester is the Carbine (short) model, and the light .243 was perfect for me when it was pucrhcased when I was about 11, but now it just feels too small, although it is still a sharp shot. I plan to hold onto it for my children, one day.

Answer 1

A 'boat-tail design has a tapered base, instead of a flat base. The tapered base reduces micro-turbulence at the base of the bullet, making it more stable in flight than an equal size 'flat base' bullet.
The U.S.M.C. Shooting team use (or did) 162gr, Sierra hollow-point boat-tail design bullets in custom hand-loaded Match grade 7,62 NATO ammunition, almost exclusively.
http://www.loaddata.com

Answer 2

Alright Devil Dog, let this Zoomie school you on something! A boat tail bullet does refer to the shape but more importantly the design stabalizes the bullet in flight. Think of the wind drag on a boat tail versus a "flat back" bullet. On a boat tail the wind is cut and tapers to the rear of the bullet where as on a flat backed bullet there is some drag and a little turbulence if you will. Also for penetration and density upon impact a boattail willhold together much better. An excellent choice for long range target shooting and hunting loads. Good Luck and let me know what you think! Take Care Brother!

Answer 3

Another area of debate, the boat tail bullet. It came about originally as a brainchild idea that for long range stability the tapering of a boat tail would reduce drag or vacuum and let the bullet slip through the air easier. AKA, notice how a vehicle with a flat back creates a vacuum that sucks the rear of the vehicle a nice covering of dirt, mud and dust? Some say it works and others don't and it will always be so. I have tested both and can't really notice any difference.

Answer 4

The design of the boat tail has no effect on the bullet until the bullet transitions back to a subsonic velocity, the tapered back allows it to remain more stable at this point then a flat base. At which point the flat base bullet will start to wobble.

If you load your own ammo the boat tail is easier to load and doesn't shear off like a flat base, this allows you to load the cartridge tighter in the neck of the shell.

As for over all accuracy, this is still debated. Many believe a flat base is more accurate at short to mid ranges and I have seen some of my own hand load support this. But then I do not have a area to shoot that is long enough in range for the bullet to transition to subsonic velocity. As with most rifle calibers this would be beyond 700 yards.

Answer 5

It supposed to make the bullet more aerodynamic. Its similar to the shape of an aircraft fuselage. BT bullets are the perfect answer for those longer shots. Compared to a flat base, the boat tail reduces drag. This allows BT bullets to achieve higher ballistic coefficiency so they will be less affected by wind conditions. And, BT bullets also shoot flatter than flat base bullets.
Try this web link for reference or do a google search for more info.

Answer 6

Boat Tail is the kind of bullet you want when you know you will be hunting at long range, and that is what it was made for. It just keeps it's energy, velocity, and trajectory a little bit better downrange. Love those two models you own.

Answer 7

Bound's hubby here:

You have two basic types of bullets, flat base and boat tail. Think of when you were a kid, sitting in back of your parent's station wagon with the back window down and you could hear the wind as you were driving, sucking in behind the car and anything you tossed out the window kind of dropping without fluttering. That station wagon experience would be much like how a flat base bullet performs. A boat tail bullet performs much like an old Formula 1 Indy race car by eliminating the drag like you would experience in the station wagon example. As a result boat tail bullets can be counted on to have a greater range with a greater retained muzzle velocity and muzzle energy than flat base bullets. Generally, boat tail bullets require less windage and elevation adjustment than flat base bullets.

Best of luck.

Answer 8

The tapered base of the boattail bullet is more aerodynamic and gives you a better ballistic coefficient at velocities around Mach I. It really doesn't make a notable difference as long as the velocity is over Mach 1.1 or so, but if you're into long-range shooting it may make a bit of a difference at range.

Answer 9

Boat tail bullets are more accurate because of their unique shape, particularly in the back of the bullet, therefore they are much more consistent and accurate than the ordinary bullets*... I prefer them for hunting*...

Answer 10

I dont know to be honest, just saw the gun question and wanted to read what you were asking... I like guns....and love we have the right to bear em/..........peace buddy