I've seen on this forum, as well as other places, the reference to flat base bullets hitting harder than boattails. The train of thought goes something like this... "Boattails give you less wind deflection and greater long range accuracy, but flat base bullets hit harder."

Could someone explain this to me, please

Ryan

I've seen on this forum, as well as other places, the reference to flat base bullets hitting harder than boattails. The train of thought goes something like this... "Boattails give you less wind deflection and greater long range accuracy, but flat base bullets hit harder."


Could someone explain this to me, please

Ryan

Of the same caliber, a bullet weighing X grains traveling at Y fps will hit with the same energy regardless of the shape of the base of the bullet.

I'm not sure anyone has ever said they hit harder. Think most agree that the advantage of a boattail only shows up at a longer distance. Some folks think the flat base seals a bit better in the bore, but that's conjecture.

It boils down to accuracy, and at ranges not exceeding 300 yds, the flat base probably does as good a job as a boattail. I know certain rifles of mine have a tendency to prefer one or the other. Just have to sort the wheat from the chaff. :D

I've shot both over a number of years and to tell the truth bullet construction seems to play a bigger part in the very subjective how hard a bullet hits than bullet base design given bullets of the same weight.

I agree with kdub in that I've not heard folks saying they hit harder. The bullet I've used most is a Sierra 220 grain boattail in my 8mm Rem mag and now the Hornedy SST's which are also a boattail in the 280 Remington.

Well, I can't say I've heard that one.

BT Bullets do retain energy a TINY bit better, but on any given shot, the difference is not likely to be enough to make or break a shot.

They shoot flatter according to the numbers. But the difference is so small that most shooters can't see it from a bench, much less from offhand or a sitting position.

They will, in some designs spit the core more frequently, but not always.
They might, shoot better with some loads than flat base bullets, but not always.

BT's score better on fat wallets than they do on critters most of the time.

It depends:)

I thought the differences were associated with stability and trajectory. A flat based bullet will stabilize faster than a boat tail bullet of equivalent weight but a boat tail will have a flatter trajectory than the flat base because of the higher ballistic coeficient.

I don't believe that flat base bullets hit any harder if the velocity is the same.

But, I do believe that flat nose, wide meplat, or round nose bullets hit harder if all else is equal. If your shooting of big game is going to be under a couple of hundred yards, specifically if you're going to be in the "woods" or "timber" where shots are short and quick, then consider flat or round nose bullets. They transfer a lot of energy on target quickly. The old timers really know what they are talking about....

hope everyone is doing well.........

The only sense in which a flat base bullet may be said to "hit harder" that I can think of is that boattails tend, at high velocity, to shed their jackets a bit quicker than flat base bullets. This can certainly compromise terminal performance, but is not really usually a major concern.

If your shooting of big game is going to be under a couple of hundred yards, specifically if you're going to be in the "woods" or "timber" where shots are short and quick, then consider flat or round nose bullets.

I never leave for a hunt far away without a backup rifle. Learned that the hard way.

Over the years I've made it a point to have a peep sight on the backup. Way better on a rainy day. Learned that the hard way too.

Because all my backups are equipped with a peep, I always load a RN for that rifle. And over the years, I've shot a fair amount of game with RN bullets. They work just fine, but I can't honestly say they perform any better on game.

But every rifle I own, shoots extremely good groups, and often the best groups with a RN bullet. ???

In my experience-Flat nose/RN bullets seem to open up a little quicker and they do seem to hit harder. Maybe it's just my impression, but it's what I've watched. The exit holes seem to be larger as well. Oh well, thank God for so many choices in bullets and calibers.....something for everyone!

Ive only heard this concerning the Yugo AK ammo in 7.62x39. Most AK47 ammo has a BT and just makes a hole. The Yugo ammo is designed to flip over and penetrate with the flat base first like a wadcutter.

I think the flat nose thing is more obvious with slow moving bullets which aren't going to open up anyway.

I've never heard the hit harder myself either. I have heard that about flat nose and wide meplat bullets though. I seem to, for the most part, get better accuracy with flat base bullets though. Exceptions being the Nosler Accubond and CT Ballistic Silvertip.

Actually, I must admit that I do not understand what "hits harder" really means. Does it kill the animal deader? Does it kill the animal deader faster? Is it just a way of expressing something that can't be measured? Especially since there are endless variables in bullet construction, animal shot, range/velocity and on and on.

Aside from that, in the olden days, the standard flat base bullets was considered to hold together better than the standard boat tail bullet. That is in game. I doubt that holds much water with our modern bullets.

Thanks for the replies. Can't give an exact quote or thread without research, but it didn't make sense to me, either.

the thought has to do with the air being disturbed around and especially being pulled behind the bullet
a very real part of what happens inside an animal.


runfiver

i could see how a flat base bullet might cause more truama in ballistic gelatin if it is of a construction that does not expand at all due to more turbulents behind it as the matter slams shut to fill the vacume but probably not by much and definately not in an expanding bullet

have you ever pullrd up behind a diesel on the freeway?
now compare that to a buick riviera,
a cast bullet with more grease grooves also benefits from this when it is super-sonic
[above @1100 fps]
look at shadowgraph pictures of bullets in flight you will see all kinds
of air doing strange things this also contributes to that stuff flying out the back issue.