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Grant Super Member
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 325 Location: Grande Prairie, Alberta
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PaulS Super Member
Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 4330 Location: South-Eastern Washington - the State
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:40 pm Post subject: Re: Boat Tail vs Spitzer |
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In my 30-'06 the boat tails have proven to be a lot more accurate than flat base bullets. They tend to be a little more finicky about the load but once you get that load right you are rewarded with very accurate ammo. My groups went from just under an inch (.88" average) with 165 grain spitzer to .62" average groups with 165 grain spitzer boat-tails. The best group using these bullets was just under 1/2". This is not from a target or custom rifle but from an old 03A3 that was sporterized forty-four years ago. It shoots these 5/8" groups all the time even though the throat is so long that you can't load the bullet even close to the lands. The issue mark is 1942 and this is a Remington made Springfield rifle. If mine can shoot this well most any rifle off the shelf should be capable of better.
_________________ Paul
__________________
Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon, Sierra, and Hornady = reliable loading data
So and So's pages on the internet = NOT reliable loading data
Always check data against manuals
NEVER exceed maximum listed loads |
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bradking1 Member
Joined: Mar 03, 2005 Posts: 53
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:19 am Post subject: Re: Boat Tail vs Spitzer |
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i have had good luck with both...typically though, the boat tail's will shoot a little flatter than a flat base. with that being said you also typically get better penetration and higher weight retention with a flat base. as for accuracy i really haven't seen anything to really sway my choice towards the boat tail or flat base...basically i will pick the bullet and make it shoot. all my rifles shoot way under MOA. some with flat base bullets and some with boat tails.
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Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11393 Location: Ava, Missouri
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:09 am Post subject: Re: Boat Tail vs Spitzer |
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PaulS...Have you done any work with the boat tailed hollow point in 165 grain? I have found that they are quite accurate in my .30-06 A-Bolt. Only thing I don't know is if they will open up on game. I've been playing with Sierra BTHP.
_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
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4rum Member
Joined: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 211
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:12 am Post subject: Re: Boat Tail vs Spitzer |
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I've used both. I've had MORE success with boat tails... but there have been guns that shot better with the flat base. You didn't really say if you are reloading or buying manufactured ammo. If you reload there is NO reason NOT to try a box of boat tails. Wring 'em out on paper, then if satisfied, WHACK something with them. Boat tails seem to perform well for me in both accuracy and terminal ballistics.
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Grant Super Member
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 325 Location: Grande Prairie, Alberta
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4rum Member
Joined: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 211
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:03 pm Post subject: Re: Boat Tail vs Spitzer |
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If memory serves, the last Whitetail I took with a 250/3000 (.250 Savage) was with the excellent Sierra 90 grain, hollow point, boat tail, pro hunter.
Believe me... to this day... that deer is still dead!
My standard load in the .270 Win for years was.
54.9grains of WW760 powder
130 Grain Sierra Spitzer Boat tail
WWStandard/Magnum Primer
Fed brass
This load was taken from the Hornady manual. I don't recall the edition. It is at or near maximum. Start substantially lower and work up to this charge, carefully watching for signs of pressure.
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1895ss Super Member
Joined: Jul 21, 2005 Posts: 2612 Location: Not Here...!!
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4rum Member
Joined: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 211
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 6:15 am Post subject: Re: Boat Tail vs Spitzer |
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The little .250 shot them great and they performed beautifully in it. Tissue damage was very near identical to that of my .243 with 100 grain spitzer boat tails. This 90 grain bullet was in the 'Pro-hunter' series and at 250 velocities it did probably as well as the 117 grain loadings that I had been using.
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PaulS Super Member
Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 4330 Location: South-Eastern Washington - the State
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:20 am Post subject: Re: Boat Tail vs Spitzer |
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Bushmaster wrote: |
PaulS...Have you done any work with the boat tailed hollow point in 165 grain? I have found that they are quite accurate in my .30-06 A-Bolt. Only thing I don't know is if they will open up on game. I've been playing with Sierra BTHP. |
Bushmaster,
The only boat tail Hollow point that i have ever fired through my guns was a Sierra 168 gr BTHP target bullet. I did it on the recomendation of a buddy who said he used 'em for hunting. They were accurate - No doubt about that - the smallest groups with any bullet were fired with those but after talking to Sierra and my buddy a bit more I decided I didn't want to use a bullet that penciled through game. The only bullet that Speer offers in boat tail at 165 gr is a spitzer with exposed lead. There is no reason a hollow point that was made as a hunting bullet wouldn't work and open up nice too. If it is a Sierra bullet you can call them and they will be straight with you. My brother shoots a couple of Sierra bullets in BTHP and is extremely happy with the results. His crtridges are 6mm TCU and 308 Win. Anything out of a rifle he needs to use a Sierra bullet - Thats all well and good but I have always had excellent results from the Speer bullets and after 36 years it is hard for me to change. I do use some Sierra bullets but I try Speer first and resort to more expensive only if I can't get the Speer to do the job. John's funny - his rifles shoot Sierra but in his pistols he shoots Hornady and Speer and won't think of using the Sierra bullets. Kids! can't teach 'em nothin'! As long as it works for him I won't fight it. He's tougher than me and a better hunter. Wish I could be of more help.
_________________ Paul
__________________
Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon, Sierra, and Hornady = reliable loading data
So and So's pages on the internet = NOT reliable loading data
Always check data against manuals
NEVER exceed maximum listed loads |
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