Boat Tail Bullets – The Specialized Rifle Bullet

As shooters we focus on many things – muzzle velocity, the effects of gravity, trajectory, bullet energy, even shooting technique – but the reality is that when we fire a round, all of these things become a battle between the round and the pressure of the air. How the bullet handles the air around it impacts the accuracy, speed, and impact it has should it reach its target. That is true whether you are shooting a bullet with a full metal jacket, a composite, or a regular type of projectile. Boat tail bullets have a way of dealing with the air around them so that they shoot truer at longer ranges.

Note – While many shooters use the terms round and bullet interchangeably, that will not work for this article. A round is a complete package – primer, powder, casing, and bullet. The bullet is the tip of the round and the projectile.

Advantages of a Boat Tail Bullets

Are there advantages to using boat tail bullets? There are. They include:

A Flatter Trajectory in comparison to flat-bottom bullets – There is less wind resistance so the bullet flies straighter with less of an arc. That means that the bullet travels less distance between the barrel of the rifle and the target.

Improved Impact – there is more energy at impact with a boat tail bullet than with a flat-bottom bullet. The boat tail travels less distance because it handles air pressure much easier than a flat-bottom bullet.

Higher Ballistic Coefficient – The taper on the back of the boat tail bullet means there is less air drag and that the shape of the bullet has an easier time slicing through the air. A higher ballistic coefficient means boat tail ammunition has less resistance in the air, has higher velocity, a flatter trajectory, and with greater energy at impact.

Lower Wind Deflection – The more aerodynamic design of high ballistic coefficient bullets means wind and air have less impact on the direction of the bullet. the result is a truer flight path with a faster time to target and greater impact at the target. Wind can blow bullets off target and air can slow bullets down.

AIR VS. WIND

It is important to understand that air and wind are different. A cross wind can push your bullet to the side. Air (we talk about air density a lot in shooting) can slow down the bullet so that the forces of gravity have more impact – gravity being the force that pushed the bullet down during its flight.

TIP DESIGN

Also of note is the bullet design at the tip. A hollow point can create an air dam causing greater resistance and a soft point may flex during its trajectory and cause the bullet to slow. Both have advantages in handguns and pistols and during some situations when you shoot a hollow point or soft point with a rifle.

Note: It becomes important to consider the final impact – what you want the bullet to do once fired. Hollow point and soft point bullets may do greater damage at the target but may also fly differently than a boat tail with high BC. Since you are likely self-loading, you have many options to “concoct” different recipes of rounds based on your needs as a shooter.

Common Applications for Boat Tail Bullets

Hunting – A perfect option for a long-range hunting bullet, such as for goats or elk that are skittish. They also mean more options for taking down smaller predators at long distances such as coyotes, pigs, and wolves. Hollow point boat tail bullets can be impressive for larger game animals such as elk or moose.

Competitive Shooting – the increased BC and the flatter trajectory make the boat tail a good option for competitive shooting. While accuracy may suffer due to the boat tail’s relationship with the barrel and gasses, it is far more stable in the air and that can mean all the difference in various shooting conditions.

Range Training – usually a full metal jacket boat tail is ideal for range training. The flatter trajectory and the tapered bullet base mean less base drag and higher muzzle energy.

WHY NOT BOAT TAILS FOR REVOLVERS AND HANDGUNS?

The primary reason why boat tails are kind of wasted on handgun and revolver shooters is that the distance to the target with either gun is so short. You will not likely get the same wind interference or air dam effect in a short target that you will with a long-distance target.