I've been thinking to switching bullet types in my 270 and my 250-3000. I've been reading a lot about how much more accurate boat tails are, especially down range, over spitzer bullets. Less effected by wind drift, less drop and so on. Anyone used both in the same rifle? and what were the results? Any draw backs to the boat tails as far as killing performance?

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.

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.

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'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.

I guess I didn't say, I am reloading my own. I'm not going to switch from Speer Grand Slams in my 7mm cause they are very accurate and put down game very well. I just thought I'd get a little better accuracy in my 270 and 250-3000. I shoot Sierra 174 grain Match King boat tails in my 303 and they are very accurate. Thanx for the info all, I guess I'll go buy some boat tails and try them out.

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.

4rum, those 90 gr sierra HPBT may work fine on deer at 250-3000 velocities but I can tell you from experience that they do not work shot out of a 25-06 at near max velocity. I had some loaded in my 25-06 years ago when I first got my 25-06 and they exploded on a whitetail when they touched hair. The buck went down on the second shot but it was not a pretty sight. I came home that night and pulled them all (100 or so) and loaded something heavier for mule deer a week later. They were super accurate but too fragile. Like I said that was many years ago and if your in town come get them, I still have about 150 of them taking up space.

By the way I shot a coyote with them at approx 100 yrds and the yote blew up so bad there wasn't much useful hide left. What a mess ........

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.

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.