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Thread: Boattail pistol bullets

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold 10mm Witness's Avatar
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    Boattail pistol bullets

    The name says it all. Thoughts? I would think if it's good for rifle bullets it's good for pistols as well, given the pistol bullet is being pushed supersonic which is above 1128 fps. Also that there is enough base of the bullet to create the beveled edge required and it does not encroach on the pressure ring space.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master



    skeettx's Avatar
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    Another word for boattail pistol bullets is bevel base bullets and there are lots of them.
    The only use is for easier seating, not a performance issue.
    Mike

    http://www.atgreloading.com/t891-fla...s-for-handguns
    NRA Benefactor 2004 USAF RET 1971-95

  3. #3
    Banned Bullshop Junior's Avatar
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    The main reason to shoot boat tail bullets in a rifle is to give the bullet less drag (higher BC) in a pistol we are not usually shooting far enough to make a huge differance.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bullshop Junior View Post
    The main reason to shoot boat tail bullets in a rifle is to give the bullet less drag (higher BC) in a pistol we are not usually shooting far enough to make a huge differance.
    Yup. You are not shooting with them far enough to make a big difference.
    "Consequently we move away from other shooters to remain focused on our passion, as our ideas are quickly dismissed or misunderstood by others. Sharing does not come easily for swagers, not because they are necessarily selfish, but because they have been whittling away in their only little world for so long, that being able to relate to others what they understand is no simple task."

    ​Mentor



  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    A couple of years back I undertook the project of making some cast lead bullets for a .45 caliber air rifle I had just bought. I thought that a Boat-Tail bullet would help with the exterior ballistics so I did some research on the subject.

    As has been already stated, the general velocities and distances that pistol bullets are shot at would show negligible increases in performance by incorporating a Boat-Tail into the design. However, there should be no negative consequences to utilizing a Boat-Tailed rear end on pistol bullets.

    Of course there will always be those who will want to mention that the extended length that a Boat-Tail might impart, could cut down on the case capacity and thereby possibly effect velocity. I say, "So What."

    During the course of my informal research into this subject I did find more than one official research study that indicated that pistol bullets with Boat-Tailed bases did tend to be inherently more ballistically superior to similar pistol bullets with plain bases.

    Before posting this reply I did try to find those resources/links but I can't remember the exact working I used in my initial internet search that brought up those results. I'll keep looking. If I find them again I'll edit this post to include those findings.

    Incidentally, I ended up selling my .45 caliber air rifle and the bullet mold was converted into something else. I do remember posting pics of that particular bullet mold on this website. I think it was in the "Special Projects" section.

    HollowPoint

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check