What do you prefer? Is there a certain distance you'll switch from flat base to boatail and vice-a-versa?

I'll go with what's most accurate in my rifle. However I have tended to be leary of boattail bullets for hunting. Years ago I shot a couple of deer with Hornady boattails. The bullets fragmented badly without getting much penetration. I went back to flatbase bullets for deer hunting. However, I have recently loaded up some Sierra Game Kings at moderate velocity. They are scarey accurate in my rifle. I'm hoping for a better experience this time around.

Whatever shoots best. Sometimes a flatbase will shoot better. But this usually indicates a barrel crown issue. The claim is boattails will be more affected by a crown damaged or milled badly.

but all that said, I usually prefer a boattail because of the increased BC's.

Myself, I perfer a flat based bullet, it seems to me in my experences anyway, that a boattail bullet tends to shed its jacket more frequently than a flat based bullet. Both are good however, I like Seirra Pro-Hunters, they are a flat based bullet that is extremely accurate, I use them in my 280 and my 30-06's, perfect mushrooms everytime. I cant find them for my 338, I use Seirra gamekings in it, they have worked fine so far, just wish they had some Pro-Hunters for it.

I've shot at least 2 a year with hornady boattails for the last 20+yrs, haven't lost any. Granted they are handloads, but boattails none the less. Spire point boattail interlock to be specific. Outstanding bullets at 20ys or 250yds, they perform very well.

There are several types of boattails.
1. standard cup and core bullets where the lead section extends into the boattail section of the bullet

2. same except the lead does not extend into the boattail section

3. bonded bullets with boat tails

4. Tsx and TTSX style.....again no lead in the rear section.

#1 is the only boattails I do not buy as there seems to be a real increase in separation of the lead core from the jacket.

As time goes on it seems I find myself shooting more Accubonds than anything....very high BC and they do not separate......superb accuracy too.

I tried those Nosler Accubonds in my 338 win. mag, tried working up different loads with different powders, never could get them to shoot to my satisfaction. I was useing 225gr. Accubonds in a Rem. 700 BDL. I havnt tried any in any of my other guns, but I know my 338 dont like them. The best bullet accuracy I get from it is with Sierra, Hornady and Speer Grand Slams. I was getting about 2" groups at 100 yards with the Accubonds, which doesnt cut it with me, I can shoot Sierra GameKings, Hornady Interlock SST, or Speer Grand Slams in the gun and consistently shoot under 1" groups all day. All guns are different, some guns will shoot certain bullets better than other guns will.

I doubt that it makes any difference at normal big game hunting ranges. I beleive that all of my varmit bullets are boattails.

I prefer BTs because I can use them both near and far with less compensation for drop/drift. I'm liking hornady SSTs because they're inexpensive and perform very well.

I prefer boattail bullets whenever I can for their superior balistics.

Bullet construction, like Vapodog mentioned, is also important for game hunting. As V said, thickened solid base is the only way to go, which I believe is true for ANY big game rifle bullet.