I agree, Flat base or bullets with simple boattail designs are easier to get to shoot well. Agressive boattail designs like the vld type bullets require more headache to get to shoot well.
I have had an idea all day why the cutting edge bullets shot so well out of my 338-378 this morning. I think it could be the bore alignment band cut into the ce bullets. It is a larger diameter band that lines the bullet up with the bore as it travels into the lands. therefore in the freebore chamber it should shoot better by keeping the bullet lined up with the lands as it enters the barrel. The CE bullet is a very agressive design with extreme bc's. It should be hard to shoot in a freebore rifle however it does great in mine. Maybe it is the band.
Barnes bullets and the CE bullet like to be seated off the lands so they are a natural fit for the wby rifles. I am trying them in my 338 RUM later this week.