Bullet depth in sabots?

alleyyooper · 12-30-2006, 09:17 AM

Sabotloader made a statement a while back on a post about how deep a bullet sets in a sabot. I had never gave it a thought till then. Now I wonder just who has did test on it? Just how deep should bullet set in a sabot. For my 54 they set flush at the top of the T/C mag express sabot. In the 50 they stick out of the old green MMP sabots about an 1/8 inch.

Al

cayugad · 12-30-2006, 09:31 AM

All I worry about is that the petals of the sabot cover the bearing surface of the projectile. I do not need them over the nose of the projectile as that seems to make little to no difference. Also I like the projectile to sit flush to the bottom. Yet the blue sabots and their 10mm bullets seem to ride a little high in the sabot, but the accuracy is excellent.

lemoyne · 12-30-2006, 09:35 AM

I use two different lengths of sabot don't seem to make a lot of difference on the point end of the bullet but I am careful about the base it needs to be down on the base. One of the fellows that was getting ready for muzzle loading season at our range was having accuracy problems with the new 700 dollar encore when I watched him load he was just droping the bullet in the sabot and ramming it down after we worked on loading and swabbing for a while and made sure the bullet was seated properly and the sabot was turned the same every time he went from 5 inch groups to 1.5 in less than 30 min. with out changing bullet or powder. Lee

sabotloader · 12-30-2006, 11:21 AM

alleyyooper

I only use the one size sabot for 45's the HPH-24... we I load the smaller 250 hornadys they do sit below the petals of the sabot. I do not trim the sabot because I don not think I could trim them equally or with the correct angle. My jag does not scar or marr the sabot it fit neatly inside on top of the bullet and pushes the whole works down. I do not see any loss of accuracy... the whole key is IF the sabot comes off the bullet equally and early and they seem to work for me. Hence for me length does not matter. Each sabot is usually designed for a certain weight bullet...

Sizes Available
Color Code
Bullet Possibilities
Recommended
Deer Bullet

36 Cal. Rifle
.311 - .314 Bullet
Grey

70 - 90 Grains
None

45 Cal. Rifle
.355 - .357 Bullet
Blue

88 - 180 Grains
140 - 158 Grains

45 Cal. Rifle
.400 - .400 Bullet
Tan

150 - 200 Grains
150 - 200 Grains

50 Cal. Rifle
.429 - .430 Bullet
Green

180 - 265 Grains
180 - 240 Grains

50 Cal. Rifle
.451 - .452 Bullet
Black

185 - 300 Grains
225 - 300 Grains

Savage Shooters,
this is the
Sabot Savage
Recommends

54 Cal. Rifle
.429 - .430 Bullet
White

180 - 300 Grains
180 - 240 Grains

54 Cal. Rifle
.451 - .452 Bullet
Red

185 - 300 Grains
225 - 300 Grains

54 Cal. Rifle
.500 - .500 Bullet
Purple

325 - 600 Grains
325 - 425 Grains

58 Cal. Rifle
.451 - .452 Bullet
Grey

185 - 300 Grains
225 - 300 Grains

Do not know if any of this helps...

Catus Magnus · 12-30-2006, 01:27 PM

I do believe the bullet should be seated all the way down in the sabot - no space between base of bullet and sabot.

sabotloader · 12-30-2006, 01:36 PM

Catus Magnus

And I should have added that point also.... even the 10mm although they do not seat at the bottom when you put then into the blue sabot - they willseat themselves as you push the the load to the bottom...

alleyyooper · 12-30-2006, 02:26 PM

I had just got to wondering when you (sabotloader)told me that the 230 HP XTP I was useing in the 54 cal. T/C mag express sabots might be a BC problem.
They did shoot great for me though. Not sure I'll get to shoot the Gold Dots I bought a few weeks ago even thought the Daughter has left for home. Haven't even had time to set any bullets in sabots sent to me to try.

I did collect a bunch of thick Phone books for that time.

Al

sabotloader · 12-30-2006, 02:54 PM

alleyyooper

Quote:

I had just got to wondering when you (sabotloader)told me that the 230 HP XTP I was useing in the 54 cal. T/C mag express sabots might be a BC problem.

I am not sure of what I might have been thinking whenI suggested that BC might be a problem... Is that bullet a 230 grain or 240 grain? I thought you were shoot 44 cal 240's??? (which has probably shot more deer than any other bullet shot from a ML.)

The only 230 grain Hornady that I found was a pure lead bullet...

I am thinking that what I might have been concerned with is the BC and the SD of the 240 as compared to the BC & SD of the Gold Dot...

44 Cal. HP-XTP
[align=right]44200[/align]

Diameter
Weight
Ballistics Coefficient
Sectional Density

.430"
240 gr.
0.205
0.185

45 Revolver Golt Dot HP 454 Casull

Part Number
Caliber

Weight Grain
Weight Gram
Construction

3974
45 Revolver
300
19.44
Uni-Cor

Use
Bullet Coefficient
Sectional Density
Diameter Inches
Diameter mm
Box Count

10
0.233
0.21
0.452
11.481
52[size=2]53

This shows the BC and the SD higher on the Gold Dot + the other positive of the bullet - it is bonded and the lead will not strip out of the copper....

I wish I had also sent you some Noslers for your phone book test... I am really positive they would have penetrated the most. The 300 would have gone in further because of less expansion - the 250 would have gone in deeper that the 300 Nosler, and have greater expansion.

I THINK the Gold Dots will expand more and quicker than either of the Noslers, but will not penetrate as deep. i THINK..

mike

alleyyooper · 12-31-2006, 04:58 PM

In the 50 Cals except the Hawkins I am shooting in the green MMP sabots the .430 44cal240gr. Hornaday HP XTP's.
The Hawkins I shoot .490 PRB.

The 54Cal has a good mix,.451 45 cal 230gr.Hornaday HP XTP's in the red MMP sabots and the orange T/C mag express sabots.
.451 45cal 240gr XTPin T/C blue breakaways.
.430 44cal 240gr. Hornaday HP XTPin the white Hornaday sabot, T/C white break aways.

I also still have a few Nosler .430 44cal JHP partitions I was shooting from the MMP green sabots out of my 50 cal plains rifle and the white T/C breakaway sabots. I really liked these bullets but at $48.00 Plus I find them to costly compaired to the less than $18.00 got the Hornadays and Speer Gold Dots.

Some day I want to try some Serria Hot Cores if the price is in the $18.00 range.

SHills · 12-31-2006, 08:57 PM

I have used the XTP's w/ great success but never tried the Gold Dots. In the law enforcement purchases of duty ammo I have seen Hyrdo Shok & GD as the two top sellers, then Golden Sabre. Federal came out w/ a new tactical bonded bullet that will make Hydro obsolete. It is premium HST. I never have tried to buy the bullets bare before, but I will check it out.
SHills