240 XTPs in New Englander

cherokee75 · 12-13-2007, 01:19 PM

Anyone have any first hand experience with this combo using the 240 XTP (.45 bullet)

cayugad · 12-13-2007, 02:19 PM

I've tried shooting sabots out of my 1-48 twists, but to be honest have not had as good of luck as some of the other shooters report. I find the best loads out of my New Englander is either roundball with a patch, or a conical. My New Englander likes the REAL conicals and maxiball.

Semisane · 12-13-2007, 02:22 PM

My .50 New Englander doesn't like sabots much. Shoots best with Lee R.E.A.L.s and Hornady Great Plains.

sabotloader · 12-13-2007, 02:26 PM

cherokee75

I have had really good luck shooting sabots out of a 1/48 twist but I do have to use heavier longer bullets - like a 300 grain .452 Gold Dot or XTP...

wabi · 12-13-2007, 02:51 PM

My NewEnglander likes a 350 grain .458 cast bullet in an MMP orange sabot.
Not much luck with lighter bullets in sabots.

cherokee75 · 12-13-2007, 03:03 PM

I was curious becasue I plan on going to the range before thelate season antlerless hunt in January. I have to sight in my rilfe anyway so I thought I might try the XTPs along with all teh other bullets I will be trying. I will probably end up going wiht jsut teh PRB or 370 Maxi-balls I alread have. I also have 1 348 grain copper jacketed Powerbelt bullet I am going to shoot since it has been sitting in my ML box for three years. Anyone ever use these in a New Englander?

smokepolehall · 12-13-2007, 05:59 PM

I haven't tried my N Englander yet, its been raining and high gusting winds since last sunday. I have a Grey Hawk with 1:48 thats almost a twin sister to them. I haven't shot it for groups either. I have shot gn. sabots with speer 240 jsp .429 Gold Dots and open sights. At 45/50 yds. i consistantly hit a playing card every time from a table using sandbags. 70 grs. of Pyro P.

Tahquamenon · 12-14-2007, 09:47 AM

The240 XTP/Sabotwill not shoot nearly as well as other projectiles do to the rifling being 1:48".

If you are looking for a hunting load for the T/C New Englander go with loose FFG powder (777 or Traditional Black (Swiss or Goex)(will have to find the right load somewhere between 70 and 110gr or so), .490 roundball, .15 ticking patch and a 50cal wad. Go with Dynamit Nobel RWS #1075percussion caps, simply superior in my view.

Load the powder, then the wad, the PRB.

Or I find that Hornady Great Plains 385gr on top of a 50cal wad are very accurate and lethal.

I have not tried a longer length bullet/sabot in a 1:48 twist barrel, but as Sabotloader mentioned and Ihave also heardthe longer saboted projectiles do tend to stabilize better than a shorter one in the 1:48 rifling.

The T/C New Englander is a wonderfull ML. I love mine (both of them)!

Tahquamenon