What sabots "fit" your optima?

MN_COMMANDER · 11-22-2009, 06:32 AM

I bought my Optima Pro last year and shot it a dozen times to "break" it in. I also got a good deal on 250 gr. Shockwaves with the black sabot, so it bought 5 packages. Long story short, even after swabbing, the second sabot is about impossible to load. I ended up using powerbelts over two pellets of T7.
Two questions:
1. Can i use a MMP or Harvester sabot with my remaining shockwaves? Any other ideas or suggestions?
2. I heard things about "conditioning" a barrel by swabbing. What or how is this done?
Thanks in advance!

lemoyne · 11-22-2009, 06:38 AM

It sounds like the typical problem with 777. Solution switch to BH209 or Pyrodex.
Also do the cotten ball test [push a cotten ball all the way down your barrel and check to see if little bits of it are hung up on rough spots in the barrel] if it fails the cotten ball test then get some JB's bore paste or some polishing compound and put it on a very tight patch and do 50 to 100 strokes puting on new compound every 3 to 5 strokes. Lee

sabotloader · 11-22-2009, 06:56 AM

MN_COMMANDER

You certainly have some options with different sabots... switching powder probably will not help you load bunch - it would eliminate the need of swabbing but the price of the BH powder might not be acceptable.

If you are using the black sabot that came with the bullet you are probably using an MMP HPH-24. The options that might work for are litsted below:

Harvester 5045SB Short Black sabot - might work - althought it really is about the same thickness

Harvester 5045CR Crush Rib sabot that is definitely thinner

MMP HPH-3p-EZ load a 3 petal Black Sabot that is the thinnest MMP

Hornady Low Drag Red sabot

TC also has an easy glide sabot for the Shock Waves..

Here is a picture of combinations and their measurements...

This chart might help you compare sabot diameters... You are probably going to need something in the .501 area...

MN_COMMANDER · 11-22-2009, 07:37 AM

SABOT LOADER-
Thanks for the info. The tight fit on the black saboted shockwaves seems to be pretty common. I thought that I would try BH209, but nobody around my area carries it.

MountainDevil54 · 11-22-2009, 08:17 AM

try a 245-250gr Hornady XTP in a short black mmp-12 sabot with 100-110gr Pyrodex RS and Winchester 777 primer or Winchester W209. If the crud in the bore is still bad, look for some CCI Inline MZL primers in the blue box.

lemoyne · 11-22-2009, 11:33 AM

When the sabot fits right on a clean barrel then there is something else wrong, a lot of use have had that problem with 777. Most people have to swab every shot if they use 777. If the first shot does not load as it should then you may well need to switch sabots. From your post it seemed like the problem was with the second shot, is that so? Lee
PS Pyrodex is also a good choice if you can not get Blackhorn. You will likely need to swab every 3 or 4th shot but thats much better for hunting than every shot. It may come down to how well your rifle groups with the sabot you are using a sabot that is to tight won't group one that is to loose won't either.

MN_COMMANDER · 11-22-2009, 03:20 PM

Lemoyne-
You are right. The first sabot goes in snug. Maybe just a little more snug that usual, but not really a problem. After being fired and swabed, it is almost impossible to load the second sabot. It takes about everything I have to get that baby down there to seat. Not a big deal if I'm bench shooting, but for a follow up shot during hunting, not so good. Will switching to pyrodex make that big of a diffrence? Seems like from what I have read, people either really like T7 or hate it, so it wont hurt to try Pyro. Also, will I get roughly the same performance out of 100gr loose Pyro. as I did w/ 2 50gr T7 pellets. Thanks again!

lemoyne · 11-22-2009, 06:34 PM

If you are using 777 it might some of us have a down right horrible time with it I for one will never use it again. But some people like sabot loader have excellent results with it, we have never pined down why but one of the thing we have noticed is that he's about 5,000 feet higher in elevation than some of us that have problems with it.
I would suggest the cotton ball test if the barrel is a little rough or has some burrs [not uncommon] then a bit of polishing may reduce the problem. And pyrodex is a good answer to I love Blackhorn but still use pyrodex in about half my guns.
You try the cotton ball test and let us know the result. There is an other thing you do have to consider some barrels take a bit more break in than others and the only way you can speed that up is by polishing. Have you tried brushing it out real good after you swab it out good?

MN_COMMANDER · 11-23-2009, 06:27 PM

Lemoyne-
I will try the cotton ball test tomorrow. Are you talking about swabing and brushing in between shots?

Chasam60 · 11-23-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MN_COMMANDER

Lemoyne-
You are right. The first sabot goes in snug. Maybe just a little more snug that usual, but not really a problem. After being fired and swabed, it is almost impossible to load the second sabot. It takes about everything I have to get that baby down there to seat. Not a big deal if I'm bench shooting, but for a follow up shot during hunting, not so good. Will switching to pyrodex make that big of a diffrence? Seems like from what I have read, people either really like T7 or hate it, so it wont hurt to try Pyro. Also, will I get roughly the same performance out of 100gr loose Pyro. as I did w/ 2 50gr T7 pellets. Thanks again!

My hunting load for my Omega is 115gr 777/3fg. I use the MMP 3 petal EZ for my reloads. I can reload one time without a swab,and point of impact remains the same.

Charlie