Sab you mentioned trying the SST and Shockwave, they are the same as the Shockwave is simply the SST built by Hornday and repackaged for TC. BUT the sabots appear different too me and if you are going to shoot 120< loads (which you should with that gun) you need to stick with the heaviest black sabots you can find. The supermag sabots from MMP are REALLY good at sealing extreme pressure loads. Alot of guys who can't get their TCs to shoot mag loads well simply are using sabots that are to soft and weak. The 250SST atop 150grns of 777 in your rifle is about as bad as it gets. That combo and rifle is a 300yd setup for the man who spends a lil time at the range and learns where his rifle hits.

As far as the bonded, it's a construction method whereby the core of the bullet (lead) is bonded too the jacket (copper) which increases strength and eliminates core seperation when the bullet mushrooms. I started shooting the 300SSTs in my Savage lastyear and they simply will NOT stay inside a deer with a broadside shot. They are GREAT bullets and essentially the muzzleloading equivalent of Hornday's Innerbond and Nosler's Accubond.

Good luck,
RA