Yeah, they're lighter than a big 460gr bullet... but for deer it doesn't matter. A 300gr saboted .45 bullet should do a number on elk (which I've never hunted). Here's a benefit of sabots: cleaner. NO greasy mess from shooting conicals (I've shot a bunch of conicals, but hunt with sabots). I've not experienced plastic fouling. You do get only one shot, just as with conical; you can reload sabot in same amount of time (I've needed to reload faster TWICE this season, to my shame).

no copper fouling. I like the idea of big heavy conicals... but sabots seem to work better. And I'm using el cheapo 'CheapShot' sabots, and 240gr XTPs.