Duckbutter48
I have a 50cal Encore. Im currently shooting Hornady 250grn SSt's with the sabots that came in the pack.
I guess I am surpised that you can get those SST's down the barrel with the supplied sabot - usually you need to change to HPH-24's or regular Harvesters...
I want to switch to a different load. I currently reload formy 44mag rifle so I have some 240grn XTP's and 270grn Gold dots, I also have an old box of 240grn XTPS for MLs from Hornady with the green sabots that come with them.
It is possible that those old green sabots were/are the really old ones - you might get some plastic fouling with them and they are not high pressure so you have to keep your powder down a bit or you will end up with flyers... That 270 Gold Dot ought to be one one heck of a ML deer bullet. If you can find a package of TC Mag Express 44/50 green sabots and they are the newer ones those would be a very good sabot or order some from MMP. I shot some a couple of days ago and they loaded really easy in the WHite so in my mind I was thinking they will work well in the Omega. If they are to tight then the "crush ribs" should wotk really well.
About 50% of the time I hunt a field thats about 300yards long which I understand is a lot for a ML but wanted to add that I wont always have just a 100ish yard shot in the woods.
300 hundred yards is a big stretch for a ML - might be able to do that with 44/300 grnSST's/Shockwaves if they even make such a thing...
One thing you probably already know - most of the 44's have a way better BC than the corresponding 45.
I like the performance from both bullets from the rifle and if you suggest I just stick with them, then which sabot do I want so I dont need a hammer to get bullet down the barrel. The SST's are extremely hard to load.
The MMP HPH-24 Black 45cal/50cal sabot should go down your barrel really easy.... Its counterpart (so to speak is the regular Harvester). MMP also make a three petal EZ load sabot for 45/50 cals that is even thinner than than the 24. Harvester makes their really thin version and calls them "crush rib" they make these in both 44 cal and 45 cal for 50 cal gun.
The last part of the question is should I go with 777 primers or buck up to the 25acp convo kit.
To be perfectly honest with you i wish I had made the switch to the 25 ACP a long time ago... It is so clean as compared... the handling thing isn't all that important because you can use a capper with the 209's - but the 25 ACP in an Omega/Encore is the way to go...
Lastly my gun doesnt like Powerbelts Ive tried them with Pyrodex and the 777 so they arent an option.
Not to start a feud - but GREAT - there are such better bullets out there than those overpriced elongated round lead balls. I must admit for a lot of people they are life savers - but once you find the right sabot - there is no need for PB's
If you get those 44/270's working for and they should from the Encore with the correct sabot - they will be an outstanding bullet...
Let me know - I could get the Omega out and remove the breech plug- then run a new green HPH sabot/bullet down - if they go down my Omega thay will probablygo down the Encore..
Good luck - keep asking question..