[quote=John/MI;3496794]

I've read that what you said is correct -- the thinner the sabot, the more accurate the load is likely to be. So I'll try the 280 gr. (44 cal) Harvester hard-cast in a sabot meant for 45 cal bullets by knurling the 280's up to a tight fit. Great idea.
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[quote]

John,

I don't think it will be possible to knurl up the 280s to work in the black sabots. You should be able to knurl the 280s (by rolling them between two files or just rolling them under one file on your bench) to fit tighter in the green crusher rib.

I wouldn't hesitate to even try a load of 60 gr. V of BH209 with either the 280 or 330s. Even at 60 gr. of BH209 with either the 280 or 330s you will have the power of a Factory 45/70 round.( the new 45/70 brass will only hold around 55 to 58 gr of Black)

I have some of the store bought 280 hard cast here and I just measured the metplats. the 280s are .330, and my cast 330s are .326. there isn't enough difference to worry about.

I just shot both the 280s and 330 from the same gun and they cronoed within 20 FPS of each other. the 280 read a average of 1537 FPS and the 330s read average of 1517, this was 3 shots each. This was with a load equivalent to 80grV BH209. (30gr of SR4759 ) I shot the 280s in the supplied GCR. I did knurl then for a tighter fit. the 330s were shot as cast in a BSH sabot.

I wouldn't hesitate to load down and see how they shot. I have shot groups down as low as 23 gr of 4759 (1200 FPS) this will shot one ragged hole at 50 yards in my guns. A 280 or 330 gr Boolit at 1200 fps is one hot 44 mag or 45 Colt Load. Would you hesitate to use either for harvesting deer? I have harvested 5 deer between 92 yards and 127 yards with a 178 gr. SWC out of a single shot .357 mag rifle ( I built ) loaded to just 1200 FPS complete pass threws every time and never more than 15 yard staggers.

Ken