Welcome abord Recruit!
Stick with the sabots. I shoot 3" Fedrals and can hit a beer can at 150 yds every time. You may have to try diffrent brands or even diffrent lengths or weights to get it to shoot good. But once you find the right combo it will be deadly accurat and your confidance will rise fast.
SCRIDER1 is right. It took me several trips to get mine sighted in because of the kick.
There is no mistaking weather or not you hit a deer with 1 1/8 oz of lead though.