Copper Plated Bullets/Sabots
 

Greets fm CO
Pardon my ignorance but I'd rather ask than to remain forever ignorant. I've never shot a sabot bullet in my life. Also they are NOT legal in CO. I realize I could use them in TN.

1. Most sabot bullets seem very light by "old" MZ standards. Wouldn't a heavier projectile have more downrange energy and possibly more killing power, especially on larger animals like elk, how about hogs also??? I realize the smaller cross-section and lighter bullets would shoot flatter but how significant is this within MZ ranges?

2. What about plastic residue? I don't see how
with the pressure and heat, that a lot of residue wouldn't be left? Am I right/wrong??

3. I have even read that when shooting sabots, you only get to shoot once (Yes, I realize in the field you are likely to get only one shot.)
Right/Wrong??

4. With the sabot, does this completely eliminate the copper fouling that bullets like Barnes were once famous for. I had to make a career of cleaning my .338 after trying only a few Barnes bullets. Unbelievably long time and difficulty in getting all that copper out. I also had excessive pressure problems (extremely hard extraction and primers abnormally flattened), even considering I tried loads considerably under the max. I know I would have had to visit a gunsmith if I used max loads just to get the brass extracted. I gave the bullets remaining away with a warning about pressures. Perhaps this problem would be eliminated with a sabot?? Right/Wrong??
I didn't mean to write a thesis!
Thanks for bearing with me on this lengthy post!
Ray

RE: Copper Plated Bullets/Sabots
 

The reduction in cal. gives better sectioal density so more penatration. I shoot a bore this year with a 250gr Shock Wave the blue tip bonded 45 cal in a 50 cal sabot whent in the left front shoulder and out the right ham just behind the hip the hog was only a bit over 100 pounds but it dropped him like a rock the load I was using chrony at 2080 fps.
No copper fouling
I have been shooting sabots since they first came out I clean with boiling water and citrus or simple green soap and have not had any plastic problem.
I have not needed a second shot so I dont know how to answer that. Lee

RE: Copper Plated Bullets/Sabots
 

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.