short_start

I have a selection of .50 conicals that never worked very well in my .50 muzzleloaders. Along with those I have some 370 gr. Maxi-Balls that were cast using a high tin alloy and are too hard to load.

Today I noticed that Cabelas is selling MMP .54 sabots for .50 bullets. I'm wondering if I could use these sabots to shoot .50 muzzleloader bullets in my .54s. Two of them have 1 in 38 twist, so I think there would be enough spin to stabilize even the longer/heavier bullets.

Has anyone tried this? Will the .54/.50 sabots work with .50 muzzleloader bullets (some of which have diameters around .502" or .503")? Are there any potential hazards to this?

The .54 is kind of a waste as a sabot shooter whenshooting .45 and .430 caliber bullets; doesn't do anything a .50 wouldn't do better. But it might offer a killingadvantage pushing a sabotted .50 bullet....if it's accurate.
Bob

Pglasgow

You only have $6.00 or $7.00 to lose if it doesn't work out. It would be interesting to read your findings if you do try it. Good luck with it.

sabotloader

short_start

I once tried some 50 cal speer bullets in a 50/54 cal sabot supplied by speer also (have no idea who the sabots were really made by & I can not find them now) But they were to tight to get down either the Lyman or the Renegade.

That was a long time ago (3/4 years) things change a lot in that time span - so maybe today they might fit - but I am thinking they are designed for 50 cal - so a .502/3/4 might make them to tight to get down, but totally just guessing...

Pglasgow

It just occurred to me that the Maxis will be sized .508-.510 on the top band. I don't know if the sabots would reach that far but probably wouldn't. The lower bands are probably around .503 so without resizing, it may not work well at all. But BS, BJH, or NE conicals sized to .500 just might work.

short_start

Good point! Might be time to dig out the old Lyman bullet sizer and pick up a .500 bullet sizing die along with those sabots. Then if that doesn't work, try .499 or .501.....

I can see where the tab on this is going to exceed $6 or $7.

Uhhhh...BTW, what does BS, BJH and NE translate to in the conical world? I'm kinda new here.
Bob

Pglasgow

BS ---> Bullshops
BJH ---> Blackjack Hill
NE ---> No Excuses

lemoyne

I shoot Widner .500 dia. Pistol bullets in a purple sabot, the Maxies are to long even if you sized them, lead bullets will work if they are the right length for the sabot and sized to fit for that particular sabot the purple sabot takes a .500 thats the only one I use 1 use 270 gr HP the 300 SP and the 350 gr SP they all shoot real well in my System One [1-38 twist] with a 140 gr load of RS. Lee