Me too, but I was really impressed with how fast I got this order, I truly wasn't expecting it until next week. However every once in a while you deal with one that leaves a sour taste in your mouth, for instance: I 've wanted a Benelli SBE for many years, when they came out with the SBE II I said "gotta have it" but I don't like to buy somehting the first year it comes out...I like to give them a couple years to work the kinks out. The SBE II was the same way, I had heard of some things on the 2004 models that were unfavorable and so I waited, come 2006 I went to a gun shop in Southaven and made the purchase (they were quite nice when I made the purchase) of what I thought was a new (as presented and priced) gun. after I got home I was still undecided if I had chosen the right one and called the gun shop to see what there return policy was in case I decided I wanted the other model (before ever shooting it) and was very rudely told they had a no returns no exceptions policy but would buy the gun back at a much lower price than what they sold it to me for. after some further examination of the gun I found powder residue in the action of the gun then I discovered one of the problems that people were having with one of the early models (very stiff safety.my fault for not noticing in the store) I contracted Benelli and was very pleased with their customer service; I shipped them the trigger assembly, they fixed the safety and shipped it back in short order. But while I was in contact with them I had them run the serial number.....2004 model!!! Never again will I grace that store with my presence except to tell them what I think of them and to tell any customers, they may have, what I think of them(the store, not the customers) and they sure won't get any more of my hard earned money. The only regret I have is that I helped their profit margin, love the gun, can't stand the people I bought it from.

Hey Chap,

I don't have extensive experience with the Barnes but I have shot two.

1) 250g Expander MZ - Doe - entered the brisket and exited at about the last rib on far side leaving a big hole at both ends.
2) 245g Spitfire - Buck in my avatar - broadside about half way between shoulder and last rib and center height wise.

as far as I know both of those bullets are still going

I have not shot an animal with the Barnes, but from what I have read I plan on trying them. I remember seeing that buck in your avatarwhen you posted the picture and I recall it was with the Barnes. Many guys on the Smokeless Forum shoot the barnes, it seems to be between the Barnes, ShockWave and Parker Ballistic Extreme, and several of the new shooters who shot SW are switching to Barnes, as am I IF I CAN GET A ACCURATE LOAD combo. Anyway, I think you will like the Crushed Rib, I have about 6 packages of them, since I just buy 1 every time I order from Mid South, they are only $5 package. Chap

the Shockwaves shoot great out of my Omega and my Rem700. I've only shot one deer with them, a doe. It was one of the 250's and it passed through but left some evidence of fragmentation, If I get any more I think it will be the bonded variety and I would like to try some with the crush ribs. Of course if the Gold Dots, SW and Expanders all shoot well with them I'll be perplexed about what to hunt with. As far as the lost velocity I'm not really concerned about that when I'll mainly be using them for reloading after shooting a deer, hog whatever. I ALWAYS reload just in case and I'd rather shoot a $0.50 bullet in the dirt versus a $1.00+ bullet.

Yes, that is where you can use the cheaper bullets. Chap

"I want to make a gentle suggestion, I say gentle because it appears that I have a problem with "crush ribs.""

It is a fact that my Encore does not like Crush Rib sabots: 100 yard groups are all over the place with the 250 grain SST. The Hornady Low Drag sabots with the same bullet make 2-3" groups with that gun-minute of pig. The tight fitting red and the tight fitting black sabots make groups in the1" to 1.5" range with me doing the shooting: A young Marine i know makes .75" groups at 100 yards withthe Encoreand that load.

Amen, your gun likes the Low Drag and the black and red sabots (so called "short black"?). That is great you found that out. Every gun is different and some will NOT like the crushed rib, that is a given with bullets, powder, sabots and primers. Good to know about the Encore, do other Encore users have the same problem with the Crushed rib---i.e. big groups at 100 yards? Chap Gleason

Chap

Going back to one of your earlier posts, I do not think there is any way that I could put a .458 in .451/.452 “crush rib” rib and get it down the barrel… I have never tried it, but that should work well in your tight sabot theory. And as I understand the Savage and the use of smokeless powder you really do have to have a tight sabot to get progressive powder to burn correctly. Lee has tried to explain it to me a couple of times. So yes, I do use the MMP Orange sabot to shoot .458’s, but then your statement about the Savage, the .458, in a “crush rib” really leans me to my thought that the “crush rib” really is to loose/thin for most bores shooting the correct bullet in it.

I have never said that the “crush rib” was inaccurate; my suggestion was that the “crush rib” leaks gas from my ML’s that the 3p did not. The “crush rib” was designed to load in very tight bores and it should be used there but to use them in a bore that does not need them, might cause a loss of velocity. Now then if you are loading them because they are easier to load and they are accurate, gees! that sounds like a Power Belt, then that is your choice. And using them for a second quick shot really might be the place for them. For me, since I shoot a semi-fouled bore it really makes no difference my second load – loads the same way as the first.

Agreed, these are the sabots for tight bores. If they are accurate, I think that is more important than loss of speed, butI really didn't expect to seea 200 fps loss, that is pretty significant, since most folks shooting another 50g pellet will only get a 400 fps increase in velocity, so this is about 1/2 of that, which is a lot. So in general I agree with you, if you can use an MMP that fits tight, then do so.
Chap