I hunt with the Barnes Expander MZ, yes they may be expensive but I'm not going to let $1 stand in my way of my harvest. I order these from whoever has them on sale. I've tried the sabots that came with them and although they shot fine I find the black Crushed Rib Sabots load easier. For casual shooting I buy the 250 and 300gr XTPs. They are a good price bought in 50 or 100 count bulk purchases. Since buying the XTP's in bulk I just use the sabots that came with the Barnes for those. Both the Barnes Expanders and the XTP's are .451-.452 so I just buy the black Crushed Rib sabots for 45 cal bullets. They sabots are around $5.11 for a pack of 50 from Mid South on my last order.

I own the T/C Omega.

300 gr. .452 Speer Gold Dot

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000213974

Harvester Crush Rib Sabots (black 45/50)

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jhtml?id=0012633216130a&navCount=0&cm Cat=srchdx&cm_ven=srchdx&cm_ite=srchdx&amp ;CM_REF=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cabelas.com%2Fproducts%2F Cpod0012633.jsp

Agree 100% Lee. A sabot needs to be "just tight enough", not too loose, not too tight, but just right. I have heard it called the "Goldilocks of Sabots", so it is NOT push it down with 1 hand, and it is not pound it down with a hammer. But just tight enough to offere good resistence going down. Now since a lot of BP and subs are dirty and putting a sabot down a dirty barrel can be a problem, I swab the barrel between >>>every<<< shot, at range with 1 rusty duck swab or alchol/windshield washer fluid and 1 dry patch. Hunting, 1 bore butter patch with light bore butter rubbed into patch so it slides down barrel to clean the fouling. Chap Gleason

Chap, I use a similar procdure, I sometimes wonder if a lot of the problems some people run into are not caused by buying bullets with sabots in a package and the sabots dont fit the gun right so they never get good groups. Lee

Chap - is this following a shot at game or a procedure you use to partially clean a pre-hunt fouled barrel?

After I shoot. I don't really plan on missing, so I take my time reloading.Chap Gleason

I think it is. I think if you stick with a bullet the ML maker recommends it willwork,and your OK, since they tested it with a load and sabotin the particulargun you bought. Once you get outside a manufacturer recommended bullet, sabot and load, then your really in no man's land and most people don't buy the "packages of sabots" to test their bullet for proper fit.
Chap Gleason

Chap agree with you and Lee 100% I believe with 4 or 5 pks of sabots you can find a combo that will shoot in any rifle made. No need to settle for good enough,unless all they are looking for is a week or two extra hunting time,and do not really care. For us that have been "infected" with MZ fever,it is another story altogather.

Charlie