Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

Hey all. I just finished my first box of Hornaday 240gr. XTP's and those things were a bear to load in my TC Pro Hunter. There were times I thought I was going to snap my ram rod. When I put the bullet/sabot at the tip of the barrel I have to hold my ram rod and the opening of the barrel in my left hand and use alot of my weight and my right arm to get it about half way down the barrel before it loosens up. I am a hunter only, I don't shoot for recreation so I'm looking for something a little biteasier to load in the field when I need a quick follow up shot. Would the TC Easy Slides be ok for the purpose I am using them for? I am contemplating going from BH209 to T7 Pellets just for simplicity and price but undecided right now. The powder I am not as concerned with at this point as I am finding a sabot that will load easier than what I am using now. Any recommendations? Thanks for any help.

RE: Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

flybub
The right sabot will make all bullets that size fit, for your gun try MMP HPH24 and Harvester Crush Ribs. Lee

RE: Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

The t7 made my pro hunter even harder to load,never tryed the bh209 yet, seen it a cabela's the other
day had it in my hand along with white hots could not make myself buy either.Mine loads betterwith
pyro at least till you hit the crud-ring,thats when you need a jackhammer.
Thats using sw 250's and pb

RE: Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

What you need is a better sabot. There are some that will make that loading managable and not a fight to the finish. In fact, how was the accuracy with a sabot loading that tight? I use the Harvester Crushed Rib sabots for about 75% of my sabot shooting. I also have some Nosler and some Thompson Center that fit tighter, but most my rifles like the crushed rib.

RE: Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

Accuracy wasn't too bad. I was 2 for 2 during deer season so that is good enough for me. I don't consider myself a good shooter but my groups were 2.5-3" at 100 yards with a Nikon Omega scope. I don't judge my shooting by a piece of paper, I judge it based on how full my freezer is, so as long as it hits the vitals of the the animal in my scope is all I'm concerned about. If I neededa quick reload for either of the 2 I shot I might as well forget it and wait for the next deer to show up. That is one reason I may switch from the BH209 to the T7 pellets, reloading time for me was much faster with the pellets. I don't care much for the crud ring and residue it leaves compared to the BH, but every powder is going to have its pros and cons.

RE: Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

flybub

I don't care much for the crud ring and residue it leaves compared to the BH



Thats what makes it harder to load!!!!!!!!!

RE: Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

What do you carry your powder in to make it so much slower?

RE: Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

For the XTP .44, get the green Harvestor Crushed Rib sabot, should load easier. As for the pellets, easier, as in no measuring, not the best for working up a load. Ihavebeen shooting T7pellets, but am going to start using loose powder to maximize my accuracy.

RE: Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

I'm carrying powder in the T/C 4-1 Speed Loader.

RE: Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

flybub

Couple things... I am not sure what bore diameter your PH might be so I am just going with a couple of thoughts... the other thing I am wondering and assuming the the 240's you have been using are 44 cal... If that is the case there are not as many sabots choices in the 44 cal as there are in the 50 class. The only alternative might be the Harvester - Green 44 Cal sabots or the Harvester 'crush rb'.

Did you purchase a box of 240's and then get a package of sabots or did it come as bubble pack from Hornady of TC? The brand makes a difference in which sabot might have been packed with it.

All of this is just guess-work on my part - but knowing that youhave a TCproduct and talking45 cal bullets - you will probably need aMMP HPH-24 or a comparable Harvester either 'Short Black or Regular Black' - if these fit your bore you have it made... If they are to tight then you will be looking at the MMP HPH-3p-EZ load (same as TC's Supper Glide) or the Harvester 'crush rib' with the 'crush rib being slightly thinner than the 3p sabot.

If you can let me know more abou what you were using - I might be able to tell what sabot you were using also.

RE: Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

Sabotloader,
I bought the 240's in a bubble pack and they are from Hornaday. Both bullets and sabots (green ones) were in the same package. That is the only thing that crossed my mind as far as having a problem loading. I have not had the time, nor the weather, to get something different and try them. A good freind of mine uses Hornaday 250gr. SST in his regular Encore, bought in abubble pack also, and doesn't seem to have any trouble but I wasn't bright enough at the time to try them in mine.I have been wanting to try something else but this cold Ohio weather isdriving me nuts [:@] Thanks for the help.

RE: Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

well I've had some experience with the sst bullets and they are questionable in my eyes. Depending on what kind of shots you are taking. over 100 yards or under 100 yards. I have shot deer with the SST so has my friend. At close yardages the ballistic tip causes the bullet to explode and completely fall apart. At the same time if you are shooting long distances the SST is more aerodynamic and will expand properly. I shot a buck at 30 yards on a running shot and hit him in the shouler the bullet completely discinigrated my friend shot a doe at 30 yards and the bullet discinigrated and she ran another 400 yards before dying and that was a heart shot. Later in the year he shot a doe at roughly 200 yds and hit her in the lungs she ran about 20-30 yards and died. At closer yardages I believe the xtp will hold up better and expand more properly than the sst. I would try the Harvester crush rib sabots with the 44 cal 240 grain xtp bullet and see how that goes especially if shooting at closer distances.

RE: Lookin for a new bullet and sabot
 

New sabot, Harvester Crushed Rib sabot. new bullet. Nosler Partition 300g HG, Barnes MZ 300g, Barnes FlatNose 45/70 bullet 45843 in Crushed rib sabot, Speer Gold Dot 300g in Crushed Rib sabot. Blackhorn 209 since no swabbing. Chap