What interst do you have in Sabotless bullets?
 

Are any of you looking for a good sabotless bullet? And also what caliber are you looking for? (45 or 50) I would think the savage muzzleloaders and the White Muzzleloaders would be the most popular. With the lead ban coming and some states not allowing sabots i was wondering what you guy's are thinking. any input would be appreciated. Thanks

Already use the Copper sabotless Thor. The .45 Thor is in the works as well as the Thor II. Heck theres a company now that is making round balls out of a material thats lead free, Sadly though it seems like they sell only 12 of them in a kit.
http://www.tomboboutdoors.com/hunting-products.php

None...I have lead, I have molds, I'm good...

I hope the lead ban is NOT coming!!! But I will keep my eyes open to other options if it ever comes to that.
Art

Well in MT the lead ban was shot (hahaha) down. They tried it and it failed. Also MT doesn't have a muzzleloader season. SO I can use whatever I want. Right now the TC BC likes the sabots. I see no reason to change.

I think the Thor type bullet will be the best go-to sabotless. When the 45's come out, I will pre-size them lik Lee does, and be all set....IF the laws change in Nebraska;)

I've been experimenting with over-powder fiber wads (.060) and would rather not have extra stuff to add to my loads. Also don't care for "Knurling Bullets" with files=To much extra stuff/work.

One more thing, alot of sabotless loads with jacketed bullets as disscused on some smokeless threads, raise barrel pressures to some very high levels...with no safety valve to relive pressure....

That's why a plastic sabot, is far "Safer" to use, cuase it will Blow Past the plastic seal LOooong before unsafe pressures come into play.

I know there are some guns, and more importantly--Breach Plugs that can take some elevated pressures, but shooters beware...make sure YOUR gun is rated for it.

I'm interested in the .45 Thor if/when they come out. It's legal to use sabots where I hunt, but I would like to try out the Thors just for fun and see how they do....

If a sabotless bullet can be pushed down the barrel by hand, I can't see how they could cause high pressures, unless we are talking about a bullet becoming unseated and sliding forward of the powder charge prior to firing.

A lead ban notwithstanding, I am not looking for anything new in a sabotless bullet. FPBs work well for me, may try some other designs when my supply is gone.

Grouse45

I have a growing interest in a sabot-less 45 cal bullet for whitetail hunting. They two keys for me would be that they are accurate to 200 and that they will expand equally well from 30 yards to 200 yards.

Another thing i do think is important is the impending lead ban. I believe it is coming faster than people would like to think. Almost every state in the west floated a test ballon in recent history. And yes, in all cases except California it was beaten back. But as in California, the polititians continued forward with it. It will start with small concessions and then move outward.

Even though i say i have an interest in a 45 cal bullet, the numbers say that there are only 7 to 10% of the ML's out there that are 45. The 50 cal market is far larger.

Further, if a company is going to join in with Thor - it would have to be a better performing bullet than the Thor. I do not consider the Hornady FPB in that market because it is a lead bullet.

Well it never hurts to have something in case the lead ban does come sneaking in. Its another way the non hunters can poke the hunters in the eye.

I would like to see them in .50 as that is a popular caliber. Although I have Whites in .45 and .50. So what your talking is a non lead conical?

I have went to Paper patched bullets a couple of years ago. The 50 cal I like the most is the Lee C-501-440-RF. This mould casts at .501 and weighs 460 grains.



Another bullet I am excited to try is the Lee C-452-300-RF. It weighs right at 316 grains with pure lead. I just got my Lee .444 sizer die and I have sized my bullets to .444, then I wrapped them with paper and sized them again to .451 and they are ready to shoot.




Another bullet I am excited to try again is the Lee improved Minie. This one also casts to 316 grains. I size them to .444 and wrap them and size them again to .451 and they are ready to go.





The 50 cal paper patched bullets work fantastic on the range and on game. The Lee C-452-300-RF is almost an exact copy of the 50 cal bullet so I think it will shoot well. The Lee Minie shot good out of my .458 paper patched so I am excited to try it in my 1-28 twist stainless steel hawken. If only I could get a day that the wind would back off a bit. Ron