I'm getting the itch for a new muzzleloader again (you guys probably don't know what thats like do you?), and I can't help thinking that I want a .45 again, if just for something different. The problem is, a .50 should be able to shoot everything the .45 can, plus the plethora of .430, .451, .452, and .458 bullets that the .45 cant. But I wonder how well the thick .40/.50 sabots work compared to a gun shooting .40/.45.
So I know that on paper, the .45 should shoot .40 bullets much better than a .50 would. The thinner the sabot, the better bullets should technically work, but things don't always work out the way they're supposed to in the real world. The only info I have been able to find is smokeless guys having problems with blowing sabots. Does anybody have any experience shooting .40 200 gr sst's or 195 gr barnes expanders in a .50? .45's produce higher pressure, but does that necessarily mean less velocity in a .50?

I've shot some precision elite .40/50 250 gr. sabot bullet combination-they are very accurate.

.40 cal bullets can be very accurate in a .50. I've used the .40 cal XTP with success. Because they produce higher pressures, .45's do produce higher velocities than a .50 with the same powder charge.

I don't know where your information is coming from but the 50/40 has been the most accurate in two of my guns. In the Triumph the 200gr 40 caliber Shock Wave and in the Endeavor the 200gr -40 caliber Lehigh They have both shot under a minute of angle for me when I am shooting well enough. Also there have been posts of other people here from time to time that indicate I am not the only one that's having very good results with them.

My .50 caliber CVA Mag Hunter is sighted in for the 200 grain SST bullet. It makes three bullet holes touch at 75 meters when i do my job right.

I have shot PR QT-40,Shockwaves,and XTP's.All were accurate.Never shot one at anything but targets.Load the XTP hot and shoot water jugs if you want to have some fun.

Charlie

I havent shot many 50x40 because i only had the Harvester 50x40CR sabot and too many failed. Plus i already had 2 45s.

Ive shot plenty of heavy 54x45s though and they are just as accurate as my top end 54x50 loads. So i have no doubt a 50x40 can shoot very well.

Now ive got some 50x40 MMPs to play with this year but only one 50cal left.