.52 Cal?
 

I'm considering maybe possibly selling a couple guns to get a Mountaineer. Maybe. I haven't decided yet. But if I do I'm almost looking at the 52 over the 50. Is the 52 that bad and that's why you never hear about it or is it just not that popular?
What size bullets work with what sabots? I was looking at Knights website and they don't even offer .52 sabots. Where do you get them?
Again, this is in the very early stages, but if I were to get a decent offer on a stainless Pro Hunter and Disc Extreme, it would speed the process along.

Im pretty sure that knight is the one that sells the sabots. Usually you would get a .500 dia bullet or a .452 bullet. The .52 were made for the .500 dia bullet though. Bullets are pretty expensive. I'm selling my .54 renegade LRH 1:24 gun if your interested. Then you don't have to sell your other guns and still shoot the .500 dia bullets. Send me a PM if you interested.

I have tw0 52's - both of them are great shooters and are mechanical as strong as you are going to get. The new 52's have some really nice new additions to them that set them apart from the older ones, especially if you are considering a Mountaineer.

There are only two sabots made for the 52 both of which have to purchased from Knight and the prices are pretty darn competitive considering that Knight controls them.

There is a grey .458/52 cal sabot and purple one for .475 bullets. Because of this a lot of people believe you handicapping yourself with the limited selection of .458 or .475 bullets. For me I use the gun 99% of the time for elk hunting so it fits right in with the larger bullets. Lehigh is building a selection of .458's that really help its versatility. They make a .458-220, .458-275, and a .458-300.

Knight has them they are just not on the web site right now, Give Robin a call at Knight and she will get some on the way.

Hope someone grabs these up from you in a hurry.

Barnes has 458s starting at 250gr and Hornady just added a 250gr tipped MonoFlex 458 for sale in Bulk. Both are made for 45/70 speeds. Speer has 475s starting at 275gr but they set very deep in the sabot. Plus all the Lehigh/Knight options in 458 make it plenty flexible IMO.

I like the 325gr FTX for a semi affordable 458 "pointy bullet option. I get them at the gun show for $36/100. Ive shot them at sub and smokeless speeds with no complaints.

Last time i got sabots from Knight, both 52 options were about $9.50/50 which isnt that bad IMO. They are very tough sabots too. Your shoulder will likely say that's enough before the sabot does. ;)

SuperKirby,

I have been thinking about a Mountaineer as well. I havent made up my mind for 50 or 52 either. To be honest, most of my motivation is that I just love the features of the Mountaineer. I am considering selling a stainless Elite 50 to help finance the new rifle.

Good luck!

I am a big supporter of Knight rifles. I like them, and own a few Knight rifles. However I am not a fan of the 52 caliber rifle. IMO it is a caliber in search of a need that does not exist. I believe it was brought out for the simple reason of just seling another rifle to a guy who already has everything, but doesn't have a 52 caliber. Even at $9.50 for 50 sabots by the time you add freight that is over $20/100 for just the sabot. No bullet included in that price.

If you really want something different then I can understand that. As long as you are willing to accept extra cost, and not getting what you need to shoot in certain situations. Like on a hunt. Or if Knight decides not to sell 52 caliber items. Or if Knight goes out of business again.

Personally I would have considered the 52 caliber. But the first thing I would have done was to have a mold built for the caliber the way I wanted the mold to be. That way I would have a lifetime supply of cheap projectiles.

But to pay $9.50 for 50 sabots then another $30 or more for 50 Barnes bullets?? No way?? For what?? You are going to easily have over $1.00 a shot in your MZ. That is ridiculous.

Buy a mold or shoot cast bullets from the 52 caliber sabot. That expensive Barnes bullet is not a dimes bit more effective at hunting range with a 52 caliber MZ. Tom.

A very good point and part of my hang up. I almost bought a .45 but didn't because I didn't want to have to buy all new supplies. A .52 would be the same thing.
But if I could sell the Pro Hunter for $575-600 and the Disc Extreme for $250, that would cover the cost of the Mountaineer and I could just get it in .50.
Do you guys think that those would be reasonable prices for the two guns? I don't know for sure what either are worth.

I would say yes for those guns, BUT the market right now is kinda slow. Not that many people buying. If you wanted to sell them quick you may have to drop the price. Just depends if you can find a buyer.