a while back I thought I read a thread on here somewhere about guys using 45ACP bullets like Hornaday XTP and just buying the sabot seperate.
can any of you confirm this and how well they shoot? is there anything I need to know about doing this and using these bullets

Most avid ML shooters/hunters purchase bullets and sabots separately, so yes it is very common. XTP's are fine bullets...relatively inexpensive and perform pretty well overall. I would search threads posted by ronlaughlin and you can see the results on ALOT of bullets that he tested.

Also, adding more info like what gun, caliber, powder, typical hunting distance, etc might help folks here offer up some suggestions that might help you out.

Bulk sabots and bulk bullets are far more affordable. I have not bought prepacked bullets with sabots for years. Since only 2 companies make ALL the sabots for various vendors, its not hard to get the sabot you like in bulk.

Chances are if you are shooting a prepacked bullet with sabot, you are using MMP brand sabots. The color may be different but its the same sabot. Barnes, T/C and Hornady all use MMP sabots with their prepacked bullets.

I would avoid 45ACP bullets for hunting. A ML produces far more fps than a 45ACP. Save them for fun shooting. Look for bullets made for highend 45 Long Colt or 454 Casull performance levels. Bullets made for 45/70 also work well in the right sabot.

They also make sabots for 44cal bullets. They are usually green in color. I would suggest using 44cal bullets of 240gr or more. A few of the lighter Barnes solid coppers under 240gr may be ok too. I typically get better accuracy with a 45cal bullet vs a smaller caliber bullet.

The 45-cal XTP ACPs are of the 185, 200 and 230 grain sizes. Being these are generally .451 diameter, most times you are safe when purchasing either the smooth black Harvester sabots, or the MMP HPH12s.

You are better-off to purchase the 45-cal 240 grain .452 version and start-off with the black Harvester crushed rib sabots, or the MMP HPH24s. The 240s are a tougher bullet that holds up better when meeting bone in your harvested animal. Fragmentation of the 240 bullet is less common to occur.

Since we don't know what rifle he is using, recommending an exact sabot is futile. I surely would not recommend a short .451 bullet in a MMP HPH-12 sabot. Its rather long for that projectile. There is a good chance the loading jag will catch the sabot petals.

Two sabots come to mind for short projectiles but they are both very different in loaded OD. There is no sense in recommending either until the OP lets us know which rifle he is using and/or which prepackaged bullets/sabots are already working for him.

Yep!

The Barnes 225 grain .429 XPB bullet is a good killer on big hogs. Last one i killed with that bullet weighed about about 250 pounds. The gun was my TC Black Diamond, the powder charge was 120 grains of 777. Distance was about 35 yards. Hog was shot through the shoulders leaving an 1" exit hole.

225 grain .429 XPB copper bullet and 120 gr. 777 @ 35 yards = Ouch-Ouch!

I use the .429 XTP in 300gr, my buddy uses the 240, we both buy them in bulk and use the Harvester plain green sabot...I've sighted in 4 other rifles with the 300gr bullet and 80-85grs FFF Goex...

I'm in the process of getting a gun now. the one I have been looking at is a cva wolf of that helps any.