Brazos_Jack

Does anyone make a plastic sabot for using .490 round balls in a .50 rifle? If not, does anyone make sabots for using some other size round ball in a .50 cal. rifle?

My rifle is a T/C Hawken I built and modified 40 years ago. The barrel is a custom with .500 bore, .511 groove, and 1:75" twist with wide grooves and narrow lands. It's been mothballed for 35 years. I used it with .490 swaged balls, .015" Ox-Yoke strip patches soaked in melted Crisco and cut flush with the muzzle after starting the ball. I used 90 grains of Goex FFg and a Remington #11 cap.

I plan to convert to a 209 primer nipple and use Blackhorn 209 powder.

I would like to try plastic sobots with lead round balls. I have always used .490 balls, but to try sabots I would try to find whatever size balls that the sabot required.

Gm54-120

https://www.hornady.com/muzzleloadin...-20-per-pkg#!/

hunters_life

I don't know how well it would work in that 1:75 but it didn't work well from my 1:66 no matter what load I tried. And I tried a lot of them.

bronko22000

I think if it were me I'd stick with the .015" patch. Also I'm not sure it I would want to use BH209 in that rifle. It may not be safe.

Brazos_Jack

I saw those on the MidwayUSA site but I can't find anywhere that actually has some. Those green sabots must be made of unobtainium.

Does anyone stock these?

Brazos_Jack

Has anyone reported problems with BH 209 in the thick walled octagon barrels of the T/C Hawken?

I want to get an in-line before next deer season (after paying off a few unexpected expenses). Probably one of the CVA Accura models. So, using my old Hawken as a learning tool, I want to start playing with 209 primer ignition, BH 209 powder, and plastic sabots.

I'd like to hear from anyone that has used BH 209 in T/C Hawkens or anyone who has seen documented cases of problems with BH 209 in T/C Hawkens.

Brazos_Jack

I just got off the phone with Western Powders. They said that a T/C Hawken converted to 209 primer ignition was safe with BH 209 powder - BUT - the maximum safe charge was 110 grains by volume.

So I'll use 90 grains by volume as my personal max and round balls only and I should be well below the max safe pressure.

Gm54-120

I hope your 209 conversion holds together. Those Magsparks have been known to break off on occasion. Its not a whole lot of fun removing them if they do.

Brazos_Jack

I know that CVA has a slightly different 209 conversion nipple design. Is it considered better than the Magspark? My Magspark arrived today, but if the CVA is much better, then I'll get one.

I had read of problems with one big batch of Magsparks a few years ago due to a machining error, but I read that they were recalled after a few failures were reported and the design was strengthened for all new production.

txhunter58

It may be safe, but IMO you should NOT use BH 209 in a sidelock I love the stuff in my inlines but there are too many negatives to use it in a sidehammer.
1) The grains are all the same size (extruded) and probably won't fall into the sidelock well
2) BH 209 is hard to ignite and you need a strong primer, but not sure it will ignite unless directly under the primer.
3) BH 209 creates more blowback that any other powder I have used, so if you do this WEAR EYE PROECTION. And expect your hammer to be at 1/2 cock or ever full cock after the shot.

I just can't see any reason to use it. I have used pyrodex or 777 in my sidelocks, and yes, you have to swab between shots and yes you have to clean up at the end of the day. BH 209 works great in most inlines, but I would never use it in a sidelock. JU2C