What kind of sabots?
 

2003 I bought a Rem-Model 700-50 cal-camo- syn-stainless steel-inline-muzzy.
I shot a deer in N.Y. about 25yds,behind the shoulder,using 100 gr. of pyrodex.I was using T/C 300 gr. hollow points.The hole going in the deer,I could fit my fist
through.The exit wound, I could only fit my thumb in.Isnt this reverse?I thought I was seeing things!!Is this right?They are deadly on paper at 100 yds.Why did this happen?Should I continue to shoot this sabot?What does everybody else shoot, and how does the bullet react?Thanks

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

I was using Hornady 240 gr XTP bullets with Harvester sabots but found them too difficult to load. I switched to 50 cal 245 gr. HP Powerbelts. Harvested a doe with a double lung hit at about 40 yds with my T/C Hawken (green mtn 1:28 barrel). She went about 75 yards but no bullet expansion to speak of.
Odd with the wound you described - It may be possible that when the bullet hit, you caught the skin in a fold or something that it made such a big hole.?? Your guess is as good as mine on that.

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

bronko22000 @ beaglefreak here a great site on sabot bullets I myself prefer the silverlightings in 44 cal. in a 50 cal. sabot.
I also used the silverlighting in my 54cal. that I took a doe in the early PA season, shot was about 50 yards 1/2 hole entrance a softball exit hole,she took three steps.I also took a huge 8 pointer with a qt's poly tip 45cal. 350 grain sabot that had no exit release all it shock inside the chest area with little blood to track ,deer was recovered at about 100 yards .
http://www.prbullet.com/
http://www.cabelas.com/information/c...r-Bullets.html
Here are two web sites on bullets that is interesting to read.

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

My questions would be, how well did the bullet perform? Did it cause massive shock to the animals body? Did the animal drop on the spot or run off? If it ran off, then was there a good blood trail?

The wound you describe I have heard others tell the same thing. If the bullet did what you expected it to do, there is nothing more you can ask of it. If the load shoots good in the rifle, is accurate and easy to load, then it might be one to keep...

Any projectile you shoot is going to have its good points and its bad points. I have shot the silver lightening that lonewolf describe and the accuracy of the load is a definate plus. The cost of them is a minus. I like to shoot too much for them.

I am trying out a number of different loads for the in-lines. I am shooting Hornady XTPs, SST's, Cheapshots, Shockwaves, 200 grain .44 caliber pure lead flat nose bullets, conicals, and minnie balls. Which one will I use? I have no idea. But I am having a lot of fun shooting the rifles....:D

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

cayugad HOW ARE THE SST WORKING OUT?
I HAVE A BOX OF THE 300 GRAIN IN THE 50 CAL. DO THEY SHOOT AS GOOD AS THE SILVERLIGHTING AND HOW HARD ARE THEY TO LOAD,DO YOU SEE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SILVER'S AND THE SST WHEN IT COMES TIME GETTING THEM DOWN THE BARREL.

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

The Hornady SST's load hard!! I have only loaded them in the T/C Black Diamond and not the Staghorn. In fact I broke a short ball starter trying to see if I could load them under field conditions without swabbing between shots. I did get it loaded but it ended up costing me the end of the ball starter. They seem to load better with the little T/C short ball starter. They shoot fantastic. I was shooting 90 grains of loose Pyrodex out of the Black Diamond. (Of course that rifle shoots about anything I shove down it).

The T/C Shockwaves which are .451 diameter instead of the .452 diameter like the SST's load real nice. They are a 250 grain bullet and they shoot wonderful. I like to shoot the Cheapshots too. They not only load nice but are accurate and fun to shoot. Actually they would make a nice hunting load I think.

Today I was shooting the 200 grains .44 caliber .451 diameter pure lead target bullets I bought. They really shot good. Easy to load does not even describe them. I could have shot all afternoon I think and not swabbed but I wanted to see how accurate they were.

Once the new breech plug wrench comes for the Black Diamond, I can do some more testing until then I am going to go into production on a nice day and make a bunch of conicals for the .54 caliber. Those big 415 grain minnies are calling my name....:D

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

This deer was hit behind the shoulder,the only shot I had[he was behind a blowdown].It was a heart shot,so it hit the first couple of ribs,and Im positive that I hit nothing but the deer.The deer ran downhill,hit trees,slid down,about 40 yds from where I shot.The entrance hole the sabot made,you could fit a softball
in.I had to actually push IN the guts from the hole too gut the deer.The exit wound was about the size of a half dollar.The only bone it hit was a rib or two.
Six other experianced hunters seen this deer=not one good explaniation.

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

I just dont want to go muzzleloading next year,and have a shoulder shot on a 200+ pound buck,and all of the sudden the bullet explodes on the first 1/8inch of his shoulder,and doesnt break it good enough.Know what I mean?

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

In that case you would want an aero tip powerbelt or a poly tip sabot. These will give you deeper penetration then the hollow points. You would still make the massive wound channel with these projectiles and they are usually very accurate. If you really want to blow through some bone you might consider a lead conical. All of them will get the job done.

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

My son shot a deer at close range that was facing staight at him with his shotgun this year. Slug intered front lower chest, exited out the back end just though the loin. Exit hole was not that big, but half the deers lungs came out the front hole. I can't explain it, sometimes strange things happen. I seldom recover a bullet, usually pass through with a big exit hole like you would expect. I have shot hollow points and conicals. Both have performed well. I use what works the best with the particular muzzleloader I'm shooting.