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.

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

Most likely,your Bullet struck heavy bone,and deformed before making it very far into the Critter.As the projectile ,made it's way through the media,it was at a fraction of it's diameter and mass.Hence the small exit hole. JMO

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

Another vote for Hornady XTP's. Awesome bullets. I used powerbelts two years ago but switched to XTP's this season and will never switch back. Best groups I've ever shot. 1.5 in. groups at 100 yards.

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

I have killed a number of animals with XTP's seeing a variety of wound channels, variety of shot angles, reactions to the shot but all resulted it tipped over game in less the 100 yards.

Examples: punched through a mule deer this fall she was broadside at 100 yards or so, I ribbed in and ribbed hitting both lungs, she hoppled with the opposite shoulder leg slightly up maybe 10 yards and promptly tipped over and never kicked again.
Same scenerio last fall on a whitetail hit her about the same distance, same spot roughly, she reacted by scampering about 25 yards then turned to look back, she then made about 5 more steps fell over and kicked for maybe 30 sec. The entrance side broke 2 ribs sending splinters everywhere and the exit was a finger and half sized..lungs were jelly.
3 years ago I took down a mulie buck, hit him square in the shoulder and he dropped like a ton of bricks, bullet never exited but sent the shoulder in pieces to the lungs, When I opened him up it was all soup. He didn't kick one bit, just whack and slump.

All were taken with the same 240gr XTP 100 gr of powder out of my 700ML. I can't explain why they sometimes do what they do, sure I have theories but in the end it resulted in a clean harvest and allowed me to collect my game easily. Really all I can ask from a bullet:D

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

Thanks for the info,guys.Looks like I will be sighting the muzzy with the XTPs this summer.I will keep you all posted on how I make out.Hopefully I can send a photo of a monster buck in Oct. Man, how many months,9,jeez.....

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

Beaglefreak,
How much shooting on paper have you done with that load? Reason for asking is I have seen that 300 HP tumble on several occasions. On paper it shows up better, you see an elongated hole instead of round. I stopped shooting that after my first box ..dropped to a lighter bullet to pick up speed instead. NY (all) whitetails as you know are thin skin so a heavy bullet in not required...
Its just my guess but I bet that tumbled. Other wise I do not see how such a large hole was created. My question to you is why take the chance, so many others to choose from!

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

I shoot a Thompson Center Encore 209 x 50 with 250 grain Hornady SST sabots. These things shoot great! Got the gun after muzzle loader season so have not shot a deer with it. But feel very comfortable shooting one out to 125 yards with this set up. Oh, I'm using 777 pellets, two 50 grainers for my powder source. Hope this helps.:D

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

Bullet likely hit bone -- fragmented - only a portion exited.
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RE: What kind of sabots?
 

Outdoor ,That was my same thoughts. It happened to me before. It wasn't with a muzzloader but with a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 cal.
The hole looked like an Hour Glass entering the target instead of the clean round hole.
I'd be willing to bet that's what is happening with these big entry holes.The only logical answer I can come up with anyway.

Ruger Redhawk

RE: What kind of sabots?
 

Tumble at 20 to 25 yards?
Well I took the advice,and cant wait to shoot these new Hornady loads.Thanks guys for all your input,very much appreciated!
I`m going to finish up the other 9 loads leftover and shoot them at 20 to 25 yds and hopefully come up with something.I`ll keep you guys posted on the performance.

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RE: What kind of sabots?
 

Guys I'm tellin ya Presision bullets are bar none the best I have ever shot. Type that into your browser and go to there web site. Cabelas sells one of their bullets called Dead Center and the name is right on, that is how they shoot. I have shot many deer from 25 to 170 yards with them with good blood trails and short recoverys. They are great!!!