I'm not partial to pellets, especially now that I own a Savage and can and do shoot smokeless powder. Too darned expensive. The LNL sabots are also too darned expensive for my taste. My first thought when I saw them was "what keeps the 'tail' from flailing randomly in the bore after the pellets that support it are burned up?". I would think that the tail part would disrupt accuracy, but IF people are shooting 1" groups with them (pardon my scepticism, 'Bulls, that I'd like to see before I believe it) they can't be that bad. But since that accuracy level can be achieved with a normal sabot with pellets AND powder, and plain Jane HP sabots with SST's or PR Dead Center's are much cheaper, I'll stick with those.

If you're looking for a trick to improve accuracy with sabots, expecially with heavy/fast loads, try using a sub-base under the sabot to protect it. MMP makes a "Magnum Sub-base" that I've seen available only through Precision Rifle's website (www.prbullet.com), but I just cut mine down myself from the pinkish-white Winchester 28 gauge AA wads. Just take a sharp knife or straight razor blade and cut the shot cup off right leaving only the obturator cup. The MMP Sub-bases are something like $5-6 for 50 plus shipping. The Win 28ga. AA wads are $7 for 250, and cutting down 50 of them takes maybe 10 minutes.

I found that the Savage and smokeless powder especially are VERY hard on sabots when the sabot is loaded alone. Even with "mild" loads of N110 (to the tune of 2250fps, chronographed) sabots would shot signs of partial failure. With the 28ga sub-bases none of the sabots showed ANY sign of failure and functioned perfectly. The sub-bases were also intact and sealed the bore perfectly. I'm sure the guys who are partial to 100gr+ loads of T7 would also benefit a great deal from using these cheap and simple sub-bases. Something for y'all to consider.

Mike

>>I would think that the tail part would disrupt accuracy, but IF people are shooting 1" groups with them (pardon my scepticism, 'Bulls, that I'd like to see before I believe it) they can't be that bad.>>

I understand your scepticism, I was sceptical myself. I just took a photo of the two groups on my target stand but the files are too large to post here. Drift, I'd be happy to send it to you and maybe you could post it.

The photo shows 6 shots all within 2 inches. I use a scope for grouping and they are 75 yard shots.

The other three shot group is on my buddies target stand and not readily available but it has the same pattern.

As for cost, it's never been a big deal to me to save a couple bucks on ammo especially when you consider the high costs of a big game hunt here in the west, even a DIY hunt as I do. I want whatever shoots the best and after trying everything from Dead Centers to Hornady, to Power Belts to Hydra Cons and several others, so far these shoot the best.

I was thinking about trying them out but ya`ll brought up some good points had I not read this I would have been one of those "sucker hunters"

Here's the picture of 'Bulls group with the LNL sabots. I guess they aren't too bad after all.

Mike