I think the shockwaves stink... I know everyone says they should group tighter, but I have to use a rubber mallet to get the damn things down my barrel... I have only shot them twice and the rest of the box will sit in my ammo box for a long time!!!!

I tried those I think they have the wrong size sabots, I measured the bullets with digital calipers and matched the diameter to some other sabots I had and they worked much better easier to load anyway.

The problem with muzzleloaders is that there are zero standards. Bore diametery to bullet diameter is a huge issue. For example, 50 caliber bore diameters range from .499 to .504. Now how are bullet makers supposed to match their bullets with your bore? Well with the sabot of course. That's the biggest variable in accuracy with sabots. Now generally manufacturers bullets will shoot well in their guns. Sometimes when they do not there is a smaller than normal barrel. That can generally be dealt with by lapping. It's better to try other bullets before lapping a barrel however. After all, metal you remove today can not be added back tommorow. That's the biggest reason I do not like lapping. If I need to simply break in a barrel I use powerbelts.

Wow! I can't believe what I'm reading here! Are you guys sure that it wasn't the sister Hornady SSTs your describing? I do know that the blue sabot 40/50 Shockwave 200 grainers are more difficult than the black sabot 250s & 300s, but if you can't load T/C-packaged sabot/bullets in your rifle, I don't know of any (other than Harvester, Precision or Buffalo) that you can load & I've tried them all in various rifles... including Winchester, Nosler bullets.... etc. I'm beginning to wonder if BPI/CVA/Winchester/New Frontier have narrowed their bore sizes to accomodate Powerbelts better.

Had I just purchased such a tough loading sabot rifle, I would of returned it to the manufacturer after the first range session.

I am using the 250 grain shockwaves... I have a new TC Omega, but both my father (TC Encore) and friend (remington) have the same problem. Basically you are cutting groves in the plastic while you push it through the rifling, so there is where the problem exists.

On the other hand My friend had a gun (I think it was a Knight) that was .504 and was significantly easier to load the shockwaves.

I will be using powerbelts from now on, range and accuracy are more than sufficient for my hunting needs.

The Shockwave ads say they beat the powerbelts at 200 yards. Who shoots ML at 200 yards? In my woods, a 50 yard shot is the norm. Up to 100 yards is max for me so the powerbelts are the way to go, makes things so much more enjoyable. Going down the bore the bullet does not touch rifling. ON ignition, the bullet expands and engages the rifling on the way out. The copper jacket keeps lead fouling a non-issue too.

I have found that when using sabots, I absolutely had to swab the bore between shots to maintain accuracy, even if I could get the thing seated on the powder without swabbing. I also discovered that if you lube the sabot in any way, you'll ruin accuracy also!