too tight!

[oldrookie]

Boys, I had a blast tonight dialing in the scope on the Optima. I ran out of power belts and had some hornady .45 xtp's. These hornadys came with black sabots and were really a snug fit. In fact, so tight, I finally bent my ram rod. They really shot nice and for range purposes half the cost!

Do you guys see any problem in using a little bore butter as a lube to help these sabots along? I will ultimately use the power belt platinum come deer season. Just brings water to your eyes after plucking 2-3 dozen in a day session.

[Mac11700]

I don't think I would use lube on the sabots...I think I would get a thinner sabot..but I'm just a rookie at these things...

Glad it's shooting go for ya though

Mac

[lik2hunt]

Run a patch of bore butter down the pipe between shots and then dry patch once or twice afterward. Sabots will slide like hot "butter".

[oldrookie]

Thanks for the info guys. I think I will use the one's I have left with a little butter. It was suggested on another site the Optima's like the HP-12 (I think) MMP sabot which is thinner.

If I can figure out how to post pics, I will post them Sunday. I finished at the 25 yard table 2 - 2 1/2" high. I will move to the 100 yard table and see where she is. Right off the bat I was 4" high and 2" left and put first 5-6 shots touching each other.

I hammered the rod back to straight....little flat in a few spots but manageable. Any suggestions for a range rod? This one is destined for hunts only.

[Mac11700]

I bought a Knight 30" range rod last week at Cabela's...They wanted way too much for the T/C rod...and this one spins nicely with a large T handle

Mac

[nomosendero]

I have one of those as well. They work very well & solves the bending problem.

[S.S.]

I ruined a nice barrel with Bore Butter..
It turned into a hard black glaze in the grooves.
Never again will I use it.. They said I must have used it with some sort of
petroleum based chemical to get this reaction... Nope, Just hot water...
The super tight fit may be because of this buildup beginning in your
rifle also if you have been using Bore Butter.
I have an Optima that is a little difficult (not terribly though) to load after a couple of shots If I do not swab the bore. I swab after every shot. In the field, the first and most important shot
is coming from a clean bore, I practice that way too, Clean bore for every shot.
The XTP bullet you are referring to is what I used this past deer season.
Over 2 - 50 grain 777 pellets. Exit wound was impressive, Range was less than 50
yards.

[oldrookie]

Thanks SS. I didn't clean between shots the first time around. This past weekend, I used clear windex after each shot. Still did not slide like power belts but easy enough the rod was able to handle it.

Side question with the loading process. Jamming all these loads appears to be giving the recoil pad on the Optima a work out. I usually have the butt sitting on my boot as opposed to the concrete. Any ideas on saving wear on the pad?

[S.S.]

I load with it on my foot also. I started doing that probably 25 years ago
to keep from scratching up my brass butt-plates.