Sabots How light is too light.

[burntmuch]

Was looking at some 45 cal hornady 185 or 200 grn xtps. Would those be to light to use in a sabot, for deer?
                                                                                                                                               Jay

[alsaqr]

Never used the 180 and 200 grain XTP bullets.  They seem too light to me.  Have always used the 240 grain .44 caliber XTP bullets.  Have killed about 15 deer and dozens of hogs with that bullet.  Most were bang flops.   

[flintlock]

For deer, most guys use bullets that are 240-300 grs...The Hornady .451 300gr XTP is also a good bullet...

[Redhawk1]

My son was using the 195 gr. Barnes bullets in his 45 Cal Encore. He shot many of deer with them with great results.

[gt2003]

I originally shot a 300 grain bullet and have gone down all the way to a 220 grain bullet over 80 grains of 777 powder.  I was skeptical at first but I wouldn't go back now.  These things kill like nothing else.  It will obviously depend on the twist of your barrel, what your gun likes etc.  I've heard of many people using bullets as light as 195 grains with excellent results.  The best thing about the lighter bullets is the reduction in recoil.  Good luck, Greg

[Biff Mayhem]

The grain size is fine -- just use a different non-pistol bullet. Move to a Dead Center or X-tended Range/QT bullet.

http://www.cabelas.com/products/Ccat200005.jsp

[Semisane]

Regarding the Hornady 185 grain XTPs. 

I bought a box of Hornady .451 185 grain HP/XTPs at a gun show recently.  It was the "old" style black & white box with perforated metal reinforcing strips on the corners - not the red & white box Hornady is currently using.  It had a paper slip inside that I have never seen before.  It states:

"XTP bullets were designed for best performance at a range if impact velocities given below.  This range has been found to be optimum for maximum penetration and expansion.
 
  #45100  45 Cal-185 HP/XTP   750-1450 fps
  #45140  45 Cal-200 HP/XTP   700-1250 fps
  #45160  45 Cal-230 HP/XTP   800-1250 fps
  #45200  45 Cal-250 HP/XTP   800-1600 fps
  #45230  45 Cal-300 HP/XTP   800-1700+fps "

So, the problem is that you would have to shoot a pretty light load to keep the 185s in the recommended range.  They may be fine on a 100 yard shot, yet blow up with a 30 yard shot.  I haven't shot or chronographed the 185s yet, but 240 grain XTPs clock at 1886 fps (3 shot average) 15 feet from the muzzle of my Lyman Mustang with 110 grains Triple 7 FFFG.  The same bullet averages 1602 fps with 100 grains Pyrodex.  Personally, I would not use the 185s for deer.  Why take the chance?

 

[burntmuch]

Thanks for the info Semisane. But acording to your numbers your load would blow up at 30 yrds as well. I never thought about it  that way. I was concerned with the length of the bullet ,not being as accurate.    Jay

[Semisane]

OOPS!  Left out an important fact.  The 240 grain is an XTP/MAG.  The Hornady XTP Magnum bullets are rated for higher velocities than the regular XTPs.

Check out the article at the following site.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/underrated_hornady_XTP.htm

[elkstalkr]

If you use a Barnes all copper bullet, size is not an issue.  My wife was punching holes completely thru deer last year with a 40 caliber 175grain bullet.  Barnes DOES NOT come apart. 

If you use a standard copper/lead bullet, I would not go smaller than 200 for sure, and if you are hunting big northern deer, maybe even 250.  Thats just my opinion, smaller bullets will certainly kill deer, just preference.

[slave]

I am not sure if it is the bullet weight, diameter or length, but I seem to get better groups with 250gr and up out of my 50cals. The lighter, smaller diameter / thicker sabots or shorter length bullets always spread my groups out to 3" and 4" at 100 yds. I find it hard to shoot a load like that when I can get .75" with 250gr shock waves or 300gr Barnes not to mention several between.