Frozen Sabots?

[gwolbrink]

I need some advice.  I was out shooting yesterday and battling some accuracy issues.  I went downrange and looked for sabots and they were all in pieces.  The petals were all off and some of the bases were cracked in half.  Now I should mention the details.
Winchester Apex 50 cal.
100 grains 777 pellets.
240gn TC Cheap Shot Sabot. (bullet and sabot combo pack)
Now the temp was between 5 and 7 degrees out.  Could it be that the air temp was making them brittle or maybe they are just brittle to begin with.  They do load tight, so I am wondering if they are not cracking when they get seated against the powder.  How tight should they be seated against the pellets?  I make sure they are good and tight and that might be doing it.  Any advice would sure be helpful.

[gwolbrink]

I did a small test and stuck a cheap shot sabot, mmp, and a harvester sabot outside (6 degrees today) for 1/2 hour.  All three were plyable so they are not getting brittle, but why are the cheap shot sabots breaking?  Would this affect my accuracy?

[sabotloader]

gwolbrink

Petals breaking off the sabot are really not a big deal.  Usually the sabot has separated from the projectile by the time the petals break off.

some of the bases were cracked in half.

I am not sure why the base is breaking - never seen that happen.

Look at the base (powder cup) if the cup has a stair-step base it is probably a MMP HPH-24.  If it has a smooth cup with a small plastic stub in the middle it could be a Harvester.

I have sabots in that cold weather several times, but I have never seen the base (cup) break.

[gwolbrink]

They are the sabot that are black and have steps in the powder cup.  I don't think it is a temperature issue now.  I ran out of time at the range but I am going to try switching to Harvester sabots and see what happens.