Sabots for a 45-70 (.458)?

[FLS]

Just curious if some sabot/bullet combination exist?  Lighter, smaller diameter bullet with a better coefficient than traditional 458's.

[Semisane]

Sure.  It's pretty easy to match traditional 45-70 loads, and they are very effective.  Use MMP's orange 50 caliber sabot for .457/.458 diameter bullets.

Here's a low velocity load with Remington 300 grain semi-jacketed hollow points.



And here's one with 405 grain .458 cast bullets (wheel weights from a Lee mold).

[FLS]

Sorry but I'm a little confused.  Please bare with me (sometimes I'm more simple than others).  Question?  If it's a "50 caliber sabot" how does it fit in a 45-70 which has a .458 bore?  If you start out with a factory 300gr bullet (.458 diameter) intended to be loaded in a gun with a .458 bore, how can you stick IT in a plastic sabot which ADDS more overall diameter and load it in a 45-70 cartridge?  Like I said, I'm feeling like I'm missing something here . . .  thanks for your patience.

[Semisane]

Sorry, my bad.  I thought you were talking about using 45-70 bullets in a muzzle loader (ML forum, ya` know  ).   

Both Harvester and MMP make .45 caliber sabots for .40 caliber bullets, and MMP makes a .45 caliber sabot for .355/.357 bullets.  I suppose they would work, though I've never heard of them being used that way.  I have a 45-70 Browning 1885 and can't think of any reason to try to improve on the load I'm shooting (300 grain Rem SJHP @ 2000 fps with 58 grains IMR 3031 - shoots 1" @ 100 yards and under 3" @ 200).

You might check the black powder cartridge rifle forum and big bore rifle forum.

[rickyp]

it will work, I have done it a few times you have to be careful not to push the sabot to fast as the sabot will strip past the relatively  short rifling of a 45-70 barrel.