sabot....shoot....wait....shoot....wait

[El Lobo]

Hey Guys,

In reading another thread, I've seen that the folks who are shooting the Savage Smokeless ML have to wait between shots for the barrel to cool before reloading so the sabot won't melt!  Hmmmmm......

How about other muzzleloaders that use sabot with blackpowder, or substitute?  Do all you guys have to wait between shots because of the sabot?  I'm contemplating a non-smokeless sabot ml  rifle at this point......checking the stopwatch has not been part of the plan!!!

Lobo in West Virginia

[slave]

El Lobo,

I have never had any issues with my Encore. I typicaly will shot, check the target with my scope, run a spit patch then a dry patch and re load. Can not take more than two or three min to get off the next shot. After a group of three to five rounds I may pull the target place a new one up and start over. I use 112gr to 120 gr of T7.

My barrel has got warm but know way near hot enough to melt my sabot. 

[kb]

If you want to reproduce the 'first shot accuracy', they you have to wait as with all guns.  The warm barrel softens the sabot, and will change the dynamics of the shot.  Some feel that it will create a blow-by.

Check out Dougs Message boards for a forum specifically about shooting the savage.  Google it.  Those guys are the real experts.

kb

[simonkenton]

The sabot doesn't actually melt with the Savage. It just gets too warm.

[Redhawk1]

El Lobo, I have shot 5 shot groups without any break between shots. The barrel did not get hot and my accuracy stayed right on.
I have done this a lot of time on the range. I shoot, remove the spent primer, pour powder down the barrel, load a sabot and bullet and re-prime and aim and shoot.  I am using an Pro-hunter Encore with Remington Kleen bore 209 primers, I also do the same with my Standard M/L Encore using a 25 ACP breech plug.
Never had a problem with my accuracy. 

[Oldsnow]

Guys how many times have you taken a shot at a deer or any thing with your muzzleloader,witch is loaded with black powder or a BP substitute and had to wait for the smoke to clear before you could see if you hit what you were shooting at? I have done this to many times.
 
I now shoot a Savage M/L II smokeless. I don,t like shooting any thing and not knowing if I hit it, or in what direction it ran.
 
Waiting between shots at the range is a small price to pay,for accuracy when you are hunting and planing to kill something.

Know matter what rifle you are shooting enjoy your self and be safe.   

[Redhawk1]

I know them moment that I pull the trigger if I hit the animal I am shooting at. Sorry but I know my guns and I know my shooting ability. If my cross hairs are on the target the bullet will go where I was aiming. 

Sure there is smoke and sometimes it is hard to see the animal after the shot, that is Muzzleloading or is there something I am missing here. Muzzleloading = smoke. That is when your tracking skill come into play, if indeed you even need to track the animal. I have had the smoke clears and there was the animal, dead.
The accuracy of my Encore M/L's is not even a question, 1 inch groups at 100 yards is not a problem. 

[elkstalkr]

I shoot a savage.  Never had any problem with my sabots.  They shoot just fine at the range, never noticed accuracy issues due to a overheated sabot. 

Sometimes I will let my barrel cool, as I do with any gun when shooting.

[flintlock]

None issue for me...I always swab between shots...

[simonkenton]

elkstalkr--What load are you shooting?

[elkstalkr]

Shooting 300 grain Hornady XTP with a MMP Sabot and approximately 42 grains of 5744 (3.1 Lee Dipper)

[simonkenton]

So you can shoot three shots in six minutes and still get good groups?
I am shooting the 250 SST and 43 grains of V.V. N110. In 70 degree weather, the fifteen minute wait is a must.
I have heard that some powders are less sensitive to heat. I think the V.V. N120 is one of them.
I might have to give the 5744 a try. I have a pound of it.

[elkstalkr]

Well I never have timed myself to be honest with you.

Here is a group I shot with the gun this summer.  I shot once, made an adjustment and then the last 4 shots together were my group.  Suppose it took me 15-20 minutes to shoot all those rounds.  I would shoot, load, shoot, load........So the only time that elapsed between each shot was scooping out powder, pushing a bullet in and replacing the primer.

[Greenhunter]

I have noticed 2 small nicks in my bases of my sabots that I shoot out of my .50 Encore. they are at 10 and 2 o'clock as you look at the bottom of the bases. all of them are like that.
should I use a sub-base to protect the sabot?
 or is something else needed to be done to rectify this?
 my groups are about 2" at 100 yrds   

[rks1949]

It sounds like you might have a small burr in the barrel. You could use some J&B and lapp the bore if it really bothers you. 2 inches isn't that shabby at 100yds.

[simonkenton]

elkstalkr:  That is a good group with no wait in warm weather. My load won't do that. I have heard that the 5744 is good for warm weather.
Also, you can use sub bases from MMP and shoot the same load in warm weather without waiting and get accuracy.
Some guys shoot reduced loads in warm weather, but I don't want to do that.