Sabots for 50's: 44 or 45 Caliber Bullets?

[brownsfan]

"When shooting a 50 caliber rifle use sabots designed for use with 45 caliber bullets.  Sabots designed for 44 caliber bullets have proven to be less successul."
This quote from Hodgdon Pyrodex (Pellets) Manual - Page 1.
Is everyone in agreement on this?

[Bullseye]

I can shoot either in mine with about the same accuracy with less than 100 grs. of powder.  I have a friend that has the same gun and the 44 cals. keyhole on him with 100 gr.  Have another friend that has the same gun and can shoot either.

Bottom line in my opinion, that statement is generally true but in some guns it does not matter.  The only reason I mess with the 44 cal is because they load much easier in my gun.

[Bob_K]

I found it to be true in the one instance I tried 50/44 sabots.  My 50/45 are more accurate.  Problem is that is not a lot of data to base an answer on.  My 50/44 sabots were after market, and the 50/45 I used were  Knight, all being fired thru a Knight rifle.  There are lots of reasons why the Knight sabots were better, many not related to the payload diameter.  It may have well be that the Knight sabot fit the Knight barrel better.  The 50/44 load used a cast lead bullet, and the 50/45 load used a swaged bullet.  The difference in accuracy may have been due to swaged being a better bullet.  Nevertheless, I have standardized on 50/45 sabots for my sabot shooting.  (I still use full size 370 grain Maxiballs, too.)

[simonkenton]

That statement is true for the Savage. You must use .452 slugs.

[savageT]

"When shooting a 50 caliber rifle use sabots designed for use with 45 caliber bullets.  Sabots designed for 44 caliber bullets have proven to be less successul."
This quote from Hodgdon Pyrodex (Pellets) Manual - Page 1.
Is everyone in agreement on this?

I believe that Precision Rifle/prbullet.com can offer some valuable information on this question.  Please contact Cecil and ask him what works best for your particular application.

http://www.prbullet.com/


Jim

[RandyWakeman]

"When shooting a 50 caliber rifle use sabots designed for use with 45 caliber bullets.  Sabots designed for 44 caliber bullets have proven to be less successul."
This quote from Hodgdon Pyrodex (Pellets) Manual - Page 1.
Is everyone in agreement on this?

There is no basis for that in fact. Two of the most accurate bullets I've ever used are .40 caliber in .50 caliber sabots, and the .44 / 50 300 Dead Center is equally as good. The .45's are harder to load, in the guns I've tried.

Using a smaller diameter bullet like the .40 allows dramatically higher velocities and ballistic coefficients, for example the 220 grain Dead Center. Compare that with a .45 / 50 250 grain bullet, the ballistics change is profound.

[Omega]

Using a smaller diameter bullet like the .40 allows dramatically higher velocities and ballistic coefficients, for example the 220 grain Dead Center. Compare that with a .45 / 50 250 grain bullet, the ballistics change is profound.

I can agree with the higher ballistic coefficient of the 220 grain .40 bullet but the caliber of the bullet doesn't affect the Muzzle velocity. A 240/.45 bullet will leave the barrel at the same speed as a 240/.40 bullet. My chrono shows me this everyday at the range.
I do agree whether or not there is any science involved that .45 cal bullet shoot far more accurately than any other bullet size/sabot combination out of my T/C's.
Rich

[RandyWakeman]

Rich,

Naturally I agree . . . the lighter bullet weight in the example does that. The attempted point was that performance with a 100 gr. load in a .40 / 50 220 DC is dramatically improved over a 100 gr. 45 / 250 SST, with less recoil as a bonus.

Many muzzleloaders are limited to 100 gr. loose powder by factory recommendation as well, which is why this example was given.

The myth of the thinner sabot being the better sabot may have had some validity in earlier sabot designs or compounds, but it sure has none today. Not sure where Hodgdon got their info, but it is outdated if not plain wrong.

[Omega]

Randy,

got a link where i can find more info on the .40/.50 sabots?  that is intresting and i'd like to read more about them.  this is the first i had heard of them.

http://www.prbullet.com/index.htm
This is the home of the bullets that Randy is talking about.
Rich