Why shoot only lead in sabots?

[wreckhog]

Seems like a .45 wadcutter of iron rod would have a nice meplat in a .50 sabot. No deformation of bullet tips. No concern about expansion. No health related lead concerns. No pollution related lead concerns. Biodegradeable. Can't be any worse ballistically than round balls. Can't use a bullet puller, but with CO2, you can eject the bullet. Might be some corrosion issues. Not that I have the resources to cut/turn these. But iron is cheap enough if you can fabricate it.

Do anyone do this?

[PA-Joe]

Iron does not haqve the density of lead. Read about the waterfowl hunting issues with steel shot. You don't have to use pure lead in a sabot. You can use XTP's or any other bullet.

[Semisane]

That would be interesting wreckhog.  I've never heard of anyone trying.  A 300 grain .452 bullet like the XTP or Gold Dot is a little over 0.9" long.  I wonder how much a billet of iron .452 X 0.95 would weigh?

[wreckhog]

Steel is about 70% of lead density. Steel vs iron about the same? A wadcutter would be heavier than a hollowpoint. Wildass guessing around 240-250 grains? Copper is about the same density as steel.