Sabots: .44 vs .45

[wtfooptimax200]

Does anyone have real world experience with using .44 bullets vs .45 bullets in 50 cal MLs? It seems that MMP offers far more sabot choices in the .45 bullet compatible sizes. What do you favor?

[tomme boy]

I like the .40cal bullets. http://www.prbullet.com/pt.htm

They are very accurate. I have shot 9 deer with them an have never lost any. Under 75 yards you are not going to get a pass threw. These are 175-275lb deer. Don't know how big yours are.

[excess650]

I have a TC Omega and have shot both 44cal and 45cal in sabots. Most of my shooting has been with TC Shockwaves or Hornady SSTs. I have shot 44cal XTPs, 44cal Gold Dots, and 45cal XTPs and don't really see any difference in accuracy. I had it out Friday and shot it for the first time since November of last year. 110gr Blackhorn 209 250gr TC Shockwave W209 primer 3 shots in 3/4" at 100 yards, centered 2" high. I put it away as there wasn't any sense in wasting more powder or sabots.

I also have a TC Grey Hawk 1-48" twist and tried 240-250gr XTPs in it and they shot better than any PRB or conical that I ever tried in that rifle(blackpowder).

A friend was shooting some 40cal the other day and they seemed to be working OK, but I know he'll be loading 250gr Shockwaves or SSTs when hunting in Iowa. He has 2 or 3 Omegas, had a Savage, Remington and more, but now only Omegas, and all 50cal. He has experimented extensively and prefers Harvester Sabots over MMPs. He shoots BH209 exclusively.

If you limit your shooting to 150 yards, I'm not sure there is much to choose 44cal vs 45cal. When shooting longer distances, I think the higher sectional densities and ballistic coefficients of the pointed SSTs come into play.

I've shot both MMP and Harvesters and can't see any difference.

[Crawdaddy]

I cast my own bullets and have tried .429 and .458. I have a Vortek rifle and pistol. I got much better accuracy with .458. I used harvester crushed rib sabots.

I didn't use any factory bullets.

Factory bullets may shoot differently. Dunno.

The bullet I use for hunting is a 450 gr, I get 1557 fps at the muzzle and can shoot minute of angle at 100 yards. (90 grains of BH 209)

The pistol shoots the same bullet and I can get 2 inch groups at 50 yards with a red dot sight. I use 50 gr of BH 209.

These things pack a wallop.

[Blammer]

Does anyone have real world experience with using .44 bullets vs .45 bullets in 50 cal MLs? It seems that MMP offers far more sabot choices in the .45 bullet compatible sizes. What do you favor?

what twist is your barrel? that will pretty much determine what wt projectile you can use.

mine is 48T, and it will shoot 240gr 44 cal's very well, but get any heavier and you can forget groups and go directly to shotgun patterning.

As far as the 45's, I've shot the 185gr and 230gr ball, with sabot and they both shot as well as the 44's for accuracy.

Unless your going with 100gr FFG equivilent or more you can use the standard sabots, you won't need the high pressure/velocity/magnum sabots.

I personally like the full bore maxi hunters. :)