Hogtamer
05-15-2014, 06:54 PM
Review: After lots of reading and inquiries, decided to pursue home-rolled saboted rounds in a rifled 870 express. Thanks much to all who have worked and invested time and money in this project, specifically Ed Hubel who actually manufactured the sabots after much trial. I set about acquiring Steel powder, magnum primers (CCI), Hubel sabots, BPI x12x op and 1/4 felt wads. Also, a Lee modern minie .575-440 gr mold and a .575-500 gr traditional minie mold (this mold casts 50 grns overweight for total of 550 grn, ~ 1 1/4 oz). Both cast excellent slugs from COWW that I smelted but diameter @ .577 - .578. Neither would work in the sabots, creating a bulge in hull that was not chamberable. Big disappointment. So I brought out the dremel tool as I had some little "drum sander" attachments that accomplished exactly what I needed to do: grind off the internal lip midway down the sabot that is apparently designed to "click" into a minie groove and hold it securely. Quick and easy but having taken off some material I was unsure that the sabot was then thick enough to engage the rifling as designed. Got my answer today.
First load was Federal 2 3/4 hull, 45 grs Alliant Steel w/CCI magnum 209 primer, x12x op wad, 1/4" felt cushion, 440 modern minie in sabot, 6 pt crimp. Shot off hood of truck with foam padding for a rest. All following shots were measured 57 yds, odd distance but just eyeballed it till after I shot. BOOM!!! The load gets your attention and is not for those averse to heavy recoil. That shot is the well centered orange mark. I flinched like a dog on the second shot (orange mark to the left).
105005
2nd load (the 3 blue marks) were 3" Federal hulls, same primer, 50 grs Steel, same wads and cushion, same slugs and good 6 pt crimp. I'm thinking this is gonna hurt, so doubled a jacket behind recoil pad and leaned in hard. I don't have much eye relief on current scope and it was a close call! Tapped bridge of nose but managed to not jerk too bad.
3rd load (the 2 pale yellow marks) were Remington 3" hulls, same set-up except 550 grn traditional minie. I thought this is REALLY gonna hurt and I wasn't disappointed. I'm sure I jerked the trigger pretty bad both times. The 2nd of these loads nailed me on the bridge of the nose (no blood but eye-watering and worth a little mild cussin). Called it a day on that note. Intention was to shoot at 100 yds too, but coming off the powder charge before that happens. The next test will be 45 grns or less in 3" hulls with both slugs. Other than a little bruising I was elated with the result. From a good rest and a more moderate charge it looks like the quest will be most satisfactory.
A word abot scopes on shotguns : average mounts won't take the punishment, and I'll be getting a shorter scope with more eye relief - borrowed this old Redfield off my 270. I've got 5 screws in the base tapped into the receiver. The regular ring mount screws kept jarring loose so I tapped 4 bigger screws to hold that on....looks like heck but substantial enough, finally. The millet red dot I tried initially didn't hack it.
105006
First load was Federal 2 3/4 hull, 45 grs Alliant Steel w/CCI magnum 209 primer, x12x op wad, 1/4" felt cushion, 440 modern minie in sabot, 6 pt crimp. Shot off hood of truck with foam padding for a rest. All following shots were measured 57 yds, odd distance but just eyeballed it till after I shot. BOOM!!! The load gets your attention and is not for those averse to heavy recoil. That shot is the well centered orange mark. I flinched like a dog on the second shot (orange mark to the left).
105005
2nd load (the 3 blue marks) were 3" Federal hulls, same primer, 50 grs Steel, same wads and cushion, same slugs and good 6 pt crimp. I'm thinking this is gonna hurt, so doubled a jacket behind recoil pad and leaned in hard. I don't have much eye relief on current scope and it was a close call! Tapped bridge of nose but managed to not jerk too bad.
3rd load (the 2 pale yellow marks) were Remington 3" hulls, same set-up except 550 grn traditional minie. I thought this is REALLY gonna hurt and I wasn't disappointed. I'm sure I jerked the trigger pretty bad both times. The 2nd of these loads nailed me on the bridge of the nose (no blood but eye-watering and worth a little mild cussin). Called it a day on that note. Intention was to shoot at 100 yds too, but coming off the powder charge before that happens. The next test will be 45 grns or less in 3" hulls with both slugs. Other than a little bruising I was elated with the result. From a good rest and a more moderate charge it looks like the quest will be most satisfactory.
A word abot scopes on shotguns : average mounts won't take the punishment, and I'll be getting a shorter scope with more eye relief - borrowed this old Redfield off my 270. I've got 5 screws in the base tapped into the receiver. The regular ring mount screws kept jarring loose so I tapped 4 bigger screws to hold that on....looks like heck but substantial enough, finally. The millet red dot I tried initially didn't hack it.
105006