sabots versus conicals

Guys and Predator

From your experience, what bullet type is more accurate ? I am from Colorado and I can't hunt with sabots, therefore I haven't shot any. I am assuming that the advantage of the sabots is that you can push the smaller bullet faster out of a bigger bore, thus flattening your trajectory a little. From you guys that have shot both bullet types out of your muzzleloader, what were the differences that you guys saw?

Thanks in advance for you input,
COBUK

I have shot sabots and I switched to Paper Patched Conical's. I think the paper patched bullets are every bit as accurate as the sabots. But I think the paper patched bullets are more consistent.
Ron

Depends on what your Gun Likes!

I myself like major Damage Once I decide to pull the Trigger!

600 Grain Power Punch Conicals!

Or!

The Heaviest Conicals 'No Excuses' make!

You gotta find what your Gun likes!











I used to know of places worth Hiking in to for Elk & Deer!
Thanks to Illegal Bastards & the USFS not enforcing Rules you can Zing in to them Places on Wheelers now & not see a Damn thing!
But by GAWD it don't take long for them U-Tards to get there with all the Unethical BS and the New Technology!

Have shot both, killed game with both. Advantages I've noticed with conicals is most are much easier to load. Heavier weight for better down range "knock down power" usually cheaper( minus the power belt).Disadvantages slower, allows more gas blow by, not quite as accurate( at least out of my guns) sabots advantage like you said more speed due to lighter weight seems to hold better accuracy at longer ranges. Less gas blow by due to tighter seal in barrel. More available at local stores. Disadvantages looses kienitec energy faster due to lighter weight, most are harder to load, usually cost more, harder to clean due to plastic build up,not legal in all states. As far as performance on game have had great luck with both, killed several elk with the hornaday FPB 350 with great results. Also had similar results with the 290 Barnes T-EZ. Try both and shoot what shoots the best out of your gun

As to the accuracy, no question for me it's saboted bullets (up to this point). I am getting under 1.5 MOA at 300 yards with sabots that still have enough retained energy to do the deed. I tried full bore dia bullets and got 12" groups.

I shoot heavy bullets in sabots. I see no need to shoot a deer with a 600gr bullet. Although I may use the .52 cal with conicals for elk though. This is still to be determined. I am going to try some tipped jacketed .50 cal bullet first to see how they perform.

With equal weight, the saboted bullet will be narrower and longer. This usually translates to higher BC and SD numbers. I do shoot full diameter bullets in my .45 cal ML though. I with I could use it for elk in Colorado. The Match Hunter bullets have a very high BC and are very deadly on elk even when pushed at high speed.

Hntbambi, Do you use the Match hunters in your .45 with out a sabbot? What are your results?

I used sabots and a 1x dot scope a few years ago in UT. I pretty much practiced every week for several months prior to the season and could nail a pie plate every time at 200 yards. The toughest part about shooting longer distances for me was my eyes! I found it was essential to have a dot that is needle thin and bright enough in low light conditions to see. Obviously the larger the dot the more area it will cover on your intended target...the farther away it is. A 1x that is legal in UT is pretty much what you can see with your nakid eye. I never put a higher powered scope on my muzzy but imagine I could shoot a lot farther distances with a scope. I ended up nailing my UT bull twice at 218 yards before he finally went down.

I have yet to swap over to what is legal here in Colo. I have a feeling with open sights my distance will be limited by my eyes and what type of iron sights I use just as much as by what conicals/bullets I use...especially past 150 yards.

Totally depends on your muzzle loader. My Winchester is a total tac driver with conicals (2"-3"). My father had to go with sabots in his t/c after nothing better then a 12" with conicals(6" with sabots). After seeing his group shrink by roughly half I tried sabots zero luck. My group increased to 6"-8".