Sabots vs. Bullets
What are the pros and cons to hunting whitetail with Sabots and bullets. I'm getting everything together for my first muzzleloader hunt this fall and this is my last hurdle. I've believe sabots are the load of choice hands down. Also pros and cons of individual bullet weights. I know that the smaller the weight the higher the velocity but less energy. I'm leaning towards 300gr. aeroTip Powerbelts. Or the T/c Spire tipped sabots. Both in .50cal.
CZ 40P
Browning HP
Browning BuckMark Target
CVA .50
JC Higgins-16
CZ 40P
Browning HP
Browning BuckMark Target
CVA .50
JC Higgins-16
0
-
I have muzzleloader hunted for about 10 years now. I started out with TC Maxi-hunter bullets. Didn't like them at all. I switched to Barnes Solid Coppers the next year, and haven't looked back scince. in my honest opinion, there isn't a better sabot anywhere on the market that's as good as the Barnes. I wouldn't take a truckload of aerotips for free over buying Barnes. They are absolutely accurate, and absolutely devastating on deer. I have yet to lose a deer shot with the Barnes, and I've shot a bunch, so try them, and I promise you, you won't look back either. 0 -
Great. Thanks for your imput. One concern would be sighting my MLoader, as far as how much the ammo will cost me. Any other info is still appreciated. Also is it true that you need to clean after each shot with a sabot???
CZ - 40P
Browning - HP
Browning - BuckMark Target
CVA - .50cal
JC Higgins- bolt action 16ga.0 -
At Cabelas, Barnes MZ sabots are around $10.00 for 10 sabots. Yes, they are a little spendy, but plenty worth it. I usually sight-in with TC cheap shots, which can also be purchased through Cabelas for about $5.00 for 25 rounds. We're talking 250 gr. bullets, which is plenty for whitetails. I use 100 grains of Triple 7 powder. Any more powder than 100 grains is a waste of powder as far as I'm concerned, and I don't shoot past about 125 yards or so. If I have to shoot whitetails past 150 yards, then I'm not a very good deer hunter, and I need to evaluate my strategies. Oh yes I know about all the stories of 200 yard shots, and they are probably true for the most part. I just consider myself a better hunter than that. Anyway, as far as cleaning after every shot, I usually run a patch or two down the barrel when I'm sighting in. I probably don't need too, but I just do it because it makes me feel better. 0 -
Ditto on the Barnes MZ bullets. Absolutely lethal on deer. I tried many of the others and the Barnes just shot better out of mt T/C. BTW, these same bullets are sold under the Knight line. Good luck... 0 -
do either one of you guys use those Barnes MZ sabots in cold weather ? most sabots are just about impossible to get down the barrel when the temps drop , thats the one really nice thing about power belts they loads easy no matter what the temp is or how dirty your barrel is 0 -
Power belt are more accurate than round balls. 0 -
i prefer the hollowpoint powerbelts. they are accurate and cheaper than the barnes.
When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.0 -
Yes, I shoot Barnes in the cold Iowa winters during the bonus season in January. I've had no problems with them. They may load a little harder. I've never given it much thought. Yes, the powerbelts are cheaper than the MZ's, but you get what you pay for. I've heard mixed reports from fellow hunters that I work with. They tried the Powerbelts. They didn't have any bad things to say about the accuracy, but they weren't impressed with the terminal performance. They said they didn't seem to expand very well, and they had lost some deer before I turned them on to the Barnes, and they were changed forever. They couldn't believe the difference in the way they punched a hole in the ribcage. They said they'd never seen a hole like that with the Powerbelts. 0 -
I'll probably catch hell for saying this, but I don't like shooting sabots worth a dam out of a muzzleloader. I have owned 3 different smokepoles and none of them would group sabots consistently. The key word here is consistently. I had a Thompson Thunderhawk with a 1 in 38" twist, a Remington 700 w/a 1 in 28" twist and now a Encore w/ a 1 in 26" twist and none of them would group any brand of sabot worth a dime. I use maxi-balls or maxi-hunters with excellent,CONSISTENT accuracy. I tried different brands of sabots and different powders and different charges to no avail. I cleaned the barrel after each shot, no dice. the maxi- ball groups touch at 100 yds and are devastating on a deer. I have never been able to figure out why the sabots don't perform for me because my Mossberg slug gun groups the 12 ga. sabots fine at 100 yds.
Now, the Powerbelts are the best thing on the market I have read and heard people say. I bought some a few years ago and have not tried them yet, but a bunch of people I know have tried them with excellent consistent accuracy. Good luck with the sabots if you try them. I personally would stick with the Powerbelts and pocket the extra cash.
"They call me Don. Dr. Jason Donald Dalinger."0 -
Ok.... After going to every manufactures web sites and ask alot of people, this is what I have decided. Tell me what you think or if you have had good/bad luck. LIKE/DISLIKE?????
Winchester Supreme Platinum tipped hollowpoints in 260gr. size.
Will that provide enough power?
Check them out...
http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/muzzleplatinum.aspx
I've decided with my limited skill, barnes will cost me a fortune to sight in. I love what I hear about them however. Maybe I'll sight in with the Winchesters and try the barnes rds. after to see what group I can get? When I get more skillfull I'll definitely go to barnes or nosler.
CZ - 40P 40S&W
Browning - Hi Power 9mm
Browning - BuckMark Target
Marlin - Model 60 .22lr
CVA - Buckhorn .50cal
JC Higgins - bolt action 16ga
Savage - .22lr/.410ga over/under0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
10 comments