|
|
Post by DHinMN on Apr 10, 2008 15:35:31 GMT -5
I noticed that Hornady has a 54/44 sabot bullet combination. It consists of a white sabot and a 44 caliber 265 grain flatnose bullet. It looks like the same bullet that they use in their Marlin 444 light magnum rifle cartridge. I think it has been around quite a while but I've never heard any body talk about it. Has anybody out there had any experience with it? DH
|
|
|
|
Post by wilmsmeyer on Apr 10, 2008 23:59:08 GMT -5
I can not vouch for the sabot but I did handload that bullet, and shot factory loads with that bullet, in my Marlin .444 when I was in highschool. The bullet was a good one and at BP velocities I would say it should be great on deer. I killed one doe with this bullet when I was 18 or so.
My .54 thunderhawk loves the hornaday .54/.44 sabot and .429 240 XTPs. Ragged hole groups at 100 yds with 100 gr FFg.
|
|
|
|
Post by indiana1234 on Jun 23, 2008 22:29:31 GMT -5
Have you tried the 300 grain XTP's?
|
|
|
|
Post by DHinMN on Jul 8, 2008 14:35:40 GMT -5
Apparently this Bullet-Sabot combination is not too popular. But at least Wilmsmeyer says the bullet is a good one. What I had in mind is using this bullet with a Harvester 50/44 sabot. They make two of them, a crush rib and an easy load both comparable to the black crush rib and easy load that we use in the Savage rifles. Being this bullet is made for a rifle and has the Hornady “Interlock” system that holds the bullet together I thought it might be a good hunting bullet to use in the Savage. Velocity should be right at what the bullet is designed for. Also you can get a box of 100 of them for about $30. Being no one has tried this combination that I have heard of, I figured I would have to try it myself. Preliminary tests look promising. I have a 3 shot 1 ½ inch group and some where two are touching or very close and a third shot that opened up the group. I can tell already that it is accurate enough to use for hunting in my conditions. It is too hot now for further testing. Hunting season temperatures are usually between 45 to 15 below zero, so further testing now seems pointless. If I get some really good results I will probably post it on the Savage board.
Another point I thought was interesting is that I heard that Harvester has a 50/40 Sabot out now or is about to have one. If you can have a 54/44 sabot-bullet combo that is successful why not a 50/40 combo. I guess we will see what develops. DH
|
|
