lee 358-200rf in a 45cal

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dr1445

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i tried some hornady 357 180gr with the mmp blue 357/45 sabot. that bullet did not sit well in sabot, the best group was about 3/4" 3 shots @ 50yds. i ordered the lee mold 358-200rf which has a base for a gas check so it might sit better in the mmp sabot. i have 2 kodiak 45's one magnum and pro mag, i got 2 to have a parts rifle. i have been working on stoning the trigger/hammer sear and got the triggers down to a decent pull. then a trigger came up on ebay and i grabbed that one.
 
Not sure how similar the bullets are but I tried a 200gr .358 (35 Rem) rifle bullet and they wouldn't stabilize. The 180gr XTP did ok but not when pushed fast enough to make it worth the lower energy downrange.
 
the 200gr 10mm hornady in a harvester 40/45 sabot managed a 1/2" 3 shot group at 50 yds. i will see what happens when i get a few cast. if it doesn't stabilize it must be the extra length. it is a clone of the rem 35 bullet.
 
My experience with 357 bullets in 45 caliber muzzleloaders has been limited to 180 gn LBT cast bullet, MMP Sabots and 1-28 twist barrels. In my case groups would start to open up with charges over 60 grains of 777. Never used this load on game but believe it would be fine for short range whitetail hunting.

I eventually had a .401 caliber mold made that cast a 225 gn bullet that could be used in both 45 and 50 caliber muzzleloaders with 1-28 twist. With 100 gn of 777 it has proven very effective on deer ,most were under 100 yards but did put one down at 150. The 3 bullets on right are of this bullet.
 

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dr1445 said:
the 200gr 10mm hornady in a harvester 40/45 sabot managed a 1/2" 3 shot group at 50 yds. i will see what happens when i get a few cast. if it doesn't stabilize it must be the extra length. it is a clone of the rem 35 bullet.

The 35 Rem bullet needed something like a 1:20 or maybe even faster IIRC.

Saxtonyoung said:
I eventually had a .401 caliber mold made that cast a 225 gn bullet that could be used in both 45 and 50 caliber muzzleloaders with 1-28 twist. With 100 gn of 777 it has proven very effective on deer ,most were under 100 yards but did put one down at 150. The 3 bullets on right are of this bullet.

I'd love to find a bullet like that commercially available. The lead should obturate more than a jacketed bullet and fill the bore a little better and the added weight should keep it together well enough at reasonable velocities.
 
In trying and retrying the 35 in 45 sabot deal I found that using decent hunting bullets required a fast twist to stabilize. 1/28 twist not doable. 1/20 reasonable but some problems with bullets at 200 and very problematic any over 200 grains. Thinking you need a 1/18 minimum and 1/14 be way better to stabilize those long bullets. The problem is the necessary RPM to stabilize and it is not doable with BP or subs in 1/28 twist. 1/20 twist possible but going with moderate SML loads the best bet. I have a good supply of 200 grain 358 bullets so when it cools I'm going to see what I can do. So far 358 cal shooting with bullets at or over 200 grains is problematic. OH how I'd like to get a load to shoot 358 cal 225 grain FP in my SML. Be a real deer stomper at the modest ranges (30 - 150) where I hunt. Until then it's 40 cal 200 grain SST in HSB and 38 grains of 5744. DRT! W
 

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