Right now, I'll be shooting the .40 XTP in a blue sabot, or blue crush rib sabot as Mark suggested in a reply to me. The gun is a .45 cal. I may decide to sneak into the sabot-less world, but not right away. The former owner shot the gun smokeless, and I am anxious to try it that way too, but I think for the immediate future I'll be using Blackhorn simply because I know it works with the components I have, and I want to at least get the gun shooting reasonably tight before going smokeless. The scope has been replaced so I need to get it bore sighted then range sighted. I'll have some vials of smokeless along to try after I get the gun printing on paper good just to know how things are going to work. I have the IMR 4198 on hand but am looking to try another powder.... any suggestions other than the H4198 which is mythical around here along with the N120. I can get N110 I think. I also plan to try the 225 grain .40 stay tipped Furys and will likely use that bullet to hunt deer if they fly well.
I'll be perfectly clear; I have no intentions of shooting long range or hunting at long range with the majority of my deer hunting shots being well under 50 yards. I've read a bunch on smokeless shooting here at MM and find the smokeless shooting intriguing. The Patriot makes it reality now. As per my usual, I'll plan to take a deer this next fall with the Patriot since it's the "new" gun in my stable, I've done this with every "new to me" gun I have owned, more than likely though the gun will be used to poke holes in paper, however I may give the coyote population a wake-up call if I can get it dialed in to shoot fairly tight.
