The power of 3 - New Sabot from MMP
A few months ago I recieved an email from Del Ramsay asking me if I was interested in trying a sabot prototype. I said I'd be happy to and recieved a package of prototypes designated HPH-12L a few days later.
These are 50 cal sabots that measure a thousanth or two under the HPH 24. With a .451 dia. 250 gr Barnes bullet and a HPH 12 measures .503, a HPH 24 and the same bullet, .501, and the HPH 12L measures .499. The sabots also have 3 petals which are wider than the 4 petal versions. They are also shorter than the HPH 12/24 sabots. But will they shoot?
Here you can see a Barnes 250 MZ in both a HPH 12 and a HPH 12L. Notice the shorter petals. Also shown are fired HPH 12 and HPH 12L sabots. The prototypes have round bases and so will the production versions.
I tried the new sabots in two rifles. The test rifles were my T/C Omega with a bore diameter of .500 and my Knight Disc Extreme with a bore diameter of .503. The test loads were 2 Triple Seven Pellets and 250/300 gr .452 XTP's. All groups were shot at 100 yds. unless otherwise noted. Because of the small diameter of the sabots I didn't expect a good grouping with the Extreme but I tested them anyway.
I fired three 3 shot groups with the Disc Extreme. The first group I shot was with the 300 XTP. It measured 2 1/4" with two of the shots just over an inch. The second group I shot was with the 250 XTP. That one measured 3 3/8" which wasn't surprising becuase of the light weight and loose fit. I then decided to try a shot with the fouled bore and see if I could load the combo past the fouling. It loaded easy enough and shot. I tried that twice more for a third group of 1 3/8". In my oversized Knight they shot better in a fouled barrel.
The three groups shot out of the Disc Extreme.
I fired two 5 shot groups out of the omega. The first group was with the 300 XTP and measured 2 3/4". Not a great showing but 3 of the shots were in the same hole! I'm not sure what caused the flyers but I was shocked at that. The second group measured 1 7/8" with two pairs of shots cutting holes! I've still got more shooting to do but the addition of a new rifle and preperation for an upcoming hog hunt have delayed further testing.
The three groups shot out of the T/C Omega.
The next time I went to the range was preparing for an upcoming hog hunt. The groups here were shot at 50 yds. I was going to use a 250 MZ in a HPH 12 sabot in my Disc Extreme. After shooting a group I was curious to see how it would shoot with the HPH 12L and where the point of impact would be. Impact was very close to the other groups. I only adjusted for an inch to the right between groups 1 and 2. Group 3 was fired the same as group 1. Based on my results these could be the ticket for follow up shots without swabbing during hunting in larger bores.
The three groups shot in preperation for the hog hunt.
These have been my results with the prototypes. There have been a number of other shooters testing them but I can only report my results. I'm anxiously awaiting the production version which should be availible in May. If you've got a tight bored rifle such as a T/C Omega these will be worth trying and for larger bores they might be the ticket for a fast follow up shot without swabbing.
Note: HPH 12L is a temporary designation. They are working on the production name.
A few months ago I recieved an email from Del Ramsay asking me if I was interested in trying a sabot prototype. I said I'd be happy to and recieved a package of prototypes designated HPH-12L a few days later.
These are 50 cal sabots that measure a thousanth or two under the HPH 24. With a .451 dia. 250 gr Barnes bullet and a HPH 12 measures .503, a HPH 24 and the same bullet, .501, and the HPH 12L measures .499. The sabots also have 3 petals which are wider than the 4 petal versions. They are also shorter than the HPH 12/24 sabots. But will they shoot?
Here you can see a Barnes 250 MZ in both a HPH 12 and a HPH 12L. Notice the shorter petals. Also shown are fired HPH 12 and HPH 12L sabots. The prototypes have round bases and so will the production versions.
I tried the new sabots in two rifles. The test rifles were my T/C Omega with a bore diameter of .500 and my Knight Disc Extreme with a bore diameter of .503. The test loads were 2 Triple Seven Pellets and 250/300 gr .452 XTP's. All groups were shot at 100 yds. unless otherwise noted. Because of the small diameter of the sabots I didn't expect a good grouping with the Extreme but I tested them anyway.
I fired three 3 shot groups with the Disc Extreme. The first group I shot was with the 300 XTP. It measured 2 1/4" with two of the shots just over an inch. The second group I shot was with the 250 XTP. That one measured 3 3/8" which wasn't surprising becuase of the light weight and loose fit. I then decided to try a shot with the fouled bore and see if I could load the combo past the fouling. It loaded easy enough and shot. I tried that twice more for a third group of 1 3/8". In my oversized Knight they shot better in a fouled barrel.
The three groups shot out of the Disc Extreme.
I fired two 5 shot groups out of the omega. The first group was with the 300 XTP and measured 2 3/4". Not a great showing but 3 of the shots were in the same hole! I'm not sure what caused the flyers but I was shocked at that. The second group measured 1 7/8" with two pairs of shots cutting holes! I've still got more shooting to do but the addition of a new rifle and preperation for an upcoming hog hunt have delayed further testing.
The three groups shot out of the T/C Omega.
The next time I went to the range was preparing for an upcoming hog hunt. The groups here were shot at 50 yds. I was going to use a 250 MZ in a HPH 12 sabot in my Disc Extreme. After shooting a group I was curious to see how it would shoot with the HPH 12L and where the point of impact would be. Impact was very close to the other groups. I only adjusted for an inch to the right between groups 1 and 2. Group 3 was fired the same as group 1. Based on my results these could be the ticket for follow up shots without swabbing during hunting in larger bores.
The three groups shot in preperation for the hog hunt.
These have been my results with the prototypes. There have been a number of other shooters testing them but I can only report my results. I'm anxiously awaiting the production version which should be availible in May. If you've got a tight bored rifle such as a T/C Omega these will be worth trying and for larger bores they might be the ticket for a fast follow up shot without swabbing.
Note: HPH 12L is a temporary designation. They are working on the production name.
