45 caliber 230 gr XTP's

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Decided to try them in my Firehawk. Had some older stock, but bought a box of fresh and noticed Hornady changed the profile to give a shorter shank and longer of ogive. I figured this would have a negative effect on load tension, and I was right.
Accuracy was excellent though. I thought if I switched sabots from crush ribs to regular Harvesters I could recoup some of the load tension. Yup, and then some! While not excessive, it does take a shove to get them down bore.
The improvement in accuracy was startling! 10 rounds at 100 went into 2 inches on the button. The largest group (3 shots) was 1 3/16ths and the smallest was 7 /16ths. Recovered sabots were in excellent shape. Powder was 70 grains of Swiss 3f. Haven't chrono'd yet, but I'm guessing 1600 fps.
Not in addition to less shank( bearing surface) the 230s are also .001 smaller in diameter than the 250s. Now one range secession does not a trend make, but I take this as a very good start. The 1230s are a nasty little ball. Should make a gooey chest or 2 this year.
Here deersie deersie deersie...
 
Sounds like that Firehawk is a real shooter, I'm waiting on the farmer to cut his hay in the field where I shoot then going to start shooting my Firehawks and all the rest.
 
Maybe for practice, but I like the way skived bullets expand. Without them, a jacket may split unevenly and tear itself apart or dump its core. Neither of which is a good thing.
I believe that bullets used in sabots, with their jackets uncompromised by the rifling, can take more velocity than when fired from a barrel of their caliber. 20 years of experience bears this out. The most striking examples I've found a re the 180 and 200 gr 40 cal XTP's. I've driven them at 1750 and 1800 respectively and they've done a wicked job on deer in spite of going 500 fps faster than designed to.
Having said this, no need to go crazy...
 
Shot some more today with outstanding results. 10 shots into 2 inches at 100 again. Largest group was 1 3/4 this time. Those 3 rammed very hard, but still shot well. Smallest was 3/4 inch.
Clearly my Firehawk likes the combo. Was hoping the other day wasn't a fluke...
Thank you Hornady for a good bullet giving great results in an application for which it was not necessarily intended <(;
 

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