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Looking for 45 caliber sabots that use 357 bullets

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gemihur

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In Search of Sabots for 45 caliber muzzleloader that accommodate the use of 357 bullets (not 40 cal)
I plan on using them in my Contender with a 20" Gonic GA-90 barrel mounted on frame.
20 inch GA-90 in 45 caliber sm.jpg
Thanks,
Jimmy
 
Iirc , prbullet.com has what your lookin for
I have heard that accuracy is a bit of a crapshoot however . Its said much better with the 45 than a 50 . Idk if a 358 rifle bullet will work at all by the way.......think it was tried . 180 xtp is what id try . Good luck.....
 
By my experience, the closer the bullet diameter is to the bore diameter, the better the accuracy. 40cal would likely produce better accuracy than 357-358.
 
358 bullets in the PR sabot are a bear to load. The petals flair out just with a .357 bullet because the base IN the sabot is not flat. It rounds up the sides to fit the PR bullet's slight boattail.

Best combination ive tried yet is the MMP blue 45x357 with a Hornady 9mm 147gr HP. It has a slight boattail. No more than 60gr of powder too. The PR sabot is too long for that bullet so you need to resize other bullets to get them to fit right OR buy some of the new bullets made for 350 Legend.
 
I am trying to get more velocity to level off the trajectory. My full bore bullet weighs about 355 gr. and only moves under 1500 fps. That's why I'm considering dropping back to smaller bullets.
Thanks for the tip on PR Bullets. I'll try 'em.
 
Found some Buffalo Bullet Co. projectiles that require re-lubricating due to their age but they may fill the bill.
They're Great plains design weighing 325 grains and should be just the ticket for shots inside 125 yds.
I'm taking Henry's advice and sticking with full bore bullets.
Thanks, Mr. Miles!
 
Precision Rifle uses a double sabot. One from .357 to .45 inside another to .45 to .50. They shot extremely well in my .50 cal. I was using heavy loads back then, and the problem I had with their pure lead bullets was lack of penetration due to maximum expansion. Their .45 bullets would expand to over 1". Deadly, but no blood trail. I believe with a lighter load in your Contender, they would perform well.
 
I've been into black powder shooting for a long time.
First with a 45 cal Kentucky, then a 50 cal Hawken flintlock, then the muzzleloading gods laid inlines of all sorts at my feet.
Mostly 50 calibers, a couple of 54, a couple of 45's, and a 44, but a lot of shooting equipment.
Delving back into my origins of the 45 caliber realm, the market has shifted over the last few decades and what was once a popular projectile from a well known firm is now a discontinued, unavailable relic from the past!
I think the marketing of these firms only consider the mainstream consumptives these days.
I believe there is room for product development and expanding present lines of accessories by CVA and Traditions, Lord knows S&W isn't gonna budge to expand TC's elements!
I'd like to see more out there.
The 45 cal. that I'm trying to feed has a fast twist (1:22") and would like a longer bullet but weight is a consideration as it affects speed, thus trajectory.
I've just gotta load it with a full spectrum of bullets and see what results.
That's the 'fun' part!
 
PR QT bullets are very soft but the Dead Centers are not pure lead. I would wager they are either a 30-1 or 40-1 alloy. Years ago you had very few good choices in 35cal bullets that would work in sabots. Now you have the 350 Legend and .355 bullets made for rifle type speeds. Those bullets are pretty cheap and should fit the PR 45x357 sabot. Getting them to shoot well though is another story.

We know 45x40 can shoot really well and Fury has a 250gr 40cal that should be fine in a 1-22 twist. BC should be a nice improvement vs the 200gr SST and they are very affordable compared to bullets like the PRs, Parkers or Pittmans.
 
I'm using .357 180 gr. Nosler partitions in my sabots and they are satisfactory. (Lots of my supplies are from the olden days)
I'd like a full bore alternative and the security of feeding the future, hence my search.
The 45 cal sabots used to be plentiful, but no more... just PR.
Thanks for your insight. It is appreciated.
 
45x40 sabots are common but not at big retail outlets. Only PR and MMP sell the 45x357s. Many of the online places like Grafs will have the Harvester 45x40s.
 
358 bullets in the PR sabot are a bear to load. The petals flair out just with a .357 bullet because the base IN the sabot is not flat. It rounds up the sides to fit the PR bullet's slight boattail.

Best combination ive tried yet is the MMP blue 45x357 with a Hornady 9mm 147gr HP. It has a slight boattail. No more than 60gr of powder too. The PR sabot is too long for that bullet so you need to resize other bullets to get them to fit right OR buy some of the new bullets made for 350 Legend.

Have you had any range time with the MMP blue 45x357 combo? Or know of results.
Twist rates?
I have them and a slew of 357/ 9mm pills. Never tried yet.
Heard -thought it was a crap shoot.
Have never ventured more than .05 for the most part.

( did try the 40/50 though with good results)
 
I havent shot them in ages. They are much too hard to load in my current bores and i dont have a .355 sizing die. Like ive mentioned though....Now you can buy .355 bullets made for 350 Legend and those might work. You will need a good jag that loads them straight. I think Pittman and/or Spinjag might have one that will work.
 
Well not sure if this will help you . I shoot hornady SST 45 cal. its 40cal that's 200 gr. I use it in my Knight 45 master hunter and also in my White super 91 both shoot 1" at 100 yrds and I've taken deer out to 175 yrds . Works great just make sure to get proper jag from hornady to load bullet .
 
Thanks, but wanna use 180 gr. cast .358 bullets.
Still looking for a source of sabots.
Otherwise gotta stick to full bore bullets for my 45 cal muzzleloader.
Gonic GA-90 16 inch bbl .45 cal. 350 gr. bullet med.jpg
 
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I only have a few of the PR orange left and i have not tried them yet in my new rifle. PR bullet has the same sabots for sale including the flat base 45x357 for duplex loads.
https://www.prbullet.com/shop/products_view.php?sSKU=0500

Dell at MMP actually recommended using the 45x357 made for duplex sabot loads by them self in a 45. It is what he shoots in his ULA with a wad under the sabot. The MMP 45x357 blue sabot is shorter and Del sells those directly with shipping.
https://mmpsabots.com/store/blue-sabot50-pcs/
 
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