yoda4x4 said:
Ok thanks for simplifying that for me. So let me ask, would it be fair to say that a 300gr bullet should be more accurate than a 250gr or a 200gr one (for the Optima specifically)?
Also, based upon what you stated, should I be more concerned with trying to test different sabots, while using the same bullet? Or should I concentrate on bullet weight or powder charge?
David
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Not really. I don't really think anyone can just state "this
Weight bullet is more accurate in XX caliber or brand of rifle". I think most ml rifles will shoot the popular weights good if you get the sabot fit right and work up the charge that gets the accuracy you need/want, especially at normal hunting ranges of say 50 to 150 yards. It does take experimenting and sometimes you can get a finicky one that takes more time than others, then you can find one that you put the same load in and both shoot identical. The rifle is really the only one that will tell you what it likes best. Some will just shoot what ever you stuff in it. If someone has the same model rifle you can try their load and it may shoot perfect, and other times it will not, but it can be a good place to start.
All of my .50 cals have a 1 in 28 twist. 2 will shoot .300 and 310grain bullets best and the other likes 250 grainers a little better. They are all Knights but one has a tighter bore and I can't use the same bullet sabot in it. I did try the same bullets in a different sabot that fit better and it shot ok but the rifle just showed a little more preference to the lighter bullet, and both bullets were of the same make.
One of the biggest things we find that aids accuracy with the inlines is the bullet/Sabot to barrel "Fit". There is a Sticky a the top of this forum that will give you some specs on Diameters of the sabot with a bullet in it. You will see that they can vary a good bit. Finding the right match between the bullet and sabot fit in your barrel will lead to better consistency in your accuracy. You also have to watch changing just one thing at a time when experimenting. Just changing from one 300 grain bullet to another can then require a change in sabot. As an example, if you could get a bullet that is .452 diameter shooting good in a Harvester smooth black sabot then try one of the same weight but happens to be a .451 diameter in the same sabot and it not shoot well so you blame the bullet as being inaccurate. But notice that the diameter is smaller on the one bullet and a simple change to say and MMP HPH12 may have made that smaller bullet shoot just a good as the other combo. To complicate this more...You can also shoot .44 cal .429 diameter bullet in your 50cal but you need to match the correct 44x50 sabot to get it to shoot.
I don't have a CVA, so others can jump in and recommend what they use, but If I recall correctly most guys shooting CVA are using the Harvester Crush ribs or smooth blacks, but you might also try the MMP HPH-24 or 3 pedal EZ loads. So I would recommend you try getting one bullet that you want to shoot and then at least 2 sabots such as the Harvester Crushribs and the Harvester Smooth Black and see what fits best with that bullet. If they don't work then you can try one of the others like the MMP EZ or HPH24.
You will find that most of the guys here don't really buy a lot of the "Pre-Packed" combos and instead buy bulk pistol bullets and sabots separately. This lets you find a good combo that fits your rifle best and is normally cheaper too. I have even seen that on occasion a change in sabot on the Barnes worked better than the one that came with the bullet.
