Tricks for seating sabotted bullets?

[Turkey Creek]

I have tried the TC sabotted bullets for my muzzleloaders a couple of times over the years. Why do they make them so frickin tough to push down the barrel? Yes I clean my gun thoroughly, yes I swab it out between shots when sighting in. After fighting with trying to load it a couple of times I just go back to the Powerbelts. I get acceptable enough accuracy out of the Powerbelts, but havent had the best of bullet performance with them. Any tricks folks have found to allow for easier seating of the sabotted bullets?

 

[dogghr]

You can use a little bore butter or a little lube around sabbot, which I'm sure you do to seat them. Won't hurt anything as long as keep minimal. Always did that when I shot sabbots in my side hammer, if you want to talk about a tight fit. I only use powerbelts now and shoot on the range at 275 yds with no accuracy problems. Last decent buck I took with them was a running shot at 130 yds. Probably get grief on that comment but I also have made shorter running shots with my side hammer ML with no problem. Ever place a patch and round ball?

 

[HuntMeister]

I am not familiar with the specific sabot / bullet combo that you are talking about but, if you really like the bullet, maybe give some different sabots a try. One will likely give you a slightly looser fit in the tube.

 

[swat1018]

I have worked up a lot of ML loads. I shoot a Savage 10ML. The TC bullets/sabots are a great factory combo, for 80% of MLs if not more. What type of rod are you using. I can tell you the tighter the bullet/sabot combo, the more accurate, usually. What ram rod are you using, does your ML come with a "Power Rod." The pivoting "T" handle helps a bunch on comfort while pushing a tight bullet down. I try not to use the bore butter, probably not for any good reason, but don't see where it would hurt if used sparingly.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Thanks for everyones thoughts. I just have the standard rod that came with the gun it does not have the T- handle. I didnt realize you could get different size sabots and will likely experiment with the borebutter some.

 

[swat1018]

If you go the bore butter route, go light. Put a little on the petals of the sabot, where it hopefully doesn't get under the sabot.

 

[dogdoc]

I use the Hornady SST Sabots and have no problem as long as I keep the barrel clean. After about 3 shots it can get tough to get them in. I do use a bullet starter and then to rod to finish it off. I shoot a CVA.

todd

 

[Otghuntingclub]

^^^ I actually find the same. Hornady SST's for me. Impressed with how easy they seat. At 3or 4 shots, they start to get difficult to seat and I do a quick cleaning job. I shoot a T/C Encore FX.

 

[George]

Some runs of bullets are bigger than other runs. I bought a pile of tc barnes expanders close out a few years back that were press fit. I used those up and my next package of bullets were slip fit, easy loaders.

G

 

[George Siegman]

On my Encore I cant load TC Sabots in a 50 cal. muzzleloader there is a lot of different size bores. At any rate please try Hornady XTP bullets
I use 240 grains and MMP green sabots and terminal performance and accuracy is very good

 

[Turkey Creek]

All good info. I will definitely try and find the time to work out the problem a bit more in the future.

 

[OkieKubota]

I have probably killed 15 whitetail bucks with Powerbelt bullets. I have never had a bullet performance issue and I shoot the 245 grain Hollow points in .50 cal. Very accurate round as well and no issues trying to seat in TC muzzleloaders...

 

[Gator]

I've also saw TC bullets that are labeled as Super Glide I believe. They load much easier (at least in my two TC MLs) but like mentioned above sometimes tighter is better.