Hornady SST sabots or power belts
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: York Springs PA USA
Posts: 76
RE: Hornady SST sabots or power belts
A month ago I put the 295gr HP PowerBelts up against the 300gr SST, and found the SST gives best accuracy. The price is right too at just $7 and some change for a 20 round pack. The only drawback with the SST is a tight fit in the bore, they won' t fall down into the barrel like a PowerBelt. But hey, it' s the first shot that counts anyway.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Harford Co. Maryland
Posts: 1,574
RE: Hornady SST sabots or power belts
Do you guys use a special tip on the ramrod when loading the SST' s? I once pushed a load all the way through without the breech plug to see what the ramrod did to the tip, and I found that it scarred it a little.
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 204
RE: Hornady SST sabots or power belts
JimboHunter1
Here is the web site for that sabot loading tool. I thought I got it from T/C but it was traditions. I don' t know why the 50cal is not listed, just the 45 & 54.
http://www.traditionsmuzzle.com/eSho...ductCode=A1341
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Montezuma Iowa USA
Posts: 77
RE: Hornady SST sabots or power belts
I' ve never shot Powerbelts but the SST' s 250gr shot great in my Encore. 1.5" groups at 150yds, 3" 4 shot group at 200 (3 bullets hit within 1.5 inches!) good enough for me! I used a loading tool similar to what pinesap does.
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Williamsport PA. USA
Posts: 293
RE: Hornady SST sabots or power belts
Well, since this is my first year using a muzzle loader for hunting deer, I decided to try the powerbelt bullets since the manufacturer (CVA) suggested it. I can consistantly shoot a three shot clover leaf group at 50 yards with the 295 gr. powerbelt hollow points, and saturday morning I shot a medium sized doe with the same load and it performed flawlessly! So, in saying that, I think I' ll stick with the powerbelts! I don' t like fixing something that isn' t broken.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 330
RE: Hornady SST sabots or power belts
I have heard that the sst' s were good. I just replied to another question regarding an elk bullet. I was in Colorado last month elk hunting and you cannot use sabots in that state. So I sighted in with the 348 gr Aerotip Powerbelts and they held a pretty good pattern. What really impressed me with this bullet, was the performace of it once it hit home. The bull I took was at a slight angle and the bullet passed through about 3 feet of elk and lodged against the opposite side against the hide. The bullet was nearly a perfect mushroom with full retention of it' s original weight. I hit him slightly high, but he side stepped twice and just tipped over. Needless to say, I was impressed with the results of these bullets :-)