Smokepole Ammo Question: .50 Hornady Sabots and SWC....

[Moose-Hunter]

Trying to sight my T/C Encore .50 cal and was going to use Hornady sabots (50 cal. 45-300 XTP Mag). Using a totally clean gun, I tried to load the first round and the sabot/bullet would not go down much past the muzzle. It was so tight, I broke my jag attempting to move the bullet. From what the Cableas told me these rounds use a .45 caliper handgun bullet surrounded by a black .50 caliber sabot... No dice on loading these for me!!

Has anyone had the same experience with these? Or did I happen to get a mis-marked pack for a .54 caliber?

Side Note...

My buddy had some Speer .44 cal 245 grain SWC and matching .50 cal sabots that not only loaded much easier, they grouped 2" at 100 yards off a bench. These grouped so well (for me) I'd like to use them this coming season. What are your views on using a SWC for hunting?

[Code-Man]

I have the pro hunter. I bought my gun and I bought Hornady, Barnes, Powerbelt, and TC Shockwaves. Barnes shoots the best in my gun but I never got a pattern with Powerbelts. But I did have one problem with all of them other then the Shockwaves...They would Jam. I didn't break anything but I do have about a 4" scar on my right palm where one lodged and I couldn't get it to move and it finally moved and I sliced my hand open on the front sight. I have gone to the TC Shockwaves because the recomend it and I don't have any problems with them fitting into the barrel. I was told that they are starting to make the TC's a hair smaller so you have to us TC bullets.

[vister]

I shoot an optima pro .50 cal. I also load it up with Hornady 44 caliber 240 GR HP/XTP .430 bullets Match them up with MMP Sabots .429/.430 color coded green jackets, and away ya go. Very accurate, and much cheaper than buying bullets any other way, plus they are bulk, which equals less trips to the store. i think you were told to use the wrong items, as i can't believe one .50 cal is any different than another when it comes to selecting the proper bullet combination

[brassman]

I use the Hornady sst-ml sabots in my tc omega and they work just fine for me. I think keeping your barrel lubed well is a good idea.

[Moose-Hunter]

Thanks for the replys guys!!

As a follow up...

I found out today that Hornady really dropped the ball on this packaging. The bullet included in the package, was matched up with the wrong (too thick) sabot, thus making it impossible to load in a T/C Encore without a sledge hammer. This was confirmed by a ammunition reloading loading expert just this afternoon. In order for this bullet to work in a .50cal Encore, the sabot would need to be no thicker than a human hair.

I am a bit put back by these findings as I have hunted with Hornady ammo for years. To say nothing of the countless rounds of match grade ammo I have sent down range. One would think that a company such as Hornady would have caught such a blatant mistake. This now makes question my choice of ammo for my other firearms.

So .50 caliber T/C shooter beware... Do not buy any Hornady pre packaged bullets and sabots marked "50 Caliber 45-300 XTP MAG" #6726 and expect it to load. Cause it just ain't gonna happen.

Hornady is going to receive a strongly worded letter from this guy.

Note: The bullets in question were originally designed for the .454 Casull. These are the 300 gr. XTP MAGS. Not the SST-ML or the standard HP-XTP which may (or may not) load without issue.