TLDR Version -

using blackhorn 209 + Barnes solid copper 250 gr Expander MZ bullets

MMP HPH 12 sabots - cant get started in the barrel

MMP HPH 12 Sabots (0.002" smaller diamter than the 12's) can barely get started, but cant force them any farther

MMP 3 Petal EZ - in cold weather drops down with really no resistance at all. in warm weather they were snug, but not tight and gave good accuracy

Any other recommended sabots to try with the Barnes Expander MZs. didnt like the blood trail on XTPs

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I have a Thompson-Center Triumph - this fall i switched to Blackhorn 209 and the Barnes Expander MZ solid copper bullet.  The sabot that came with the Barnes bullet (which i think is the MMP HPH-12) would not even get stared in the bore.

I had some MMP 3 petal EZ sabots that i switched to and they were snug, but not tight in October and warmer weather. After shooting and missing a deer in January and 20 degree weather - the Barnes + 3 petal EZ sabot pretty much dropped down the barrel without any resistance at all.

Last week I ordered some MMP HPH-24's - I can barely get them started in the bore using all my effort. I have contacted MMP this morning for suggestions.

Any suggestions on another sabot I should try?

Thanks

Brian

I use the TC Super Glide sabots as well as their bullets. Easy to load and accurate. I too have a Triumph.

I would double check the calibers needed for your gun in Sabot and Bullet.

if a .50

I would use a black MMP sabot and a 45 caliber XTP bullet. its a tight fit but it shoots like a laser in every BP inline I have.

I use these in my Thompson Center Encore...... http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Black-Powder/Sabots-Bullets|/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/104547780/Hornadyreg-SST174-ML8482-High-Speed-Low8482-Drag-Sabots-with-Flex-Tip174-Technology/706070.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fsabots-bullets%2F_%2FN-1100204%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104547780%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104792580%253Bcat104701680&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104792580%3Bcat104701680%3Bcat104547780

I use these in my Thomson Center Omega.......... http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=740899&destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct.jsp%3FparentCategoryId%3D104792580%26categoryId%3D104701680%26subCategoryId%3D104547780%26productId%3D706070%26type%3Dproduct%26destination%3D%252Fcatalog%252Fbrowse%252Fsabots-bullets%252F_%252FN-1100204%252FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104547780%253FWTz_l%253DSBC%25253BMMcat104792580%25253Bcat104701680%26WTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104792580%253Bcat104701680%253Bcat104547780&WTz_l=YMAL%3BIK-216421

They both load easy enough and seem to shoot good groups with 110 grains of Blackhorn 209.

Barnes 250gr Spitfire TMZ's work fine in my Encore and in my CVA.

My buddy wraps the cup with tinfoil for a better fit

300gr mz with 209 ---try the hph12 s that might be alittle easier for ya
im usin the same set up

Im pretty sure that the TC super slide = MMP 3 Petal EZ just in another color

I have tried the HPH 12 -  they wouldnt even get started down the barrel..

The HPH 24s are smaller diameter (by 0.002") and will get started but I cant push them down any farther..   i had to use a hammer to beat them back out of the barrel

I wanted to stay with the Barnes solid coppers - I really didnt care for the blood results on the XTPs on the two deer I shot with them

Brian

I was using 250 gr XTPs and the 3 petal ez with good accuracy.

I tried the XTP and the HPH 24's and it took all i could to get them down the barrel

Brian

so he takes a loose fitting sabot/bullet and puts tinfoil around the base of the sabot to make it fit tighter?

BP hit deer will not leave a blood trail like a HP rifle.
Velocity isn't the same.

I've tried all kinds of projectiles. the .44 pistol bullets will normally load a little bit better, but the .45 bullets are damned accurate in the appropriate sabots. make sure your sabots are rated for .44 or .45 bullets.

Not entirely true. I use Triple 7 Magnum pellets, with a 250gr ballistic tip and get over 2000fps with it. The last deer I shot with it quartering towards in and out the ribs. 50 yards and it crumpled.



 

Harvester crush rib sabots (44 cal variety) have worked very well for me in a T-C Triumph, nice snug fit.

Harvester crush rib sabots here also (.452 cal with a 250gr XTP) very accurate in my CVA

you missed my point. I've folded them up by the dozens with a BP rifle.
I wasn't talking about the hit, I was specifically talking about Blood Trails. I have shot whitetails with virutally every load possible from sidelocks and inlines. I have never seen a blood trail for any length  that rivaled a 30-06 or .308. a legitimate High powered rifle on a solid hit normally leaves a blood trail that looks totally different than the blood splatter of a BP rifle.

I hunt with a similar setup as you but with a heavier bullet:

Thompson Center Triumph
Federal 209A Primer
77 grains(by weight) of Blackhorn 209
Barnes 290gr Spitfire TMZ bullets  
Leupold 3x9x40 Superslam shotgun/muzzloader scope

The above combination has worked great for me as far as accuracy goes.  The one issue I do have with my Triumph is that on the first shot with a clean barrel the round always hits 2" low and 3" to the left @ 100 yards.  The next 4 shots will pile into a 3" circle if I take my time and don't get the barrel too warm.  It is also pretty consistent with the BDC reticle on my scope as well.

I use the same for my TC omega