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Posted: 12/11/2008 5:26:35 PM EDT
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I'm used to shoving a lubed .69 caliber ball down the barrel. I just bought a used 54cal CVA Hunterbolt rifle, my first modern muzzle loader. She came with ten rounds and about 200 empty sabots. I went to the store and bought an additional 40 rounds and headed to the range.
I used the new ammo I bought and thought it a little odd that I drop the bullet in the sabot down the barrel and she slides easily all the way down with no help. Anyway she was all over the place and I couldn't hit anything. I tried playing with the load (FFFg Goex black powder) )at 70, 85, and 110 with the same results. While home cleaning it I got curious and tried putting one of the rounds that came with it down the barrel. With the bullet in the sabot I can not even get it started down the barrel. I can get it loaded by putting the sabot down then dropping the bullet on top of it and seating it. I am 100% sure that both are .54cal. One however is much larger then the other. The bullets that came with it are longer too. Which one is the correct way to load it? |
| Did a quick web search and couldn't find a .54 caliber Hunterbolt. This is likely a stupid question on my part, but are you real sure your rifle is .54? If it truely is, and I'd measure the bore to be sure, then something is the wrong size. Either the sabot or the bullet isn't matching. I shoot high pressure sabots in my Knight. I put the bullet in the sabot and make sure it's bottomed out. Get it started with my thumb and finish seating with the ram rod. What brand and type of bullet are you using? |
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She definatly says .54 on the side I checked it half a dozen times. THe new .54 rounds I bought drop right down so it can't be .50 or .45. Something is strange here.
The bullets I'm using are Thompson/Center Arms Express Mag Sabots which are the only .54 caliber ones I could fine. I am wrong though, it is not a Hunterbolt, it is a Firebolt. |
| Ok, so I bought 2 packages of bullets/sabots. The ones that drop right down are black, and their is another package of orange ones. I didn't notice the color difference until today. The orange ones fit snugly just like the white ones which came with the gun. I have a feeling someone goofed up and put .50cal sabots in a .54 cal box. The orange ones seem tight as hell too. Perhaps it's supposed to be like that? |
| Sabots are supposed to be tight. Some are sold as "high pressure" sabot and are kind of hard to get started, hence, starter tools! Once they're down the barrel a bit and you've switched to a ram rod it's much easier to seat them completely. Don't use any lub either. Think of it this way, the sabot is designed as a gas seal. Tight is good. When in doubt check the manufacturers website to make sure the product is for your gun and/or caliber. |
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Sounds to me like you may not have the right bullet/sabot combo and quite frankly possibly flirting with disaster.
For my .50 cal, Hornady Green sabots require a .44 cal bullet. Hornady Black, high pressure sabots, require a .45 cal bullet. Make sure you're sabots and bullets are matched, this will vary by manufacturer. Hornady uses .44 cal for their .54 cal sabots. Hornady .54 cal Barnes on the other hand, uses .50 cal bullet with their combo |
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