12 ga sabot slugs.

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KRJ

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Has anybody on here made/reloaded some 12ga sabot slugs? If so what did you use and how did it turn out? Is there any data that exist or did you just work up some magic?
 
I've used both, the Lyman and the Lee slugs though they aren't really sabots but are slugs loaded into wads the same as loading shot. I haven't taken any game with them yet but have shot 100's of each at the range. Accuracy wise I found the Lyman to be a bit better than the Lee but that's just in my 870. Compared to a factory sabot neither shoots as well but the cost is way cheaper. Groups are about 2X what factory loads give at 50-100 yds. The last time I purchased the Win Sabots I think I paid $10/5 or $2 for each trigger pull. I don't have the exact figures but when I cast and load my own it works out to about 25-30 CENTS each. For rapid offhand practice that's a pile of savings or more shooting for the same money. All of the load data can be found in Lymans shotgun loading manual. The Lee mold is quite cheap, the Lyman about 3X the price. Either one more than pays for itself after you load a couple of 25 round box's. It's the best way to get a lot of practice with slugs and very enjoyable to do. Best of luck.
 
+1 Lyman Sabots.

I get a friend to cast them for me.

Fed Gold Medal hulls, WAA12F114 (now discontinued) yellow wads, WSF powder and Win 209 primers. I run them in a reduced recoil loading.
I found accuracy similar to Federal factory reduced recoil loading presumably with Foster-type slugs.

I use the Lee Loadall II press for production.
 
You can get real sabots from Ballistic Products in the US. They wont ship to Canada but you can order any products from their site if you contact Bilozir Fine Guns; they're the Canadian distributor. I've never dealt with them but I've heard good things. BP also sells a reloading manual that includes a lot of the products they sell; I believe it includes sabot data. I will say that it'll get expensive, fast and you wont save nearly as much compared to using cast slugs. You'll be looking at around $1 to $1.25 for the sabot and projectile alone and still need a hull, powder, any spacer wads required, and a primer. You could easily be looking at $1.75/slug when you're done.

I cast 7/8oz and 1oz Lee slugs but have had a heck of a time trying to get them to work well in the rifled barrel I have for my 870. Factory sabot slugs ($2/each like others mentioned) can pretty easily shoot 2" groups at 50yds with the iron sights in my rifled barrel. The Lee slugs in a smooth bore are around 6" at the same with the bead but the same slugs in the rifled barrel rarely shoot any better than in the smooth bore; usually around 6". I've tried over a dozen different loads and combinations with these slugs.

Using the free wheel weights I use to get these slugs cost me $.25/each for a finished round. If I have to pay for lead at $2/lbs they come to $.40/each. Factory foster slugs can sometimes be found for $.80/each but are usually $1 to $1.25 each so there is still quite a bit of savings.
 
rodregier said:
+1 Lyman Sabots.

I get a friend to cast them for me.

Fed Gold Medal hulls, WAA12F114 (now discontinued) yellow wads, WSF powder and Win 209 primers. I run them in a reduced recoil loading.
I found accuracy similar to Federal factory reduced recoil loading presumably with Foster-type slugs.

I use the Lee Loadall II press for production.
Click to expand...

Any chance you could tell us the load ;) Henry at Budget carries the Downrange DRA-12 replacement for the WAA12F114 & CB 114-12 I am looking for a load. Or a starting point with that combo. I like the reduced recoil loading idea,I just want to punch paper.

Rook
 
Load data I'm using, based on Lee Loadall II 1.25 oz payload and 3.25 dram loading data.
I've reduced it slightly.
(wad plus Sabot projectile is around 1.25 oz).

http://www.titanreloading.com/image/data/PDF/12gauge.pdf

Federal 2.75" Gold Medal hull
Win 209 primer
Winchester WAA12F114 or Federal 12S4 wad (I don't like how the 3rd party clones of the WAA12F114 fit)
25.5g Winchester Super Field (WSF) (You can adjust the charge weight some for the closest volumetric cavity, this is not a max loading).
Lyman sabot slug cast from wheelweights.

I'm getting around 1060 ft/sec with this in a 20 inch barrel.

Usual disclaimers about load data from the internet apply.
 
LUTNIT said:
You can get real sabots from Ballistic Products in the US. They wont ship to Canada but you can order any products from their site if you contact Bilozir Fine Guns; they're the Canadian distributor. I've never dealt with them but I've heard good things. BP also sells a reloading manual that includes a lot of the products they sell; I believe it includes sabot data. I will say that it'll get expensive, fast and you wont save nearly as much compared to using cast slugs. You'll be looking at around $1 to $1.25 for the sabot and projectile alone and still need a hull, powder, any spacer wads required, and a primer. You could easily be looking at $1.75/slug when you're done.

I cast 7/8oz and 1oz Lee slugs but have had a heck of a time trying to get them to work well in the rifled barrel I have for my 870. Factory sabot slugs ($2/each like others mentioned) can pretty easily shoot 2" groups at 50yds with the iron sights in my rifled barrel. The Lee slugs in a smooth bore are around 6" at the same with the bead but the same slugs in the rifled barrel rarely shoot any better than in the smooth bore; usually around 6". I've tried over a dozen different loads and combinations with these slugs.

Using the free wheel weights I use to get these slugs cost me $.25/each for a finished round. If I have to pay for lead at $2/lbs they come to $.40/each. Factory foster slugs can sometimes be found for $.80/each but are usually $1 to $1.25 each so there is still quite a bit of savings.
Click to expand...

I like their pistol bullet sabot. I think i may give those a try if I can track them down.
 
I just cut open some sabot slugs I had partial boxes of lying around and pulled apart the payloads. The Remington Accutip have big bullets; .679". The Winchester dual bond sabots are loaded with .501" bullets; same as .500 S&W magnum. I have 3 of the Win sabots and I'll see if I can find time this weekend to make a silicone mold and try casting some in polyurethane epoxy resin. I cast miniatures and figurines this way so I'll see if it works with some off-the-shelf .500 S&W bullets. I will probably start a new thread about it later if I get around to it. Or maybe I'll just go over to the Cast Boolits forums since it's more up their alley. No way I'll make enough to be able to sell :(
 
rodregier said:
Load data I'm using, based on Lee Loadall II 1.25 oz payload and 3.25 dram loading data.
I've reduced it slightly.
(wad plus Sabot projectile is around 1.25 oz).

http://www.titanreloading.com/image/data/PDF/12gauge.pdf

Federal 2.75" Gold Medal hull
Win 209 primer
Winchester WAA12F114 or Federal 12S4 wad (I don't like how the 3rd party clones of the WAA12F114 fit)
25.5g Winchester Super Field (WSF) (You can adjust the charge weight some for the closest volumetric cavity, this is not a max loading).
Lyman sabot slug cast from wheelweights.

I'm getting around 1060 ft/sec with this in a 20 inch barrel.

Usual disclaimers about load data from the internet apply.
Click to expand...

My load is very similar , but with 27gr of Promo powder. With 1 oz. Lee slugs.
Cheers
Brian
 
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