When does a sabot separate from the bullet?

[Grizzlypeg]

How far down range does the sabot remain with the bullet on a typical plastic sabot around a 45 cal bullet shot through a 50 cal muzzleloader?

 

[trevj]

A few feet past the muzzle.

Typically, when it works right, anyway.

Spin from the rifling, plus the air resistance, for a quick separation.

Dig around youtube. Someone likely has posted some video.


Cheers
Trev

 

[Grizzlypeg]

Something slower than the bullet is sometimes triggering my chrono, I believe. Wondered if it was the sabot after the bullet. Then it got me to thinking about when they separate.

 

[Silverado]

You're probably right on thinking it's the sabot, as it would separate right around where it goes through the chrony. It should be peeling off the bullet as soon as it leaves the barrel, although the sabot may travel some distance, just like the wad from a shotshell.

 

[back40sniper]

I always set my chrono about 6 feet past the muzzle, my chrono is two feet long. So, judging by the look of my last sensor I am confident in saying that sabots seperate at 7 feet. Was just doing some testing of Blackhorn 209 and halfway through noticed a lot of plastic missing off of last sensor on my P-35 and a bit off of the skyscreen . Lesson learned.