Hornady 300 gr. .458 HP & MMP Orange Sabots
One
of the most important developments in the last couple of years in
muzzleloading projectiles has not been the projectiles themselves,
but rather the updated, improved MMP 50 x .458 sabot. The Orange
MMP sabot allows the use of 45-70 rifle bullets, rather than pistol
bullets, and the larger surface area of these bullets with flat
bases spreads out the force of acceleration over a larger sabot
area. The petals are of course a bit thinner, following the
long standing trend of thin sabot petals being more likely to produce
great accuracy.
The Hornady .458 300
grain rifle bullet #4500 features a deep hollow point, and has a
nose profile reminiscent of truncated cone bullets. It flies a bit
better than the equivalent .452 XTP, with a published BC of .197.
They are extremely well
made, with two cannelures that tend to retain the jacket with the
core: a wide cannelure near the ogive and a much smaller cannelure
near the base. Most importantly, it has a perfectly flat base with
gently rounded corners to distribute the acceleration forces well
without sabot cutting.
Though the range conditions
were not optimum, 57 grains of Vihtavouri N120 managed to rocket
this sabot / bullet combination in three shot groups varying from
1/2 inch to 3/4 inch @ 102 yards. The Barnes Aligner jag end seated
these bullets with no chance of nose damage. With a long established
track record of game-getting performance and excellent availability,
this bullet provides an economical, flatter-flying, slightly more
accurate alternative to the XTP according to my test rifles. Your
individual gun will let you know what it likes to be fed the best,
of course, but these bullets have been overlooked in muzzleloading
for far too long. My guns really dig 'em!
©
October, 2005 by Randy Wakeman
