Sabot heat question

[dennisr]

I know this isn't a muzzleloading question per-se, but I think this group would give better insight than anyone else to this question.

I know that heat affects pliability of a plastic sabot and this, in turn, affects acccuracy. That is why we shoot from a cool barrel.

But consider the same situation in a saboted shotgun slug (inside a shotgun shell)

In that case, the sabot would not be exposed to the heat of the barrel directly until the time of firing. Is the heat that the sabot is exposed to during firing a concern? Or is that time so short as to be meaningless?

In a muzzleloader, the sabot is exposed to heat while loading and while waiting to be fired. But if those 2 factors are eliminated, is heating the sabot still a concern?

Or, if shooting sabot slugs from a shotgun, does a person need to wait for the barrel to cool between shots for best accuracy?

Dennis

[rangeball]

Dennis, I'm assuming you are talking about range time? I would think the short amount of time the shell is loaded into the breech before firing, the additional protection the outer hull provides the sabot, the much tougher plastic the sabot is made from since it doesn't need to be shoved down the muzzle, prevent heat from being much if any an issue.

Two years ago I spent some time at the range in late summer trying several different brands of saboted slugs with my 12g USH. I shot several rounds and my best group of the day came with the slugs I shot last. Barrel was plenty hot by then.

[ET]

Sept 1, 2010 11:09:46 GMT -5 dennisr said:

In a muzzleloader, the sabot is exposed to heat while loading and while waiting to be fired. But if those 2 factors are eliminated, is heating the sabot still a concern?

Dennis

To this question with mentioned parameter/conditions my answer is NO.

This does not include a high ambient temperature or direct sun exposure to sabots which IMO plays a major role as to how well sabots perform.

Ed

[Richard]

I also, the pressure level with a shotgun saboted slug is no where near as high as with the ML's.
randywakeman.com/shotgun_pressures.htm
Richard