TSX Shreds Sabots. Why?

[muzzledestiny]

First of all, I am very happy with my ML-II and have take three deer with it so far this year. I'm not changing anything this season.

After I settled on my hunting load (300 gr BO, 45 gr 5744, BCRS) and also having great success with a couple of others, I decided to try some .458 300 gr and 350 gr TSX FB bullets. I started with MMP orange and 45 grains 5744 and shredded the sabots. Tried 44 grains and shredded the sabots. Switched to BCRS and they shredded too. As for accuracy, I was nowhere near on paper (but still safe on my range).

The bullets fit a bit loose and I never did try to knurl them. The bases are indeed flat, but all this talk about the radius on the bottom has me wondering.

I'd just like to know what is going on . . . and yes, the barrel is cool.

[tar12]

Can you post up a picture of the TSX base?

[dannoboone]

Are they indeed .458??

I've run across MANY Barnes bullets that are smaller in diameter
than they are supposed to be.......and those which are smaller,
are not accurate in sabots which work very accurately with the
correct diameter bullets.

I never did use any .458 bullets, but knurled the .451 (some of
which were even smaller) 245 and 250gr bullets out to .452+ and
they were accurate. I have some .400 size bullets which are as
small as .399 on one end of the bearing surface. These I have
knurled out to .4005. Groups went from 4" to touching holes in
the target.

As for the sabot shredding, perhaps someone else can answer
that. My .45 PacNor destroys Harvester sabots (breaks all the
petals off), but is still deadly accurate.

[muzzledestiny]

Nov 12, 2010 22:10:56 GMT -5 tar12 said:

Can you post up a picture of the TSX base?

See the attached pic. Barnes Original, TSX 300 gr, and TSX 350 gr. If you want me to take a picture of the base itself, let me know. I measured the bullets with both a mic a caliper, all are .458.

When I say "shredded" I don't mean just the petals came off. The sabot came out looking as if were chewed by mice. I'll try to find one that i had picked up.

I managed to recover one of the 350 gr bullets. Nice uniform expansion. It doesn't seem to have tumbled, just missed a 3 foot by 3 foot target!

[onecardchuck]

Okay,

Here goes my guess. I have looked at the TSX bullet, but did not choose to go with it because of the pictures I have seen of it, but to be sure I am on to something you will have to measure the bullet diameter at the base all the way up to the ogive. It looks as if the diameter of the bullet is wider at the base and not as wide at the ogive. If this is true it would not sit in the sabot the same way each time like the BO which has a uniform bearing surface from the base to the ogive.

I would also venture to guess all the rings in the bullet reduce the amount of bearing surface and could be causing you headache if it turns out the bearing surface is uniform from the base to the ogive.

Hope this helps,

[cfvickers]

I don't know abiout the ML, I have something I like and unless performance is less than expected on game when I get to try it, I will stick with it. Hoever, I will be getting me some of those 300s to try in my 45-70. I like the looks of that bullet, and the BC has to be better than a traditional shaped 458 bullet.

[boarhog]

I notice that the Tipped bullet has a more radiused base. That has caused me problems with Hornady SSTs. Did you say that you are getting poor accuracy with all of these Barnes bullets, or only the blue tipped one?
Boarhog

[muzzledestiny]

Nov 16, 2010 21:59:40 GMT -5 boarhog said:

I notice that the Tipped bullet has a more radiused base. That has caused me problems with Hornady SSTs. Did you say that you are getting poor accuracy with all of these Barnes bullets, or only the blue tipped one?
Boarhog

The "tipped" bullet is a .458 300 gr Barnes Original. The "blue" is lead. It is a semi-spitzer. It gives me, any many others here, the best accuracy at 100 yards.

[Chris Champion]

Nov 16, 2010 22:50:34 GMT -5 muzzledestiny said:

Nov 16, 2010 21:59:40 GMT -5 boarhog said:

I notice that the Tipped bullet has a more radiused base. That has caused me problems with Hornady SSTs. Did you say that you are getting poor accuracy with all of these Barnes bullets, or only the blue tipped one?
Boarhog

The "tipped" bullet is a .458 300 gr Barnes Original. The "blue" is lead. It is a semi-spitzer. It gives me, any many others here, the best accuracy at 100 yards.

And well beyond that mark

[boarhog]

I thought we were talking about the Tipped SX bullets, that do have a blue polymer tip, and that lead sure does look blue on my old monitor. I get great results, in both of my 50s, with the 300 gr Barnes Original.
BH

[mike3132]

If the sabots are shredded the load is either too hot or the sabot/bullet fit too loose in the bore. If they load real easy then knurl the bullets, if they still shred, back the load down a few grains.

Start with a very clean barrel. Use J&B and scrub it good. Mike