Semi Success with Nylon Sabots
May 2, 2011 10:57:35 GMT -5
Post by edge on May 2, 2011 10:57:35 GMT -5
Ever since I began using PVC sabots I have been looking for an alternative.
PVC sabots give off corrosive fumes when fired which means that the barrel must be cleaned and oiled after every shooting session which is a real pain especially during the hunting season.
I have tried just about every plastic that is cheap enough to shoot and is rigid enough to take full pressure loads. Nylon was the first plastic I attempted to make sabots from back in my Knight rifle days.
Nylon 6/6 is cheaper and lighter than PVC but size control and deburring is much more difficult. Size control is much more critical with nylon since it won't shear off is it is too tight as PVC will.
As a matter of fact I took a nylon bullet/sabot combo and pushed it through the barrel twice with very little damage to it. It was the first shot that I fired and it had been pushed down the bore 3 times.
My "K" version was with a 338 180 grain Accubond and showed no promise at all but the latest "L" version with a 200 grain 8mm SMK all hit close enough to the L-R centerline of my target to get my attention.
I tried R-7 for this test which is a powder I rarely use but suspect that the velocities were probably not consistent. I will try to do a little load development and probably go to a heavier charge of a slower powder to see if the results are more consistent.
Since I never swabbed it could just be that the barrel was fouling....but we will see.
edge.
PVC sabots give off corrosive fumes when fired which means that the barrel must be cleaned and oiled after every shooting session which is a real pain especially during the hunting season.
I have tried just about every plastic that is cheap enough to shoot and is rigid enough to take full pressure loads. Nylon was the first plastic I attempted to make sabots from back in my Knight rifle days.
Nylon 6/6 is cheaper and lighter than PVC but size control and deburring is much more difficult. Size control is much more critical with nylon since it won't shear off is it is too tight as PVC will.
As a matter of fact I took a nylon bullet/sabot combo and pushed it through the barrel twice with very little damage to it. It was the first shot that I fired and it had been pushed down the bore 3 times.
My "K" version was with a 338 180 grain Accubond and showed no promise at all but the latest "L" version with a 200 grain 8mm SMK all hit close enough to the L-R centerline of my target to get my attention.
I tried R-7 for this test which is a powder I rarely use but suspect that the velocities were probably not consistent. I will try to do a little load development and probably go to a heavier charge of a slower powder to see if the results are more consistent.
Since I never swabbed it could just be that the barrel was fouling....but we will see.
edge.
