Hornady bullet question

[Mallardmasher]

Can a Horandy FTX 250grain .452 boat tail be used with a Harvester yellow sabot, on sale for cheap. Made for slower lever action rifles.
Anyone or Sabotloader have any thoughts on this
Thanks,
Matt

[Sabotloader]

Can a Horandy FTX 250grain .452 boat tail be used with a Harvester yellow sabot, on sale for cheap. Made for slower lever action rifles.
Anyone or Sabotloader have any thoughts on this
Thanks,
Matt

It is my understanding that the Harvester yellow sabot is designed for boat tail bullets - I have not seen the sabot on the market yet nor have I seen one in person.  There are several people on Dougs that have tested it.

Are you set on the Hornady FTX 250?

[Mallardmasher]

No, not set on any one thing, just trying to sample much and find the best combination, what do you suggest.
Thanks,
Matt

[Sabotloader]

No, not set on any one thing, just trying to sample much and find the best combination, what do you suggest.
Thanks,
Matt

What will you be hunting elk - deer or both?  That will make a slight difference in what I might suggest..

[Mallardmasher]

Both, but my deer hunting will be close range

[Sabotloader]

Both, but my deer hunting will be close range

Any Barnes bullet is a good bullet, but I found better 'Terminal Performance' with the Lehigh branded bullets.

Then I would suggest, and remember I am very biased, the Lehigh 452x265 CF-HP. It really is an overkill for deer and excellent for elk.  The Lehigh is a unique bullet in that it not the normal expanding bullet that most of us American hunters expect. I think the original bullet design came out of Europe - Germany I think.  The Terminal Performance of the bullet is dependent to separate actions that the bullet creates.  If you look closely the open hollow point you can see there are 6 segmented petals in the nose, each petal weighing about 6 grains.  The bullet will shoot through hide - bone without expansion occurring - it just keeps penetrating.  As soon as the bullet hit liquid the nose start expansion and when the petals open to 40 degrees the will break off and fly out to penetrate any organs in the area.  They WILL NOT travel in meat to any extent at all, they are to light.  After the petals break off the core of the bullet it leaves a very sharp edges and convolutions on the nose of the bullet which creates a high velocity pronounced hydrostatic shock to the internals.  This core continues on its path normally and almost always exiting the animal.

Both of these actions normally create so much shock to the animal it often over rides the animal flight response.

This picture shows the bullet along with some other pictures from a range trip. This trip I did use 209 ignition but I have run the trip with #11 Mag Caps or the RWS Dynament Noble 1075+ with the same results.



This is a ballistic sheet computed from information collected



These bullets are available from Lehigh Defense on the web or MidwayUSA.  They are less expensive from Midway and the last time I checked there was free shipping.

I use a Black MMP HPH-24 sabot in my Knights...

Another great bullet is the 452x240 but I consider it a bit light for elk at 100+ yards.

[Mallardmasher]

Midway does not have them in stock, they say they are seasonal, and they are on back order with Lehigh. I will stick with the MTZ 290 grain out of the harvester chrush rib yellow sabot.

[Sabotloader]

Midway does not have them in stock, they say they are seasonal, and they are on back order with Lehigh. I will stick with the MTZ 290 grain out of the harvester chrush rib yellow sabot.

Well Dang! both places being is ridicules'!

[Mallardmasher]

I agree

[Sabotloader]

Well this is certainly a viable option and actually what I am using now.  Lehigh defense does have these.

Lehigh 458x305 gr. - It is a bullet designed for the 45-70 rifle.  It is built to tighter specs than a ML bullet because it is for a center fire rifle and because of that it is a true .458.  So instead of using a 458 sabot you can use a HPH-24 to get a good fit or a Harvester Long Black



This shows it along side the old Barnes Expander

[Mallardmasher]

Okay, I will get some coming, shooting my ML is addicting

[Sabotloader]

Okay, I will get some coming, shooting my ML is addicting

O Lordy! isn't it!!!!