308 sabots- at low velocities

M

Minimalist hunter

Inactive
Hi everyone,

I have ordered a reloading set for my .308 and will be building up some 168gr normal velocity rounds for general hunting as they were the factory rounds that performed well, however I also want to carry some rounds I can use on rabbits and small game.

My initial thoughts were to use a FMJ bullet in the lowest weight i could find in 308 diameter and fire it at the lowest speed that could zero at 25m (for a scope zerod for 50m/200m with my standard hunting round). This was probably going to be an 86-110gr bullet.

My other thought which prompted this thread was to use sabots to fire .224 diameter fmj bullets in 55-70gr weights, again at the lowest velocity that can keep them stable and consistent.
There isnt loads of info about sabots in rifles but most of it seems to be about thier performance in hyper velocity applications. Does anyone have any experience trying sabots at low velocity? Did the sabot release the bullet consistently? How was the accuracy?

Thanks in advance
 
I tried some .308 sabots once upon a time. Basically worthless IMHO. Decent accuracy only came after the bore was well coated with sabot material and only lasted a few shots before the plastic fouling changed to "uncleanable GOO"
A better choice would be something like the Speer .308 "Plinker" half jacketed bullets. However, the zero for such loads may be so far off the zero for your hunting loads as to be also worthless.
 
Cheers for the reply Mobuck,

Do you think I could get a zero with those loads by building the charge up or down as required? Can lighter loads sometimes shoot more latterally? From memory when I tied a box of the 110gr TAP loads they shot high and right but I cannot remember if it was windy and they were just more prone to drift.

Ideally I will find a jacketed or semi jacketed low expansion bullet to shoot at subsonic speed.

Could a normal velocity FMJ round work by passing through the rabbit without transferring as much energy or would it still turn it to jelly and mush?
 
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