Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Loading 30/06 Accelerator Ammo

If you follow my posts I have been experimenting with Accelerator loads. The first attempts were with my 7.62x39 Ackley rifle. Accuracy stunk. Assuming the .311 groove might be a problem, I switched to the 30/06.

The “platform” is an old JC Penny FN Mauser with a 1:10 twist 22” barrel. The rifle came with a Weaver K3 scope. I never changed it. While plane-jane, one could not ask for a better 300 yard hunting rifle. The rifle shoots 1-1/8” groups with standard 165 grain hunting loads all day long.

The first accelerator loads were a disappointment. Groups were 3” or worse @ 50 yards. Over time I have made various changes. Today I was rewarded with success, well, …almost.

The first shot from a cold barrel printed 8” @ 4 o’clock from the point of aim. The next three shots were centered in the 10 & X ring within 1-1/8” @ 100 yards. I was shooting over front and rear sandbags. I might have pulled the first shot, but I doubt it. Also the cold barrel pattern is repeatable, so I double doubt it.

I am unsure how to solve the cold barrel problem. Presumably, the first shot at varmints will always be out of a cold barrel, so it might go wide. My gut is telling me to look into the bedding of the rifle. We’ll see.

Assuming I do solve the cold barrel problem, this is what I have learned about loading sabots for reasonable accuracy.

1) The barrel must be completely cleaned any jacket fouling
2) Load a powder which would normally be way-to-fast for the cartridge. I used 4198 in the 30/06. R7 or AA1680 might work too , but I have not tried them.
3) Load the sabot fast. That means past 4000 fps. The 1:10 rate of twist in my rifle ( and a lot of 30 caliber rifles) will only stabilize bullets of 55 grains or less if they are moving very fast. I tried 62, 69 & 77 grain bullets in my rifle. The heavier the bullet the larger the group. The 77s did not print on paper at 50 yards!
4) Fireform your brass in the rifle you intend to use before loading sabots. Then only neck size those cases. Do not push the shoulder back. The brass must fit the rifle well!
5) The bullet seating tool the sabot suppliers sell is essential. Essential, for seating the bullet in the sabot. Essential. Trust me.
6) Use flat based bullets. BT bullets would not shoot for me.


In all I have fired over 200 rounds of .224 bullets in .30 caliber sabots. Initial tests were patterns. These steps are what allowed me to obtain 1-1/8” MOA groups, excluding the cold barrel issue.

If anybody knows how to debug the cold barrel problem, I am all ears.

Can't help with the cold barrel thing but when they first came out they worked darn good in my 30-30.

Having gotten bit by the bug we got some sabots and tried our hand at shooting them.

Tried several makes and types of bullets in the 30-30 as well as the 30-06 and had no joy.

Still have several boxes of sabots left over.

Have not played with them in 25-30 years but one day when the moon and stars align i might try once more.

It was a learning experience for sure.

I don’t have much to say on the sabots as I have really never had the inkling to push a 22 caliber 55 grain out of a 30 caliber tube when I have a rifle that will push that bullet 3900+ without a sabot. Also never seen a varmint that could tell the difference between a bullet going 3900 fps and one at 4000 and the fact you are probably burning 15+ grains more powder to get there.
I do have a 700 in 25.06 that has been pillared and floated that will chuck a shot 1” low and left when the barrel is cold and clean every time, however if I don’t clean it the problem doesn’t exist. First shot out of cold and dirty goes right on the money and stays there.
So in my instance I just attribute it to being clean and maybe a little oil residue causing it to chuck that first one.

Shot some in my 30/30 model 64 twenty years ago. Got pretty good accuracy by using my cast bullet expanding and flaring tool.

I've used factory sabots once upon a time...

but the 22.250 seemed to solve the same problem... with less fuss..

so I sorta use that instead...

where did you guys pick up the Sabots? or did you just craft them yourselves?

I play with stuff like that to just see " what if?"

Thanks Swifty....

Addendum...

Got motivated to pick me up a 17 Fireball Barrel also... been putting off ordering one for quite a while...
Didn't want the long waits etc...

EABCO sure made that easy having it threaded and chambered for a Savage, in stock and ready to go...