Getting back into using mz's more and am looking for info on sources for bulk pack sabots. I will be shooting .50 caliber rifles and I'm going to be using .452 and .458 bullets. I would also like your opinions on which brand or style will seat the easiest when using black powder substitutes.

Harvester

harvester is the easiest to seat, fo sho

I shoot a bunch of the Knights - but I’m usually watching for a sale. Their shipping on single items generally pretty high.

I’m using Knight .50 and .52 sabots if I’m “loading my own”, or I’ll use a bunch of the Nosler orange sabots.

I’m using T-7 pellets and loose, no issues with the above unless I’m running a long string of shots at the range.

Harvester.

The local shops are an iffy source, and I've seen them marked up to a ridiculous price at a couple places. Harvester has the ones you want, not what someone wants to sell you, and they are excellent. Shipping is quick.

Crush Ribs seat easily too.

Thanks guys for your responses. I've checked the Harvester sabots on various sites. They seem to be what I'm looking for. I've used PowerBelts in the past but I've got a lot of .452 and.458 bullets, it's crazy not to use them.

Just get them direct from Harvester.

Is MMP still an option? Been a very long time since I used, or even thought about, Sabots.

Harvester crush ribbed! I tried them once years ago and they are all I buy now. Introduced others here into them also.

MMP is still around and prices include shipping. Harvester direct is expensive. You can get them much cheaper at Grafs and Midsouth Shooter Supply.

Just because a sabot loads easier does not make it better. Its often makes it worse. Ive never owned a rifle that shot the crushrib better than the regular harvester sabot but that all depends on fit. The regular EZ Load sabot for upto 300gr bullets works great in all but the tightest of bores. You are wasting a couple bucks on crushribs unless you have to have them.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/3402
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/dept/muzzleloaders/projectiles/sabots-only

The Harvester 50x458 sabot will probably have to come directly from Harvester. Its fairly new.
https://www.harvestermuzzleloading....hed-rib-sabot-for-458-bullet-pack-qty-50

Harvester Crush Rib

Its damn hard to recommend an exact sabot without knowing what rifle it will be used in. Seems silly to even suggest one sabot fits all bores. Thats ML basics 101. A Harvester black CR will nearly fall down some 700mls and Savage bores. Not much of a chance they would shoot with a damn in those conditions.

There are smaller OD sabots than Harvester and ways to make a sabot load easier without adding any kind of lube. Just use a smaller bullet in that sabot. MMP 3P EZ are easier to load than the Harvesters. So are T/C SuperGlide sabots. Both are roughly .002-.003 smaller loaded OD.

Mid South Shooters Supply has several different sabots in bulk . . .

Or at least they used to!

Harvester sabots are what I use! I tried the crush rib and accuracy sucked! Went to the Harvester Short Black sabot and that was what it liked. All black powder barrels do not measure the same land to land at the muzzle! Some are really tight while others are looser! TThis is what you must figure out!

These figures are not written in stone but they are very close!

Knights .503 to .504

TC .500 to .502

Traditions and CVA .499 to .503

https://www.harvestermuzzleloading....for-451-452-cal-300-grain-or-less-bullet

Harvester Crush Rib.

I've had very good luck with Harvester sabots as well. But past couple years I have made the switch to CVA Powerbelts.

Sherwood

Why not just buy the good bullets that come with the harvesters alreasy, Barnes....

I agree, the crush ribbed harvesters take away accuracy.... the easier it is to seat a bullet, the lower your seal....

Which bullets would that be that already come with Harvester sabots? Excluding Harvesters Scorpion bullets obviously. I cant think of a single vendor except for a 45cal offered by Knight rifle. Barnes uses MMP, so does Hornady, Traditions and T/C.

Yeah, lack of morning coffee, I meant MMP...