Aluminum Sabot

[Hugger-4641]

Ok, maybe a hairbrained thought here, but curious if anyone has tried this and can't find anything on google.
I was given some cast bullets that are too soft for the velocities I want out of my 30-06. I also happen to have some 7075-T651 that would be just right size to make a sabot/semi jacket to hold the cast bullets. Would require a little bit machining to fit the bullet and sabot together, but I'm not concerned about that. Just wondering if anyone else has tried something like this?

 

[Obturation]

My issue with it is that the sabot has significant mass and that'll rob energy from the projectile speed, essentially the aluminum will be projectiles too and won't fly straight or true . not something I'd do, plastic works better , but a 30 caliber bullet will be underpowered compared to the recoil you'll endure pushing such a heavy sabot . just guessing though. How does taofledermaus do it?

 

[AJC1]

Any reason a standard gas check will not fix you right up???

 

[Hugger-4641]

I thought about that, but I think I have a way to bond the sabot so that its really more of a jacket and stays complete with bullet all the way to impact. This is still just bouncing in my brain, may not try it, but curious if others have.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Any reason a standard gas check will not fix you right up???

There is one reason, but I'll save that for a bit. If I try this and it happens to work, I have a few different applications for the projectiles.

 

[AJC1]

Are these traditionally lubed bullets or could powdercoat fix the issue... simple solutions being my priority.

 

[buck460XVR]

Since aluminum seems to gall quite easily, I would assume one would have to coat it so the aluminum didn't foul the bore after only a few shots.

 

[DocRock]

Time to get out of the cabin for a bit.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Are these traditionally lubed bullets or could powdercoat fix the issue... simple solutions being my priority.

I'm not familiar with powder coating for bullets, I'll have to read up on that. Might be an option.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Time to get out of the cabin for a bit.

You're probably right! But I have thought about this before as a way to use other metals besides lead without damaging or fouling the barrel. If I could get a home made sabot or jacket to work, just about any metal could be cast if needed.

 

[AJC1]

I'm not familiar with powder coating for bullets, I'll have to read up on that. Might be an option.

Watch videos on YouTube from fortunecookie45lc or loads of bacon and you should be fully up to speed... its simple really. High tech I find far more complicated

 

[DocRock]

You're probably right! But I have thought about this before as a way to use other metals besides lead without damaging or fouling the barrel. If I could get a home made sabot or jacket to work, just about any metal could be cast if needed.

Why not just recast the too soft bullets with a little tin to fill them out and harden them up?

 

[Hugger-4641]

Why not just recast the too soft bullets with a little tin to fill them out and harden them up?

That or gas check would work for these bullets, but I'm kind of thinking outside the box for using other metals also.

 

[Walkalong]

I don't see it working without leaving aluminum all the way down the bore. Might be wrong.

 

[bersaguy]

If the issue is just that the bullets you have are too soft, I would recommend trying powder coat. That should keep them from leading the barrel. Not sure how a sabot of any material would work for a bullet that is already properly sized for your barrel. And if recasting is in the plan for the sabot route, then just get some superhard from rotometals and harden the alloy. Even then, I still like powder coat...no gas check required...typically