308 Ultra Light Rounds

[Bushmaster7]

Saw some 308 'accelerator' rounds on the internet recently. Described as 62 grain sabots with a velocity of around 4,000 fps. Anyone ever used them and if so, performance in terms of accuracy and distance? Very light projectiles but very fast, so don't know if best in a bolt action or a semi-auto if they would feed properly??

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

Not effective. They are a novelty and not much more. Accuracy is problematic. The components employed are very unusual and are not available to the general handloading public, so they can't even be reproduced by handloaders.

Honestly, I doubt they are a product that is suitible for serious shooters.

Greg

 

[Bushmaster7]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

Greg, have you actually shot these or are you basing your conclusions on the physics of the load? I have heard similar with 408 Spitzer type rounds that were light and got out to 800 to 1,000 yards quickly but dropped off rapidly in performance beyond that range.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

I have, both .308 and .30-'06, but this was several decades back, when they were a new phenomenon. Up close, their impact could be devastating, but expecting to hit a 'chuck with one at 100yd was highly optimistic.

Moreover, the bulk of my specific knowledge comes from the writings of Barnes and McPherson in the 8th edition of <span style="font-style: italic">Cartidges of the World</span> which covers them in great historical and technical detail.

Greg

 

[Bushmaster7]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

Thanks for the feedback. I did not realize they were around that long.

 

[Badshot308]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

Do you have a link by any chance? The original load from Remington was loaded with 55 grain bullets. If you Google these rounds, you usually get the same answer, bad accuracy but high velocity. If you want to load your own just for fun http://www.ammo-one.com/SABOT.html

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

I've got a box of the 55gr accelerators in 30-06, that I've had for over 20 years. Only four have been shot. Accuracy at 100 yards was 3-4" as I recall.

 

[Bushmaster7]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

62 grain may do better, will let you know if I get some and get to the range to try them out. regards, Dale.

 

[Badshot308]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

Just remember that those require a tight twist such as a 1 in 7 to stabilize. If you're shoooting them out of a 308 bolt gun with a 1 in 12 your accuracy may suffer. If rifle has a muzzle brake, frash hider or especially a can, you might have strikes if that sabot opens as soon as it exits the muzzle.

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

62's don't need 1/7. 1/7 is needed to stabilize the long-assed tracer bullet.

62s will stabilize in a 1/9 or 1/10. At high velocity (3500+) they will likely stabilize fine in a 1/12.

 

[Badshot308]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

Hmmm, that's good to know.

 

[fast freddy]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

had some for a 30-30, found 2 boxes in a little gas station store. havnt seen any since. they seemed to be minute of milk jug out of the 30-30. never got the chance to shoot any animals with them though.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

My data indicates the .30-'06 was first marketed in 1977, with .30-30 and .308 in succeeding years.

Greg

 

[kdog70]

Re: 308 Ultra Light Rounds

Sabots for sale

That link has sabots you can reload.They give you some basic reloading info for them, just like every one else says they are for looks and don't expect any great accuracy. I shot them out of a SKS and only tested to 50 yards with iron sights could put them all in a pie plate (shooting fast) but never shot farther. They do look mean once you load em up and they are sitting in the box someone always asks me what they are when I'm at the range.