I am a huge fan of Thompson / Center Arms and I purchased a .45 X 209 barrel for my Encore.
I did this with the idea that I could get a little more range out of smaller diameter bullets.
I have tried a number of different sabots and none of them loaded easily.
My next option was I tried Hornady Great Plains bullets.
They loaded easily enough but the accuracy I was getting was not what I was expecting.
The best it would do is 2" groups at 50 yards, I know the gun and I could do better.
Option number three was 225 gr. CVA Powerbelts in 45 caliber, but finding them at the local shops was a problem.
The accuracy was twice about 1" at 50 yards, but paying $1 a round for just the bullets didn't make sense to me.
I saw an ad in a Midway USA catalog for the Saber Tooth bullets, this led me to checking out your website.
Customer service sent me a sample pack of the Crushed Rib Sabot with 200gr. Hornady XTP bullets.
I tested the load and it hit just about 2" higher than the CVA Powerbelts, lighter bullets will produce flatter trajectory.
In the final minutes of Missouri's Alternative Methods season a doe provided me with an easy 40 yard broadside shot.
As I started to field dress the deer and I found another plus to using the Crushed Rib Sabots.
CVA Powerbelts were damaging a lot of meat on the deer that I have used them on.
The smaller diameter bullets I think caused less damage to the meat with similar bullet placement.
So in summary the Crushed Rib Sabots have a flatter trajectory, are less expensive, load easy and do less damage to the meat. --- Alan from Fulton, MO
