Changing bullets in Hornaday 20 gauge SSt

[Fletch6]

After a lot of shooting with different slugs and some home brewed.  I was getting the best groups with the Hornaday SST in my 1187 Rem. 20, but for my ML I do like the Barnes for knock down power  on deer.  I had been thinking about what a hornaday would shoot like if I changed to some Barnes TEZ 250 grain bullets using the hornaday sabot and hull.  I very gently with a small screw driver pried the crimp open on a hull to see what the dimensions of the SST bullet were and was surprised to find it was a .452 and the Barnes being .451 but a little longer had me trying the swap.  There is a little shim under the SST that is about the difference in height and I did remove this and knurl the Barnes to give it a little more size and grip in the sabot.
You will find that the best way to get the bullet and sabot out of the hornaday is to tap it until it is at the end of the hull and then pull it out with needle none pliers.  there might be other ways but this is what worked for me. After sliding the sabot and bullet down the hull and crimping the result was almost perfect.
Now off to the range.  The results were a great group and slightly better than factory SST, but about 8".
high.  I have not changed the scope yet and will over the next few days be trying more to make sure.
A little expensive at $13 for a box of the SST and about $1 per bullet for the Barnes, but for deer and how much I shoot during the season I can live with this.

[jjas]

If you want to shoot barnes bullets in a 20 gauge slug why not shoot the federal slug ammo loaded with the barnes bullets?

[Fletch6]

They dont shoot worth a hoot in my gun.  I have tried to date just about every other slug.

[jjas]

Have you tried the Accutips from Remington?  Lots of people seem to be getting great groups from them.

Either way, best of luck to you in your quest for accuracy.

[Fletch6]

Lets see if I can remember.
I tried Remington ( all three types), Winchester( but none of the copper), Lightfield, Federal ( 3" and 2 3/4"), and some old brenacks. and the SST shoots the best. 

[Hntr2506]

After a lot of shooting with different slugs and some home brewed.  I was getting the best groups with the Hornaday SST in my 1187 Rem. 20, but for my ML I do like the Barnes for knock down power  on deer.  I had been thinking about what a hornaday would shoot like if I changed to some Barnes TEZ 250 grain bullets using the hornaday sabot and hull.  I very gently with a small screw driver pried the crimp open on a hull to see what the dimensions of the SST bullet were and was surprised to find it was a .452 and the Barnes being .451 but a little longer had me trying the swap.  There is a little shim under the SST that is about the difference in height and I did remove this and knurl the Barnes to give it a little more size and grip in the sabot.
You will find that the best way to get the bullet and sabot out of the hornaday is to tap it until it is at the end of the hull and then pull it out with needle none pliers.  there might be other ways but this is what worked for me. After sliding the sabot and bullet down the hull and crimping the result was almost perfect.
Now off to the range.  The results were a great group and slightly better than factory SST, but about 8".
high.  I have not changed the scope yet and will over the next few days be trying more to make sure.
A little expensive at $13 for a box of the SST and about $1 per bullet for the Barnes, but for deer and how much I shoot during the season I can live with this.

I wanted to shoot barnes bullets too in my hanloaded SST.What I found out was Barnes packages their bullets under Knight Muzzeloader.I found some on clearance and bought 30 for $16.They worked great just loaded the same as the Hornady 250gr FTX bullet.