Unless your going to hunt someplace that doesn't allow the use of sabots, why switch? I don't think a Thor reaches a BC of .230 however it is a Barnes. Also consider expense. A bunch of us just cleaned out MidwayUSA of Barnes, selling the 24 package for $17.95 you couldn't pass on that deal..... However if its experimenting that you like, then its different.
Thats a darn good price. Last pack I bought from Cabelas, in the store was, I think, about 23 bucks plus sales tax.
I'm intrigued by the sabotless pills and I want to use a one pill for everything I shoot. Price isn't really a consideration because unlike my benchrest target rifles I won't be sending large quantities downrange. I get the ML's sighted in and both are only ignited for hunting, I have 2, both CVA V2's, one shorter tube mountain rifle, the other standard length and both shoot almost identically at 100 yards.
The absolute best modification to both was shimming the retainers. Had them both out a week ago and with 209 and 6 pills (TMZ's) down each tube there was absolutely nothing in the primer recess, on the breech face or the backside of the action, nothing.
I'm really sold on BH209 too. I loaded some Go-Ex a friend had and was amazed how dirty it was in comparison. First shot, fine, second shot it got a bit tighter, I almost didn't get the third pill ramrodded down the tube. I don't have that issue with 209 and when I pulled the breechplug, it was filthy as was the bore. It don't get filthy with BH209.
I was with a couple other guys with ML's at a private range and they were all over me about what I did and how I did it and what it involves. Of course I explained to them that it wasn't a quick modification (took me an entire afternoon to get the spacing right and get the breech to close and hammer to function properly) but they were all very interested.
One guy had an Apex and the breech face looked like it had acne. IU told him there was no use in shimming, the face was already shot.
I also like the Thor's better than the Canadian sabotless pills. The Thor's can be sent without modification to the breech, the Canadian counterparts can't from what I read.
Really, the Thor's aren't that expensive per pill. I buy Defensive Edge CNC turned rifle bullets, Thor's are relatively inexpensive compared to DE CNC turned pills or my Lapua cased 338 Scenars. Even handloaded, each round is over 3 bucks.
