Idaho sabot calrification

[lwtickner]

Idaho says bullet has to be .010 of bore but after July 1,2025 sabots are legal.

Anyone have clarification? Is it ok after July to run 45 cal in 50 with sabot?

 

[ElDiablito]

They said they’re going to update the regs to reflect the legislative change.

It will be.

 

[lwtickner]

They said they’re going to update the regs to reflect the legislative change.

It will be.

That makes more sense! Thank you!

 

[ElDiablito]

Thread 'Sabots now legal in Idaho'

Apr 8, 2025

Hey Folks,

Idaho Dept of Fish and Game just released their new regulations for 2025, and this year they are allowing Sabots during the muzzleloader-only seasons.

https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/weapons/muzzleloader

I've been hunting elk with my Knight Ultra-Lite .50 caliber for the past few years. Last year I used Thor copper bullets and those worked great. I want to stick with copper.

What recommendations do you have for copper bullets with sabots?

@sabotloader and @ElDiablito I would especially appreciate hearing from you guys!

• timcorcoran
• Replies: 38
• Forum: Muzzleloader

• 

 

[lwtickner]

That tells me all. Can't believe I couldn't find that post. Thank you muchly!

 

[coacht84]

They said they’re going to update the regs to reflect the legislative change.

It will be.

I'm sure you are right, but between my brother and I, we got 4 different answers from IDFG employees and none of them were that! Haha

I know they got bushwacked by legislators, but they could have handled the communication better. At least internally.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

 

[ElDiablito]

I'm sure you are right, but between my brother and I, we got 4 different answers from IDFG employees and none of them were that! Haha

I know they got bushwacked by legislators, but they could have handled the communication better. At least internally.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

Curious what the different answers were.

I believe this is the text of the signed legislation:

FISH AND GAME – Adds to existing law to provide that the Department of Fish and Game shall not adopt or enforce any rule that makes it unlawful to use sabots in a muzzleloader-only season.

Sounds like they have to allow sabots (and remove or not enforce the bore-sized language from rules.)

To my knowledge, there is no sabot made for any caliber the would use a bullet that is within .010 of bore.

 

[robby denning]

Thanks @ElDiablito

I read in the current proposals something about dropping this weird " 0.? distance within the bore" rule. But that will be for 2026, 2025 is already out and sabots legal.

 

[coacht84]

Curious what the different answers were.

I believe this is the text of the signed legislation:

FISH AND GAME – Adds to existing law to provide that the Department of Fish and Game shall not adopt or enforce any rule that makes it unlawful to use sabots in a muzzleloader-only season.

Sounds like they have to allow sabots (and remove or not enforce the bore-sized language from rules.)

To my knowledge, there is no sabot made for any caliber the would use a bullet that is within .010 of bore.

Long story short is they all interpreted the wording differently, but none of them could speak definitively. All of them had a little bit different advise on what to do. From just use what you want because the regulations wording is not going to hold up in court, to call your legislators and ask them, to just wait for an announcement. None of them offered to escalate with their managers and find the answer. None of them pointed me to any additional resources or contacts.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

 

[ElDiablito]

Long story short is they all interpreted the wording differently, but none of them could speak definitively. All of them had a little bit different advise on what to do. From just use what you want because the regulations wording is not going to hold up in court, to call your legislators and ask them, to just wait for an announcement. None of them offered to escalate with their managers and find the answer. None of them pointed me to any additional resources or contacts.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

You’d think the Dept would have a standard answer to this. How many hundreds of times is/will this question be asked before fall?!

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but, state law trumps dept regs. So if state law says the dept can’t “adopt or enforce any rule prohibiting sabots” then that is the final word on this. The dept had better pull their head out and standardize their messaging.