- Joined
- Apr 22, 2015
- Messages
- 194
- Reaction score
- 4
FINALLY got the Impact out to the range today! Before I go further, I would like to thank all of my mentors here. You all helped me understand a subject that was totally foreign to me. While I have extensive experience with center fires, rim-fires, vertical and cross bows, a front-stuffer was intimidating. You walked me through it well.
I also want to thank Sqezer for so generously sending me, (FREE), so many different bullets and sabots, as well as ideas and instruction. Today wouldn't have gone that well with-out what you sent me.
O.K. The T/C Impact has a very tight bore, and I elected to start with 80 grains of Bh209 at 25 yards to get the scope and rifle on the same page. Decided on 250 grain Shock-Waves. Incredibly, after 3 shots, it was dialed in, and proceeded to produce a clover leaf.
Out o 100 yards we go, and bump to 100 grains. I set up two new targets, and decided to try the 290 TMZ. Man, that factory yellow sabot would BARLEY go down the tube. Well, I let it rip, and BOOM!! I was not ready for that! Understand, I have fired hundreds, many hundreds of .338 Mag rounds. This sucker was far more violent. Oh, and surprisingly, high and to the right. Scope adjustment, and repeat, to the tune of 10 times.
I had to clean the barrel after 6 shots to get the TMZ's down the tube. Well, it then dawned on me that Sqezer had sent me multiple different sabots, and I remembered reading on the Barnes site that the yellows are for the slightly over-bored barrels. AH-HA!
Switched to the MMP-HPH24, and Wa-La! Piece of cake, and WOW! The groups tightened up to 1" at 100.
Shoulder experiencing a bit of pain now, (25 loads later), but heck, I want to try a few more varieties. I will say that my particular Impact does NOT like Bor-Locks. 6" pattern, anyone?
One last variety before I go to the doctor to have my shoulder re-attached...260 grain Nosler Partition with the same MMP-HPH24 sabot. What the heck. I am assuming it will fly so far over the Barnes 290's that it may not even hit the board. BOOM! OW!!! WHAT? Punched out the center of a three shot Barnes group.
Fluke, try again, fresh target. No scope adjustment. Proceed to shoot a 1" 3-shot group. EXACT same P.O.I. as the TMZ's. I can't explain it, and defies everything center fires taught me. How do I go from a poly-tipped, boat-tailed 290 grain slug to a 260 grain partition with what amounts to a semi-hollow point and have essentially the exact same POI?
Anyway, I am certain I have found the two loads this particular gun loves.
My next question is, how do you all think the Nosler would perform on deer-sized game with the 100 grains of Bh209? Again, I am quite familiar with the center fire version, and am aware of it's limitations, but no idea as to the HG variety in a MZ.
One last thing: My hat is off to those that shoot the B 290 TMZ with a full 120 gr. charge! :shock:
Now I need to order up a thousand MMP-HPH24 sabots. Suggestions on where?
I also want to thank Sqezer for so generously sending me, (FREE), so many different bullets and sabots, as well as ideas and instruction. Today wouldn't have gone that well with-out what you sent me.
O.K. The T/C Impact has a very tight bore, and I elected to start with 80 grains of Bh209 at 25 yards to get the scope and rifle on the same page. Decided on 250 grain Shock-Waves. Incredibly, after 3 shots, it was dialed in, and proceeded to produce a clover leaf.
Out o 100 yards we go, and bump to 100 grains. I set up two new targets, and decided to try the 290 TMZ. Man, that factory yellow sabot would BARLEY go down the tube. Well, I let it rip, and BOOM!! I was not ready for that! Understand, I have fired hundreds, many hundreds of .338 Mag rounds. This sucker was far more violent. Oh, and surprisingly, high and to the right. Scope adjustment, and repeat, to the tune of 10 times.
I had to clean the barrel after 6 shots to get the TMZ's down the tube. Well, it then dawned on me that Sqezer had sent me multiple different sabots, and I remembered reading on the Barnes site that the yellows are for the slightly over-bored barrels. AH-HA!
Switched to the MMP-HPH24, and Wa-La! Piece of cake, and WOW! The groups tightened up to 1" at 100.
Shoulder experiencing a bit of pain now, (25 loads later), but heck, I want to try a few more varieties. I will say that my particular Impact does NOT like Bor-Locks. 6" pattern, anyone?
One last variety before I go to the doctor to have my shoulder re-attached...260 grain Nosler Partition with the same MMP-HPH24 sabot. What the heck. I am assuming it will fly so far over the Barnes 290's that it may not even hit the board. BOOM! OW!!! WHAT? Punched out the center of a three shot Barnes group.
Fluke, try again, fresh target. No scope adjustment. Proceed to shoot a 1" 3-shot group. EXACT same P.O.I. as the TMZ's. I can't explain it, and defies everything center fires taught me. How do I go from a poly-tipped, boat-tailed 290 grain slug to a 260 grain partition with what amounts to a semi-hollow point and have essentially the exact same POI?
Anyway, I am certain I have found the two loads this particular gun loves.
My next question is, how do you all think the Nosler would perform on deer-sized game with the 100 grains of Bh209? Again, I am quite familiar with the center fire version, and am aware of it's limitations, but no idea as to the HG variety in a MZ.
One last thing: My hat is off to those that shoot the B 290 TMZ with a full 120 gr. charge! :shock:
Now I need to order up a thousand MMP-HPH24 sabots. Suggestions on where?