What would be a good way to tell if scope bit the dust? Last year when I bought MY Omega Z5 I was looking for a decent scope for not much money. My buddy has a cheap scope on his Ml that seemed to have good clarity and a decent eye relief so I researched it. After reading several decent reviews I decided to give it a try with the hopes and intentions of replacing it with a better scope in a year or two. When I put this brand new scope on my brand new muzzleloader and went to the range, I was able to hold 1 1/4" groups (at 100yds) after I found the bullet/load combo that the omega liked. Needless to say I was impressed with gun. But I am an obssesive tinkerer. Always trying to make something better. Even though 1 1/4 is way more accurate than I need and that I probably can even shoot consistently I researched some ways to improve accuracy on the Omega. First thing I did was shoot two 20pks of hornaday full lead conicals through it because I read where this would help remove machining imperfections and make it a consistent shooter. I shot these at a reduced powder load so as not to waste too much powder and too not splatter lead and fill up rifling with lead. Next I floated the barrel by sanding the composite stock so I can easily slide a dollar bill all the way down to the first lug without any resistance whatsoever. I then pillered the stock by drilling out the mounting holes and epoxying aluminum tube back into holes that the ID just fit the mounting screws. Tube was cut to same length as thickness of stock it was going in. I also cut and fit a piece of oak between the 2 recesses that the lugs seat into to make that part of the stock stiffer and reinforce front lug against cracking. I also filled the butt of the stock with expandable foam to make it more solid and take out any hollow sounds when shooting. I also put a new scope mount on because the gorilla bases that I originally installed did not allow scope to be moved far enough forward and I banged my nose a couple times when working up load. Another modification I did that was not for accuracy and should not have anything to do with what is wrong now, is that I cut 1/4" off the trigger. I found that the Omega trigger guard is too small for the way the trigger system works and after shooting 30 to 40 rounds I had a nasty sore on my finger where it kept getting pinched on release between the trigger and guard.
Well anyways after doing all this work I went to range to see if it paid off. After resighting in I couldn't hold a 3" group. After shooting a pack of Barnes TEz's I gave up and just figured I was having a bad day. I have since been back to range and shot a pack of TEz's each time. It is still not very consistent and I did not have much faith using it during recent ML season.
I have checked and rechecked screws to make sure not loose and even loctited scope mount and ring screws. I am still using same bullet and powder combo that I was using when shooting 1 1/4" groups and still loading it same way with same amount of pressure, near as I can feel. What makes me think it may be the scope going bad is that a couple times when I was shooting and sighting in the last range session when I would adjust scope a couple clicks the poi would move way more than it should have. For instance first shot was about 3 inches below bullseye. I moved scope 12 clicks (1/4" per click) and hit about 4 inches above bullseye. I shot again to make sure I did not pull it that much and that shot hit right next to it. I then backed off 6 clicks figuring to split the distance and was still about 2 inches high. Went down 6 more clicks which basically undid the 12 I originally did and hit the bull. I shot again and hit bull again. Shot one more time and hit about 3 inches right. Shot several more times and could not hit bull again. I don't think I am pulling it that much. I am not sure how to know if scope is losing zero or if I really messed gun up. I don't have another consistent shooting rifle to try scope on or a better scope to try on Omega. Since I had eventually planned on replacing scope anyhow that is probably where I should start. I just hate to spend the money right now if I don't have to. Any ideas on anything else to check on rifle.
Well anyways after doing all this work I went to range to see if it paid off. After resighting in I couldn't hold a 3" group. After shooting a pack of Barnes TEz's I gave up and just figured I was having a bad day. I have since been back to range and shot a pack of TEz's each time. It is still not very consistent and I did not have much faith using it during recent ML season.
I have checked and rechecked screws to make sure not loose and even loctited scope mount and ring screws. I am still using same bullet and powder combo that I was using when shooting 1 1/4" groups and still loading it same way with same amount of pressure, near as I can feel. What makes me think it may be the scope going bad is that a couple times when I was shooting and sighting in the last range session when I would adjust scope a couple clicks the poi would move way more than it should have. For instance first shot was about 3 inches below bullseye. I moved scope 12 clicks (1/4" per click) and hit about 4 inches above bullseye. I shot again to make sure I did not pull it that much and that shot hit right next to it. I then backed off 6 clicks figuring to split the distance and was still about 2 inches high. Went down 6 more clicks which basically undid the 12 I originally did and hit the bull. I shot again and hit bull again. Shot one more time and hit about 3 inches right. Shot several more times and could not hit bull again. I don't think I am pulling it that much. I am not sure how to know if scope is losing zero or if I really messed gun up. I don't have another consistent shooting rifle to try scope on or a better scope to try on Omega. Since I had eventually planned on replacing scope anyhow that is probably where I should start. I just hate to spend the money right now if I don't have to. Any ideas on anything else to check on rifle.
