- Joined
- Jan 13, 2018
- Messages
- 168
- Reaction score
- 102
I bought my 50cal Omega with an original Nikon Buckmasters 3x9 scope sometime back in the 90's and have taken many deer with it using 2 T7 pellets and a 240gr Shockwave. I wanted to switch to BH 209 and bought everything needed to do so. After inspecting the rifle, early summer, I noticed what appeared to be a seam opening at the crown. I gave TC a call and they asked me to send the gun back to them so they could take a look. I was very pleased to have the rifle returned to me a couple of weeks later with a brand new barrel installed at no charge. Kudos to TC.
I've now racked up over 16 hours and a jug and a half of BH 209 at the range in 4 sessions trying to work up a consistent load and bullet combo. So far I've tried;
300gr XTP's with Harvestor black crush rib sabot
240gr XTP's with supplied green sabot
250gr Barnes TEZ with supplied blue sabot
240gr Shockwave with supplied red sabot
240gr TC cheapshots with supplied blk sabots
All above bullets were shot at 80,90,100, and 110 gr by volume of BH209 using W209 primers searching for a good group. The W209 primers match up well to the Omega and most come out virtually clean with no blowback. The first range session was in August. The best group I got was with the 300gr XTP's at 100gr vol. The temperature was mid 80's. All shots were within 2in at 100yds...acceptable. My next plan was to wait for colder temps to verify POI. The next trips were 40 degrees or less...even frost. Now the group has opened up to 4 in. or more. I get 2 almost touching then WHAM...one way out. I then started over..80,90,100, and 110grs. No difference. Oddly, the groups remained at 4in or more no matter what the load. I replaced the Nikon scope with a high dollar Weaver thinking the scope was bad. No difference. I replaced myself with my cousin and shooting buddy as the shooter thinking it might be my poor marksmanship. My cousin and I are long range varmint hunters that have confirmed kills out to 1000yds so we know how to pull a trigger. He did no better. No difference. I've done the usual....tightened all mounting points to spec. cleaned out BP flash channel every 10 shots....no difference. I even tried 2 different powder measures. No difference.
Where I hunt, my shots are within 100yds mostly and can certainly kill a deer with 4in groups. It's just that I think this gun could and should do better. I'm at a loss to know what I should do next. It's getting late to try any other bullet/sabot combos. This is also getting expensive. Any ideas??
I've now racked up over 16 hours and a jug and a half of BH 209 at the range in 4 sessions trying to work up a consistent load and bullet combo. So far I've tried;
300gr XTP's with Harvestor black crush rib sabot
240gr XTP's with supplied green sabot
250gr Barnes TEZ with supplied blue sabot
240gr Shockwave with supplied red sabot
240gr TC cheapshots with supplied blk sabots
All above bullets were shot at 80,90,100, and 110 gr by volume of BH209 using W209 primers searching for a good group. The W209 primers match up well to the Omega and most come out virtually clean with no blowback. The first range session was in August. The best group I got was with the 300gr XTP's at 100gr vol. The temperature was mid 80's. All shots were within 2in at 100yds...acceptable. My next plan was to wait for colder temps to verify POI. The next trips were 40 degrees or less...even frost. Now the group has opened up to 4 in. or more. I get 2 almost touching then WHAM...one way out. I then started over..80,90,100, and 110grs. No difference. Oddly, the groups remained at 4in or more no matter what the load. I replaced the Nikon scope with a high dollar Weaver thinking the scope was bad. No difference. I replaced myself with my cousin and shooting buddy as the shooter thinking it might be my poor marksmanship. My cousin and I are long range varmint hunters that have confirmed kills out to 1000yds so we know how to pull a trigger. He did no better. No difference. I've done the usual....tightened all mounting points to spec. cleaned out BP flash channel every 10 shots....no difference. I even tried 2 different powder measures. No difference.
Where I hunt, my shots are within 100yds mostly and can certainly kill a deer with 4in groups. It's just that I think this gun could and should do better. I'm at a loss to know what I should do next. It's getting late to try any other bullet/sabot combos. This is also getting expensive. Any ideas??