Another morning at the Range

I don't know what's the matter w/ me. I'm just all over the place. I can understand the first half dozen shots with the new base/rings and bullet. Shot the 300gr SST's a couple weeks ago w/ those cheap ($9 WalMart) T/C Gorilla see-thru rings and base . But tried the Harvester PT Gold 260gr today after mounting some Leupold dove-tail rings and base. 9 shots of 90gr, 9 of the 100gr and 9 of the 110gr FFG Triple7 w/ Win 209 primers. All at 100 yards swabbing after every shot. The new mounts moved the scope a full 1" forward and about 1/2" lower. And it really feels good when shouldered. Nice, tight and comfortable. And unlike last session scope never touched me when shooting. Should I just try not as many different loads? Or try the 300gr PT Gold w/ a better ballistic coefficient? Or just more practice! Thanks for any help you can offer.

What I might suggest you do...

At the range, even though you have a scope, shoot at 25 yards. And work your load up from there. It should be a ragged hole. Try some of the loads you have tried. But be open to new loads as well.

That is one nice looking rifle! DON'T GET DISCOURAGED! For me, dialing in my rifle is something I really enjoy but I have been there when it doesn't go exactly right.

I would first check to make sure you aren't damaging the tips of your bullets if they have the plastic tip. I have done that before and it makes for some terrible flyers even though you are doing everything else just right. I had to drill out the tip of my ramrod on one rifle to avoid damaging the tips of the bullets.

If that isn't it, I would remove the scope and shoot at 50 or so yards with open sites to make sure your scope isn't the problem. Also make sure you are using a steady rest. Nothing fancy, just something to rest the forearm of your rifle on. I even used an empty windshield washer container on one outing when I forgot my sand bags.

I'm not sure why you chose to use FFG T7 instead of FFFG T7. I have always had the best accuracy in a .50 cal BP sub gun using 120 grs FFFG T7 with a .458" Remington "BULK" 300 gr. HP and using an orange MMP .50 x.458 sabot or a Harvester .50 x .45 Black Crush Rib sabot. Your rifle is one of the most accurate ever made. It looks like you have a quality scope and mounts. Since you are new to muzzleloading keep it simple. You don't need to buy expensive packaged Bullet/sabot combos. The best shooting bullets are the ones that are closest to your bore size. Try the combo that I mentioned above.Use the sabot with it that will require at least 20 lbs of force to ram the bullet down the bore. Tighter is better and more accurate. That Rem 300 HP is my "GO-TO" bullet for all my rifles except my .45's. When I blow my money on the hyped up high price bullets and they shoot like crap, I'll go back to my GO-TO bullet for a baseline. They shoot excellent in everything I own. You really don't need pointy bullets under 200 yards for whitetails. Use the Rem 300HP's. You'll get 3 shots for a dollar. The bullets and sabots can be had at WWW.Natchezss.com or www.midsouthshooterssupply.com. Good Shooting!

Thank you guys! Al do-able advice. I'm shooting off of a round metal patio table resting my elbows on it. I bought the FFG not knowing about the FFFG. I'm almost out of the FFG but was going to get some FFFG this week anyways. After I got the FFG Toby Bridges had recommended the FFFG since the scope reticles were determined using it. I'll bring it in closer to start out and get some other bullets you suggested a try. The scope has yardage for the reticles of different bullet weight ranges, bullet designs and ballistic coefficient ranges. And I'll find something for a steady rest. I previuosly checked the ramrod and it fits nicely "over" the bullet tip. But I will drill it out a little deeper just to be sure I'm not compressing the tip.

Tankhead

All i have everused is T7-2f, I have experimented with 3f and i shoot 3f in my sidelocks, but I continue to use 2f in the inlines...

I want you to do me a favor if you can, I would like you to contact Hi-lux (leather wood) and talk to the the tech department.

http://leatherwoodoptics.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=41

I can not remember the name of the customer service rep - but he is really a good guy and will work with you. My first TB scope shot just like that.

This target is from my second trip to the range.... and note that is only a 50 yard target. You can see that shots 1-4 were going along just fine - then something happened and came loose in the scope. So if you imagine shots 5 thru 10 @ 100 yards - they would have double the spread...



I called Leatherwood talked to a great service tech he mailed me a new scope that his service department checked out and I shot this target...



It has been great ever since.....

In doing my searches here I saw many people using the FFG for the "best loads on the Omega". Thats why I got it to start with. I saw your posts with the this scope too. I think your on to something. Every MOA adjustment I made to the scope, it never fully responded. The groupings were so far apart, I was dumbfounded. I will contact them and CC Toby. Him and Chris Tully, Sales Manager at Hi-Lux, have been very helpfull so far. I really want to thank you for your time and help your site has given me. There is no way I could do this alone.

gun

do what cayuga said first. The get off that table, can't hold steady on that thing. That gun will shoot 1 hole lights out if you start the way cayuga said. chase the hole, find the load not the target.

Tankhead

Chris is the guy you want to talk to... he and Toby worked for me - they were excellent...

Send Chris a copy of that target - he will get the picture. I am here to tell that the HiLux can make that scope right...

Also I need to tell you that I do not fit the normal ML mold. I know that Omega will shoot just about any combination you want to shoot and if it doesn't get it back to TC. I have had 3 different Omega's and they all shot what i wanted to shoot not what it wanted to shoot.

Couple of thoughts... I agree with Cayuga and Bucker, sit down at 25 yards and shoot a group of at least 6 shots - do not touch the scope - just see where those six shots hit. It should be a big ragged hole. I really do not think it will be.

Do you still have the open sights on the gun? if you do shoot 6 shots with them at 25 yards... see what you get.

Do you have another known good scope you can try? Shoot that @ 25 yards and see what you get.

If you do not have an extra scope - pm me, you are probably to young to remember the infamous US 'lend/lease" policy of WWII - but we will work some thing out...

I really want to thank you for your time and help your site has given me. There is no way I could do this alone.

Click to expand...

It is not 'my' site.. It is provided by Chuck Hill - big6x6 - but when you really get down to it - "it is our site" we all try to make it run...

Scope

I would think you need to set yourself up with a good rest to shoot that Omega from. From your elbows is not good enough.

Unless something is wrong with your rifle or the scope it should shoot the Scorpion bullets well. They work fine for me.

In my Omega I shoot the 260gr Scorpion PT Goldin a Harvester Crushed Rib sabot pushed by 110gr Blackhorn 209 fired with a CCI 209M primer. It will shoot 1 to 1 1/2 inch groups all day at 100 yards.

Good luck and keep us posted as to your experiences with your Omega.

Rogo

SabotLoader,

Thanks, let me try to bring it in closer, 50 yards, and use some other rest before trying another scope. I'm thinking of sitting inside the bed of my truck using the bedrail with an old blanket to rest the barrel on.

What was so depressing was one shot would be 4" high of the bullseye and the next would be 4" low of the bullseye. I was taking three shots before making any adjustments to the scope. I didn't shoot one 3 shot succession that one shot even came close to the other in that succession. I shot a total of twenty-seven shots and I'm only counting 20 holes. More than 1/4 of my shots never even hit paper. :?

Tankhead

Thanks, let me try to bring it in closer, 50 yards, and use some other rest before trying another scope. I'm thinking of sitting inside the bed of my truck using the bedrail with an old blanket to rest the barrel on.

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You could even use a table and chair... use a bag of sugar, flour, or even a back stuffed with a pillow or blanet as a front rest to steady the shot. It would also be nice if you could fashion a rear rest also. It do not have to be a professional thing - just more or less steady....

What was so depressing was one shot would be 4" high of the bullseye and the next would be 4" low of the bullseye. I was taking three shots before making any adjustments to the scope. I didn't shoot one 3 shot succession that one shot even came close to the other in that succession. I shot a total of twenty-seven shots and I'm only counting 20 holes. More than 1/4 of my shots never even hit paper

Click to expand...

That is why I am and others are suggesting the 25 yard setup to verify everything. But it really sounds scope related to me - it might not be but be - but I think it is.... And I am assuming that the mounts and bases are tight....

an old sock stuffed with a 4-5lb bag of beans does good too. I even use a back pack with a pillow folded over inside of it.

Yes, everything is tight but not excessively tight. Nothing has loosened since the mounting. 25 yards with a scope? Okay. I'll do it.