250 gr Thor Hammers

[ElDiablo]

I’m setting up a TC Omega X7 for the Colorado deer hunt this year and have settled on the 250 gr Thor Hammers. Colorado requires conicals and open sights. I’m shooting for for a light-weight flat-shooting rig for this hunt as I will be hiking in 5-10 miles. This set up currently weighs 7 lb 9 oz. Without the scope it will be very light at 6 lb 2 oz. The Thors have been shooting just over an inch group at 100 yards. I believe this could be improved slightly by tweaking the charge but this will be more than adequate for me with open sights and sub 200 yard shots. The scope will be coming off the next time I’m at the range so I can adjust the peep sight.



Rifle: TC Omega (with QLA removed)
Scope: Kahles Helia CL 3-9x 42
Sights: Peep Rib, Williams Western Precision fiber optic
Bullet: 250 gr Thor .502
Powder: 115 grV BH209 (lot 26)
Primer: Fed 209A (w o-ring)
80 degrees/ 3000 ft
Velocity: 2104 fps
Verified drops:
50 yds + 1.5
100 yds + 2
150 yds 0
200 yds -5.5

Assuming a BC of .200 on these bullets here at 3000 ft it’s notable how much the calculated BC improves in the thinner air at 12k feet where I’ll be hunting (.303).

 

[JBushnell]

Looks great! I think you're going about planning your ML the right way (scope for load development, then peep for final sight in). Good luck and let us know how the hunt goes...

 

[sbuff]

Out of curiosity how did that bullet shoot before removing qla. My x7 shoots big lead conicals, thors and hornady fpb lights out with qla

 

[txhunter58]

Either you got a good one, or they have improved their production. I got one of the originals in the ‘90s and had to cut off the QLA. Of all the conicals I tried, Powerbelts were the only one that grouped well. Prob due to the expandable rear plastic piece. No excuses were an 8” group at 25 yards with some going thru the target sideways. Sent the barrel to TC and they told me to shoot sabots. Wish I had known to try an MMP sub base before I cut it. Might have done as good as powerbelts due to the rear “skirt”. As a general rule, if it has a rear bell that can expand (like Thors and FPBs) it will do OK. My brother is still shooting FPBs in his.

 

[ElDiablo]

Out of curiosity how did that bullet shoot before removing qla. My x7 shoots big lead conicals, thors and hornady fpb lights out with qla

I’ve always shot sabots in that rifle and I shoots them well. Removing the QLA appears to have tightened it up quite a bit with conicals. That particular rifle, for example, was shooting the 297 gr Thors w 100 gr of BH209 into 2.8” 100 yard groups. Without the QLA it shot just over 2” groups with 100 gr and 1.5” groups with 110 gr.

Never did try the MMP sub bases with it and didn’t do extensive charge variation testing. It would have been doable with the QLA I think but I decided to just go a ahead and take it off to remove that variable.

 

[sbuff]

I didnt think the x7's were in production in the 90s? I got mine in 2010

 

[ElDiablo]

I didnt think the x7's were in production in the 90s? I got mine in 2010

TX has a standard Omega not an X7. Yes, IIRC, the Omega line was introduced in 2002 wasn’t it?

 

[Ninering62]

TX has a standard Omega not an X7. Yes, IIRC, the Omega line was introduced in 2002 wasn’t it?

I think that’s correct, I’m pretty sure I bought my first grey lam/SS .50 omega in 02 & I bought my 2nd one in late 03 to early 04. I only wish I’d have known they were made in .45 1:20, I’d have gotten one & id still be shooting it. But the .50 were fantastic, I had no issues whatsoever with either Omega’s. If I could only have one ML the Omega .45 1:20 would be it.

 

[ElDiablo]

If I could only have one ML the Omega .45 1:20 would be it.

One day real soon I hope to be shooting a .45 1:20 Woodman barreled Omega!

 

[txhunter58]

I didnt think the x7's were in production in the 90s? I got mine in 2010

Diablo was correct. Mine was an “original” Omega. No other designation. There were a lot of QLA problems with them

I still have the piece that was removed. You can see on the gun side of the removed QLA piece that the bore was not in the center of the barrel. So when a normal conical entered it, it would get kicked sideways. Because the QLA WAS in the center.

 

[sbuff]

Mmp sub base seems to have corrected the need for removal these days .

 

[billyboy*]

I’m setting up a TC Omega X7 for the Colorado deer hunt this year and have settled on the 250 gr Thor Hammers. Colorado requires conicals and open sights. I’m shooting for for a light-weight flat-shooting rig for this hunt as I will be hiking in 5-10 miles. This set up currently weighs 7 lb 9 oz. Without the scope it will be very light at 6 lb 2 oz. The Thors have been shooting just over an inch group at 100 yards. I believe this could be improved slightly by tweaking the charge but this will be more than adequate for me with open sights and sub 200 yard shots. The scope will be coming off the next time I’m at the range so I can adjust the peep sight.

View attachment 22974

Rifle: TC Omega (with QLA removed)
Scope: Kahles Helia CL 3-9x 42
Sights: Peep Rib, Williams Western Precision fiber optic
Bullet: 250 gr Thor .502
Powder: 115 grV BH209 (lot 26)
Primer: Fed 209A (w o-ring)
80 degrees/ 3000 ft
Velocity: 2104 fps


GOOD LUCK on Saturday!!!
My TC Omega Dream Season (QLA Removed) Likes Practically the Same Load
110 Grs V BH 209
250 Gr .501” Thor
Fed 209A (Bestill Breech Plug)

 

[ElDiablo]

We saw about 30 bucks in CO but didn’t locate any quite big enough to shoot.

Today I shot one into water filled gallon jugs very similar to @ronlaughlins protocol: 25 yards, 80 grV BH209. Measured velocity at the muzzle was 1748 fps, so I estimate the impact velocity at 25 yards to be about 1715 fps.

The bullet shredded the first two jugs, holed the third and fourth and bounced off the fifth. It was found resting between the fourth and fifth.

The front 1/4” of the bullet expanded asymmetrically - three petals curled back nicely and three curled partially.

I believe this impact velocity (1715 fps) simulates an impact at approximately 120 yards for this bullet with 115 grV BH209.

 

[txhunter58]

I would be very happy with that expansion in an animal.

 

[rangerod]

We saw about 30 bucks in CO but didn’t locate any quite big enough to shoot.

Today I shot one into water filled gallon jugs very similar to @ronlaughlins protocol: 25 yards, 80 grV BH209. Measured velocity at the muzzle was 1748 fps, so I estimate the impact velocity at 25 yards to be about 1715 fps.

The bullet shredded the first two jugs, holed the third and fourth and bounced off the fifth. It was found resting between the fourth and fifth.

The front 1/4” of the bullet expanded asymmetrically - three petals curled back nicely and three curled partially.

I believe this impact velocity (1715 fps) simulates an impact at approximately 120 yards for this bullet with 115 grV BH209.

View attachment 23441
View attachment 23438View attachment 23439View attachment 23440

I think your approximation is right on.