DonB said:
Greetings. Been lurking for a day or so and really appreciate all the info I'm finding.Based on zero knowledge, I think I've come up with some starter needs for my TC Omega:
Of course I am not sure which Omega you have purchased - but I can tell that the Omega is really a good solid ML. Mine, well the one I have left, is a Stainless Steel on a black thumbhole stock. My other Omega was a blued model mounted in a Black Sythetic stock. Both of them are excellent shooters.
I did convert both of them to a 25 ACP ignition. This system is nearly, if not 100%, blowback free. The original 209 breech plug that the Omega comes with is somewhat leaky around the primer so you do get a little blow back material in the breech and possibly on the underside of the scope.
Excellent hunting bullet! the .452/250 grain bullet is accurate and deadly. It does operate on a different theory than the normal expanding bullet that we are use to. This style of bullet was developed in Germany and really is hard for some of us to accept.
But, they are awful expensive to be shooting for load development or for shooting paper targets. For that i would probably pick up some .452/250 grain Hornady bullets. They are much shorter but will fly about the same to 100 yards. When you are sighted in with the Hornady - then load up some of the Lehighs and verify 'point of impact'.
Here are some bullet canidates....
Sabot fit is really important... and with the Omega how old or how new it is will detirmine which sabot may fit the best. Mine is the older model and the bore is slightly larger than the newer models. In mine the MMP HPH-24 and a .452 bullet is an excellent fit and it shoots them very well.
In the second Omega that I had it was a newer Z5 model I did have to use even a thinner sabot so I used a MMP HPH-3p-EZ load sabot. A Havester 4550CR is another option. A lot of folks like the Harvester 'Crush Rib' sabot, but tend to not use them unless I really have to, if I need them to get a bullet down the bore comfortably.
Excellent choice of powder... there is a bit of a learning curve that goes with the use of BH but - it is not hard to master. The powder is just to expensive for me to justify so I stay with T7-2f. I just shoot to much, and the extra 6 ounces I get with T7 really does help the shooting costs.
If you choose to shoot Bh then you will prorbably need to shoot a CCI-209M or a Federal 209A primer. Western Powders recommends these two hotter primers as BH requires much more heat to ignite than the other subs. But, since the breech plug is so short in an Omega other good quality primers might also work.
I figure that should get me going. If you have any opinions, please share!!
Start slow and have fun....
Not for the 'fun' stuff. What do I absolutely, positively have to get? "Nice to haves" welcome. All I currently have is the rifle and manual.
TIA DonB
Dave, Cayugad, actually is a master at this portion - I think he has a canned list of materials to have and I know he has a great list for cleaning. Pick his mind, just be forwarned that he has a ton of ML's far more than most and will encourage you to do the same....
Here is a picture that might help you....
What is not in the picture is a quality Range Rod.... If you get hooked on shooting a ML, and you will, you will eventually want a good range rod with a muzzle protector...
Tipton makes a very good rod....
http://www.battenfeldtechnologies.com/tipton/
Lehigh is in the process of making a great rod also but I do not know when it will be released....