I looked at the rack and wondered what I had not shot for a while. Then I saw the Black Diamond XR all alone on the shelf. I knew it had to go. And since I had a brand new box of Pyrodex RS pellets I wanted to play with some magnum loads, just for a kick you might say.
I new that 50 yards was not much of a test for the rifle so I took a snow shovel and began to work. I finally stopped and decided 63 yards instead of 100 yards,was just fine for the rifle. That moving snow is hard work. So I set the new paper target up at 63 yards and brought out the gear.
The Thompson Center Black Diamond XR has a 1.5-4.5x32mm Bushnell Banner Dusk to Dawn scope on it. It has Woods Trophy mounts and has never been touched for a long time. I knew it was right on at 50 yards with loose powder so the pellets would be interesting. I was using Winchester W209 primers also and spit patching between shots.
It was 26 degree so it was plenty warm. And there were only a few snow flakes falling and not much wind. I decided to just swab the bore with a dry patch. Now understand this rifle is not treated with any bore conditioner. It has Birchwood Casey Sheath in the bore. Usually I alcohol patch it, but decided to see what would happen.
I loaded 2 of the 50 grain pellets and a 250 grain Shockwave in the black sabot they come with and shot. #1 hit was way off. Even I was surprised. Three inches to the left. So I took and spit patched the rifle. No dry patch and loaded again, repeating the process for shots 2-4. That three shot group looked real good to me.
I then loaded 150 grains of powder and the same shockwave. I picked out a lower right bulls eye and cut loose. I spit patched for all the shots. And I did adjust my POA for the last shot.
I know the rifle likes 120 grains of loose Pyrodex RS but it sure did not seem to like 150 grains of pellets. So I decided to go back to 100 grains of powder.
I then spit patched and made an eight click scope adjustment up on the rifle. And shot the last two Shockwaves in the container at the middle bulls eye. 5&6 were pretty good.
I then decided to call it a day. I was kind of tuckered out from shovelling snow. And I had a rifle to clean. But it was a lot of fun shooting the BD with pellets. Two pellets and that Shockwave is without doubt a good load.
Black Diamond XR & pellets
