A Nice Day With The X7

[Semisane]

Well guys, it's been a long time since you've seen a range report from me. The last three months of heat, humidity and rain shut down my shooting sessions.

But ALAS, a touch of fall has arrived in Louisiana with temperature in the mid-sixties Saturday and Sunday, and low humidity. OH JOY!

The Saturday session was devoted to the Renegade (report later) and today's session was with the Omega X7 with the 4X Simmons ProDiamond scope.




Having recently acquired a case of GOEX powder, I figured I may as well start burning some of it up. So I grabbed a pound of FFFg and four different bullets and headed for the shooting bench.

I shot seven targets of three shots each at 50 yards. It turned out to be a fairly long session because I swabbed with both sides of three alcohol patches plus both sides of one dry patch between every shot. In effect, each shot was on a clean dry cold barrel.

I started with my favorite hunting bullet, the 300 grain .452 Gold Dot and loaded 75 grains of powder. Here's the target.



That wasn't too bad. After the second shot I walked to the target and couldn't believe the second bullet went into the same hole as the first one. But I know I could not possibly have missed the entire target completely, so that's where it went. The recoil on that load was about like my .22 Hornet - mild.

So I bumped the charge up to 85 grains and shot a fresh target. Here 'tis.




Really not all that pleased with this one. Heck, 50 yards with a scope and a good rest?? Ought to be doing better.

Added another ten grains and shot another target. Here's the 95 grain results.



Again - not happy. I sure expect under an inch at 50 yards.

OK, add ten more grains. Here's the 105 grain target.




Well, not GREAT, but acceptable.

I figured I'd stop at 105 grains with this powder because I learned in previous chronograph experiments with 300 grains bullets and T7 FFG that velocity started falling off with loads over 105 grains in the short barrel X7.

So I decided to try a couple of other bullets with the 105 grain load.

Here's the target with a 270 grain .429 Gold Dot.




UGH!!!

Here's the target with .458 Remington 300 grain Semi-Jacketed Hollow Points.





UGH Again!

Here's the target with Hornady 350 grain FPBs.




Shows potential. Might have to play around with these again.

Anyway, it was a fun shoot (and a LOT of swabbing).

[tjj]

Great report Semi, Gotta be nice to get back to the range.

[Underclocked]

Have you tried Blackhorn in that rifle?

[cayugad]

Great report there Semisane. Some of them show some real promise. That sure is a pretty rifle you have there.

[Semisane]

Have you tried Blackhorn in that rifle?

Yeah, I did UC. I only tried one load though - 95 grains of BH under the 300 grain GD. I shot two 3-shot groups at 100 yards. This was the best of the two. I probably should have tried a stiffer load, but figured I wouldn't be buying any more BH anyway, so why bother?

[steelhead777]

Wow great report and good shooting looks like the heavier bullet is more accurate.also beautiful gun!!