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Today I did some serious shooting!!!! I used the Omega only--even though I planned to use the old Woods Rifle. I started at 100 yards and proceeded to shoot a 3/4 inch group with open sights!!!!!! The link to the photo is above.
The best group was obviously that one. I used plain Winchester primers, 300 grain XTPs of course, and 110 grains of American Pioneer. It's very strange because I normally only use Pyrodex. That is basically the best group I've ever gotten at 100 yards with open sights and yet it was with the powder I use the least.
When I tried 110 grains of Pyrodex the first time today, I shot about a 2 inch group. They were all low and two even missed the paper(they were still a nice group). If you'll notice with the APP, they are all quite high of center. I noticed that the APP shoots about 3 inches high while the Pyrodex shoots at least 3 inches low. Interesting, huh?
I also tried 150 grains of Pyrodex and APP at 100 yards. They were not impressive groups. With the Pyrodex, the recoil was tolerable and I shot decent, putting two a half inch apart and the other a ways away. I think I must have flinched on that one. The APP was horrible. I couldn't stand the recoil so I shot once with 150 gr. and twice with 120 gr. It was not better than a 6 inch group.
At the end, I shot 3 times with 110 grains of Pyrodex again--this time at a big target. It was about an 8inch group, which I'm guessing was due to a build up of fouling. I swabbed after firing every group today but towards the end the barrel was pretty nasty.
The difference in recoil is astounding between the two powders. I can barely stand the APP but the Pyrodex is fine.
I definetely think I should start using the APP for accuracy, butI still think the Pyrodex is better quality. Have any of you had any similar experiences with APP versus Pyrodex? I always thought Pyrodex was so much better but now I'm not so sure.
By the way, those plain Winchester primers aren't as good as the Triple Sevens. They won't come out as easily and leave it much dirtier.