After experimenting with a limited number of bullet/sabot/powder combinations with the X7, I figured I could get an acceptable hunting load with my favorite 300 grain Speer Gold Dots in Harvester short black sabots over a load of Triple Seven FFG.

As a first step,I wanted to find outhow much powder the short barrel of the X7 could efficiently use with that bullet/sabot combination. So I brokeout the chronograph and loaded up 15 of Lane's powder tubes withthree loads each of75, 85, 95, 105 and 115 grains of powder. I shot them at 100 yards with thechronograph 15 feet from the muzzle. Shooting wasfrom the bench with the Tasco scope set at 9X and wiping with both sides of one alcohol patch between shots. Here are the targets.


75 Grains:



I got lucky on this target because one of the shots just barely clipped the top of the paper. If it had been 1/8" higher I wouldn't have known the group size. The velocity seemed about right for this load.
So I cranked the scope's vertical adjustment down a "bunch" and shot the next target with 10 grains more powder.


85 Grains:



Oops! I'd adjusted the scope too far. That 10 extra grains of powder increased average velocity 53 fps. The group opened up a little, but I don't draw any firm conclusions from two three-shot groups. Anyway, I seldom shoot my best when I'm working with the chronograph. I made another rough adjustment to the scope and shot the next load.


95 Grains:


I'm pretty sure I must have screwed up one of these shots because I got a one-inch group with the 95 grain load in my initial testing back on Jan 4th. and didn't have any fliers with any other loads. Got another 49 fps increase in velocity. OK, on to the next load.


105 Grains:


Not too bad a group, and a 95 fps increase in average velocity.Three more powder tubes left. Here's the last target for this test.


115 Grains:


Well, that's an acceptable group for me, but notice the average velocity actually went down a little when increasing the powder charge from 105 to 115 grains. It looks like 105(or maybe 110) grains of T7 FFG is the maximum effective load for this bullet/sabot/powder combination. I think that will be my hunting load - but one more test is needed.

I always sight in and hunt on a fully clean barrel. So I need to find out if that first clean barrel shot will consistently hit the same point of aim. To check that, I made a final adjustment to the scope and shot five "clean barrel" shots.

Here's the target.


105 Grains - Clean Barrel Test:


Man, I wish I had stopped after shot number three! I don't know what happened to #4 and #5. I suspect I held the gun different or didn't get perfectly centered on that "inexpensive" Tasco scope. Anyway, I HAVE FOUND MY HUNTING LOAD.

Note Regarding My Clean Barrel Procedure: I swabbed between each shot with both sides of a very wet alcohol patch, followed by both sides of a less wet alcohol patch, followed again by both sides of a slightly damp alcohol patch. At this point the second side of thatthird patch showed little if any color - usually none. Then I swabbed with several strokes of an oil patch - then a dry patch.