For whatever reason, I couldn’t get a tight group at 100 yards out of my T/C Omega to save my life (3.5 inch groups). That is until after I had put about 20 rounds down range in any given session. Then, the Omega would turn into a tack driver. Since I was using “non-corrosive” BH209, I decided not to clean the barrel and leave it as it was for hunting season, which would open in less than two weeks. Four days later I checked the barrel and there was…to my surprise (but not yours!)…RUST! Well I freaked out and cleaned the hell out of that thing, ‘till the bore shone like a mirror. Even used a LITTLE bit of 0000 steel wool. I’m actually going to post a thread about the cleaning process later…I don’t think ANYONE has a truly clean barrel.

Anyway, got the rust thang taken care of as best as I could for now, though it could reappear. I guess we’ll see. I will Bore Coat it at the end of the season. But, of course, my confidence in my Omega was greatly shaken, at least for shots 100 yards + (obviously with a 3.5” groups, you wanna know where within that 3.5” the bullet is gonna hit!).

Even though I didn’t have time to make it out to the range again before Oct 30, I MADE the time. I had to shoot one more time to make sure I was confident in the field. But, how to do it since I will be hunting with a CLEAN barrel now? I decided to do something I have never done before, since I have ONLY used BH209 in my muzzleloading experience: swab between shots. I figured that was the best way to determine how my rifle groups with a clean (or at least semi clean barrel). I only had time to shoot three shots. I swabbed the oil out and fired two 209 primer-only shots to get a little fouling in the barrel. Shot one was 1/2" left of the 1" orange target spot I put up. I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I know that my first shot in the field would have been good. I swabbed with an alcohol patch on the end of a cleaning jag, and shot two hit 1.25" away, about 3/4" high of the target spot. I swabbed again, but this time twice (once on each side of the patch). The next shot was almost touching holes with the first shot. Needless to say, I now feel fully confident going into the field. Except for the fact that my Omega's firing pin doesn't seem to protrude to the rear far enough. I can almost push it flush with the...whatever it is...hammer stop?...without it bouncing back. I took it apart and cleaned it...though it wasn't really dirty. Looks like it could use another spring. But that is another matter.

I wish I would have had time to, after shooting the "clean barrel" group, continue shooting without swabbing to see if the group would worsen. If it would have remained consistent without swabbing, I would have had to wonder if running the steel wool down the bore smoothed out some imperfections. Perhaps I will find out after the season.

T/C Omega Z5
90 gr BH209
CCI 209M primers
260 gr Harvester Scorpion w/ black crushed rib sabot