I got a T/C Black Diamond XR .50 caliber a little over a week ago and have been throwing about any load down it I could find or try. Some worked great, others were almost impossible to load. You will need to be ready to swab between shots except for certain projectiles.

The Hornady .45 caliber 300 grain XTP loaded so hard I broke the small sabot head off the small starter, trying to push it down into the barrel past the starter part of the barrel. And yes, I was swabbing between shots, and this happened when putting the second shot down the barrel. [:'(]

100 grains of Pyrodex RS and .44 caliber 240 grain T/C Cheap shots worked beautiful. They not only shot great but loaded much better then the other sabots. The grouped very tight, and it was possible to load the second shot without a swab. A little more work and this might make a great hunting load.

100 grains of Pyrodex RS and the .45 caliber 250 grain T/C Shockwaves off the bench rest at 25 yards (sighting in the scope) had one problem, it was hard to see where one hole ended and the others began. I think this will be my hunting load. Groups were unbelievable tight. The second shot was hard to start, but once you got it going it went down fine. I could load this without swabbing as might be the case in a hunting situation.

A real shocker was the 370 grain T/C Maxi Ball .50 caliber conical. This rifle loved them. I shot them with 100 grains of Pyrodex RS and 120 grains of Pyrodex RS and the groups were fantastic, and no real difference with the additional 20 grains. They loaded like a dream. I forgot to use a wonder wad, and intend to shoot the rest of them with a wonder wad between the powder charge and the conical. This would make a fast loading second shot if the need was ever really there. You could almost load them without the short starter and using the ram rod only.

I am waiting for the Percision Bullet .45 caliber 300 grain Silver Lightening Green Tips to come. I have some Harvester Sabots to shoot them out of. They remind me of the Shockwave in apperance. If they shoot like the shockwave they will be a real keeper.

I am going to re-try the Hornady .45 caliber 300 grain XTP's with a different sabot and see if it makes the loading any better. I have not gotten my hands on PowerBelts but do intend to get some and try them also.

Keep me posted on how your rifle is doing. Perhaps we can learn a few pet loads from each other...

Good Luck. I really like the rifle so far. It is a real pleasure to shoot!!! I put a Bushnell Banner 1.5 X 4.5 power dusk to dawn scope on it, and it is really working out great. This is going to be a great hunting rifle.