I know I said I was going to wait until the weather got better but I colden't stand it any longer, soIWent outyesturday and shot my new T.C. Omega.
This is a very pretty gun sith a S/S barrel and a Camo composit thumbhole stock. I also put on a Nikon 3-9X40 Buckmaster scope. The problem with this set up is because of the design of the thumbhole stock shooting left handed is difficult and okward so if that deer comes in the wrong way its going to be tough.
I used 100 gr.A.P. shockeys gold and I used a wet patch with T/C #13 cleaner and 2 dry patches between each shot. I must say I was impressed with how clean this powder was. The cleaning patch was brown not black as with pydrox. However the 2f powder would not work in my brass flask or powder measurer as the granuals were too large to fit through the neck of them.
The bullet I used was a 250 gr. shockwave (bleu tip) and man they were extreamly hard to get started down the barrel but they seemed to preform well.
I also used Winchester 209 primers and out of 30 I had one dud.
The Omega was a joy to shoot it had no recoil as compared to the Black Dimond. The trigger pull was very light and sharp. But with a scope on it I had a hard time getting a primer on it. (I hope this gets easier with practice) And when I got home man! Was it easy to clean.
OK now after I got the scope sighted in at 25 yards I went to the 50 yard line. And oh my god I got a group of 8 shots of less then 1 inch. But when I went to 100 yards the first shot hit almost dead bull. But the next 7 rounds were 5 in low and 5 in to the left. I don't know what happened if I blew the first shot or somthing happened to the scope. I should had shot one back at 50 but by the time I thought of it I was out of bullets. Any way thats what I found. I am going to try to powder up to 120 gr next outing to see if I can get the 50 and 100 groups to get closer. Any suggestions would be appreciated as I want to have the perfect load by the time muzzle loader season opens in Dec. (be here before ya know it). Mike

Mike Hill

I have one coming but it is not here yet...

Question?
Were you using a capper or your fingers?

That is the new bonded Shockwave - and the hard loading part that is the problem you face when you buy bullet/sabot combination packs - you do not get to choose your sabot. A lot of people end up buying the packs, because that is the only way you can get SW - then use a different sabot, a sabot that loads reasonably in you bore - again becuase not all ML bores are created equal.

I'm glad that you generally like the gun - I am really hoping I do..

Remember Mike the rifle is brand new and it is a stainless barrel.. some rifles take time to break in and some do not.

The first thing I would do is get rid of the thumbhole stock in your situation. I would rather have a conventional then one I had to hold as you described. It kind of defeats the reason for the stock. But if your happy with it, then what does it matter.

As for the primer, I am sure with practice you will get it all worked out. Use a shot off one and practice with that some evening, capping and decapping until it becomes second nature.

Last thing I would do is if the rifle suddenly acted like that, check the scope and mounts. Sometimes new mounted scopes will come loose.

Actually a lot of rifles settle down after the first few outings.. keep us posted. It sounds like you have a good shooting rifle there.

Mike Hill, the TC speed capper designed for the Omega works really good.
My Omega loaded hard at first to so I got some round balls and rubed polishing compound into some ticking patches,shot 50 rounds loads much smoother now.Mine likes 150gr with the 50/40 200gr. Shock wave and 130 gr APP with the 250 gr. Shock Wave. Lee

One thing I have noticed on my Encore is that if you start getting the shots too close together, you will really start loosing consistancy. Groups start opening up and tailing off. Probably has something to do with a hot/warm barrel and softening the sabots. Mine will put three bullets in a cloverleaf at 100 yards. But if shot quickly, the fourth and fifth shot is guaranteed to be high and right by a few inches.

My gun loaded the 250 shockwaves very hard at first too. But over time they have become much easier to load. Not like a powerbelt, but a nice, consistant, smooth hard push rather than having to stand on the end of the rod and jump up and down.

I think the more you shoot your gun, and the more the barrel breaks in, the better it will get.
R
Hank

Thanks Guys,
I do feel that after a good break-in period the gun will do better. I am using the injector type capper by T/C on it but like you said Cayugad I will have to practice with it. And the thumbhole stock should be no problem as I do shoot right handed normaly but as you know that old military training teaches you to shoot with either hand as in that situation you never know when you won't be able to use that hand. I don't think I will ever be in that situation hunting, might have to move more that I would like to. But do you think that by powdering up that that will help bring my 50 and 100 yard group closer it kind of makes cents to me but with black powder making cents dosen't always produce results. Thanks again Mike

I've seen increasing the powder charge actually increase the size of the groups and I have seen increasing powder charges lower the amount a bullet strikes over the POI. All you can do it try them. I know that means you have to go and play more at the range but someone has to do it...

Have fun and good luck with that rifle. All else fails, call Thompson Center. They can answer any question you might have also..

Congrats on your new Omega, I am in the process of working up a load for mine, will be trying several different bullet/sabot/powder combinations but the weather here hasn't cooperated with my schedule. When it is nice I have had previous engagements and when I am free the weather gets nasty. Hopefully will be able to report something soon.

Reference the Thumbhole stock you hit the nail on the head, offhand would be difficult at best, and I think they are difficult to carry, at least for me they feel awkward.On the positive side when youshoulder it that stock feels real nice and cradles firmly. I have decided not to go with the Thumbhole, just my personal preference.

I've hunted for a long time. Have never carried a weapon with a thumbhole stock. Afraid my right hand would get so confused (it acts independently, by the way ) that I would wind up shoving most of my arm through that thumbhole. Well.....some of 'em look big enough.

Have to admit though that SOME thumbhole stocks are nice looking things. The laminated one they show on that new Remington Genesis has a decent look (IMHO). But, for the most part, thumbhole stocks look like they were designed by either Fred Flintstone or George Jetson.

But then, I stay confused anyway.