Well I finnialy got a little time to spend on the range the other day and really put my new Omega to the test I have been wanting to do. Here are my results. All tests were done with 250 shock Waves and 209 Winchester caps. the barrel was cleaned with a patch of TC's #13 then two dry patches All shots were from a bench at 100 yards. 50 cal Omega with a stanless steel barrel and thumhole stock, and a Nikon Buckmaster 3-9X50 Scope.
I first started with American pioneer powder in 3f
150 gr. powder 8 in groups, 140 gr powder 6 in groups 130 gr powder 6 in groups 120 gr powder 6 in groups 110 gr powder 8 in groups 100 gr powder 9 in groups. I don't know about you guys but thats not good enough for me. The powder seemed very clean but the crud ring on the breech plug was like someone poured cain sugar all over it.
Next up was Shockies Gold in the 2F (all I could find was 2F) So first off I want to say the powder grainuals were so big I coulden't fit them out of my powder measurer when I closed it so I had to be careful pouring the powder in the barrel with the measurer open.
Again I started with 150 Gr. and I got 5 in Groups 140 and 130 gr. gave me 3 in groups 120 the groups were a little bigger then 2 in 110 and less they started opening up again. Not too bad but I wanted better. Again I think this is a very clean powder and the crud ring on the breach plug was a brownish color and cleaned off very easy.
Next I wnt to Tripple 7 in the 2F
150 grain was so all over the place I can't say it even grouped 140 grains gave me an 8 in group (kind of) 130 gave me a 3 in group (suprised me) 120 grains was shocking 3 hits in the bull touching the 4th was less then a half inch and the 5th was also less then a half inch. 110 gr started to open up again to 2 in then 100 was back to 3 in. The clean up was not as easy as the previous 2 powders but for the proformance I'll clean all day.
I have found my begining load now and I will try to fine tune it just a tweek. to 115 or 125 next trip to the range but I think I am about ready for deer season. I sure wish I didn't drop my camera in the river so I could have sent pics of these targets.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j309/punkey5/photos%2019%20March/DSCF0573.jpg

That's a nice looking rifle you have there... It sounds like the Triple Se7en load shows where to head with the rifle. The one thing I never use is the T/C #13 cleaner. I personally think the stuff is a waste of money and shelf space. Others seem to like it though, and that's all that counts. If it works for them, then by all means use it. I like the alcohol and car windshield washer as a swab solution.

If the temperature was hot like it was yesterday at my house, make sure you give the barrel a chance to cool down between shots. A couple Omega shooters claim the heat can effect groups size. I also believe it does.

At least it sounds like you have a lot of fun shooting...

Mike, you were shooting 150 grains of loose Triple 7? Please check your owner's manual.

I have this same problem getting 2F to pour from my powder horn. And so I have given up using 2F and use 3F instead.

~Robert

Mike

Like Underclocked stated, you failed toread the 777 jug label about reducing your 777 powder load at least 15%.

Also..... you should always introduce between 20-40 full-fledged conicals to any new fast-twist ML. That smooths the bore of rifling burrs that plastic sabots cannot do. I would not fault your first choice of powder (American Pioneer). If you have any left-over, you may want to retryAPP powder after you "correctly" break-in your new ML using conicals.

My Omega absolutely loved APP FFF using 105 gr. with a 300 gr. bullet. I do not continue to useit because most of my MLs are sidelocks & APP does not perform as well in those rifles.

Another function to try with different powders is using different plastic sabots. You tried the T/C Shockwaves with your MMP-supplied sabots, now go out & buy some Harvester sabots to try.

That may improve your shot groups. For instance: Yesterday, I had a 6" verticalgroup difference between MMP's newthree-petal sabots and Harvester crush-ribsusing a T/C Shockwave. To my surprise, the new MMPs shot that much higher.

No wishing to steal the post.. but Triple Se7en, what did you think of those three petal sabots? I am going to place an order with Del real soon and was thinking of getting some of them or at least trying some. I want to get some thin sabots as well and see if they work as well as the Harvester Crushed Rib sabots.

Like the other guys said, better check your loads. I HAVE SOME 150GR LOADS INAPP BUT NEVER 3f ALWAYS 2f.3f produces a sharper pressure peak and higher pressure in heavy loads. Lee

I put a couple hundred rounds through the gun before I did this test. and with groups in the Bull that are all basicly touching what else can I say. I found my bullet and load. Mike

cayugad

I have shot a bunch of the 3 petals and I really do like them better than the Harvestor. None of my guns really need the 3 petal, because the HPH-24 works just fine in them. So when I started testing them for Del I was a little worried about how easy they loaded. But when shooting them through the chrono, they certainly held their own and there was no drop off in accuracy.

My limited time with them indicates they work real well. No petal breaks or holes - plus they flowered just fine. I wasn't going crazy with the powder -- lately been using only 90 gr. 777 FFF & setting my sights out to 150 yards max.

The Crush Ribs still load slightly easier - but since my groups with the Ribs were 6" lower than with the 3-petals, I'm assuming I had more bore wall blowback - thus losing energy with the Crush Ribs& better ignition-sealing with the slightly tighter3-petal. For ease of loading, this is how I rate them from super easy to difficult.

Harvester Crush Ribs (super easy)
HPH-three petal (nice &easy)
Harvester regular (easy)
MMP HPH-24 (somewhat easy)
MMP HPH-12 (all others)