Hey guys - back on the board after a break for the pursuit of other hobbies and rasing children (we had #4 in May).

I am switching from pellets to loose 777 powder this year in an effort to find an optimal load for my Omega Z-5. Took it out yesterday with two new bullets and a new sabot to try:

Bullets
Speer 300 gr. Gold Dots, .452 cal
Hornady 250 gr. XTP .452 cal

Sabot
MPH black HPH-24. My Omega is really tight and this sabot is thinner.

The 50 yard target is shown in the link below:

http://webpages.charter.net/tlovell/Fall%202006%20040.jpg

I started with 90 grains and worked up to 110 grains of 777. The target shown is with 110 grains, and the Speer 300gr gold dot looks pretty promising. I measured the widest shots at exactly 1 inch center to center. The XTPs didn't appear to like this rifle as much and didn't perform any better with 90 or 100 grains of powder. That is disappointing, as these XTP bullets are really cheap when bought in bulk and I have 92 of them left over.

I didn't have much time to work-up the Speer bullet any further yesterday, but before leaving I took three shots at 100 yards. The second shot cut the first one and I should have quit then. Of course Ijust had to take another one, andthe third one was about 1.5 inches or so wide and I don't know if that was my fault or not.I'll find out at another range session.

I am leaning toward this heavier bullet to ensure a complete pass-through shot on whitetail deer. I hunt in an extremely thick, cutover, river bottom. Deer are easily lost in this jungle in the absence of a bloodtrail. This gold dot bullet is supposed to be well constructed, so I figure the 300 gr. load will leave an exit wound. I am also trying to find the highest powder charge which gives acceptable accuracy.

Anyone else have any experience with the Gold Dot, expecially on live game?

I also want to thank Sabotloader for the recommendations that led met to discover an easier loading sabot (the HPH 24) and the Gold Dot bullets.

mouthcaller

PM sent your way!