I have 4 full boxes of the 300g Speer Gold Dots. I think I will give the exact same load a try in my Omega. I like the accuracy, the power seems to be there, only cost seems a bit high, like $20 too high since it is not a lb and you have to use aboutthe same amount in your gun as you do with 777.
Chap

I got my new Optima Pro last week and during a telephone conversation with sabotloader, he recommended I try BH209 so while I had him on the line, I went to midwayusa and placed an order for 4 containers of BH209 and some other stuff. Luckily, I had a friend that couldn't find any T-7 45cal pellets for his apex and offered to split the shipping and hazmat fee if I would add his stuff to the order. It's a little steep but I don't do much recreational shooting with that gun. My order should arrive today.

I can get it here locally for $30 for 10 oz. And at 70 per shot (=100 by volume) it costs about .50 cents a shot for powder. It has shot 1-2” groups consistently for me with 250 SST with the low drag sabots. It also shot under 1” with my dad’s Optima with Barnes 250TMZ’s. I put a different nipple/breechplug on my daughters Traditions L-bolt last night and it shot about 1 ½” MOA. Leave the guns set for a week – no cleaning – first shot dead on.

Chap- I reminds me of 4759 or 5744, when you load there is no compression of the powder, the ramrod just feels like it hits bottom, just like the Savage. IMO I don’t think it will eat breech plugs.

This advice makes sense to me and is from a writer namedsemisane at a nother site:

tight, loose and snug are pretty subjective terms and could even be dependent on the arm strenght or height of the person loading the gun. I don't know of anywhere you can find pounds of pressure data.

Here's my personal guide.

- If I can seat the load with just my thumb and two fingers on the rod, it's too loose.

- If I can seat it with one long stroke and a firm one hand grip on the rod, it's probably going to shoot well.

- If I can seat it with one long stroke, but it takes both hands on the rod, it's probably going to be better. This is the fit I'm looking for.

- If it takes both hands on the rod and stop/start short stroke increments to get it down the bore, it might shoot well, but I won't bother with it.

Buck Hunter 1, I can not give you PSI but on a strain gage it is just a bit more than Pyrodex, it has a peak pressure period about 25% longer though which makes for a nice vel. and great stability; but and there always seems to be one the tightness of the sabot and a certain amount of wad pressure seems to be necessary. Lee

These things are good to know. I am liking it more and more from the experience you folks are sharing. This ML season I intend to use my Omega, but in Rifle season I will use my Savage. That will keep me in both camps. Gotta find some locally where I live. I like the leave the guns for a week and shoot dead on, makes me really want to use the Omega in MLer season now. Wanna try this at my brother's house next weekend in PA, going up there turkey hunting, but will have afternoons free to do some shooting. Thanks for the report. Chap

You gave an excellent description of what I have been calling "Golilocks tight" sabots. Not pound them down or force them down, butpush them downwith a good amount of force. With a Savage smokeless, this is #1 accuracy problem and #1 misfire problem for most shooters. Will also be the #1 problem with Blackhorn I believe, since it appears from all description to be "smokeless power" with some smoke to make things legal. Sounds like a great product, we will see if it takes off like 777 did to pyrodex.
Chap Gleason

Are you saying that basically if the powder is not compressed, it will missfire/hangfire?

That does not bode well for conicals, since they are usually not very tighly fitted.

Would sure like to find a way to use it in Colorado this fall.

Exactly, Another sabot powder.

You guys really shouldnt refer to it as smoke less, Next thing you know, states will be calling it a smokeless sub and ban it from black powder season.

txhunter58, no that is not what I mean; most all subs require some seating force the important thing is to get it the same all the time, I have never had a miss or hang fire with it, but to shoot with one hole accuracy at 100yds it takes a certain tightness of sabot and to be firmly seated on the powder.

frontier gander, you are right, first off it is not smokeless it does smoke and it is not made from either of the two basic components used to make smokeless, I do believe it might be progressive and it does have quite a bit more potential enegry than the othe subs except maybe 777-FFF which is close to equal, according to the strain gage the pressure is only a bit more than Pyrodex and less than 777 by around 5-10 percent.
I am thinking of shooting it in my Renagade they say not but thats likely because of possable ignition problems with a mag large rifle in one of those old screw top fireing pin nipples it worked fine for a few test shots. Lee