Antelope Rifle--45 Omega
 

Last week the 45 caliber Omega punched the target. Seemed it might be worth giving it a chance at Antelope. It has been about 10 year since i last hunted the pronghorn. The # of available deer tags has dwindled; i put in for an antelope tag. Our son and i used to get after pronghorn every year in Montana. He loved the hunting. We would do great sneaks every year. We would get cactus in our hands, knees, arms. It is great fun (or is it) crawling through cactus on one's belly. Then afterward one ended up with a shoe box of meat. One good thing is the meat from a stinky old buck is just as good as doe, unlike deer or elk.

This morning the 45 Omega was loaded with 115g BH, 200g sst, Harvester sabot, W209 primer. This morning i figured to be the last time out, because i have been fine tuning the rifle for about a week now. The 45 caliber disc elite came along too, and i figured to spend some time adjusting the scope for a back up role on the antelope hunt. The elite was loaded with 110g BH, 200g sst, tan sabot, W209 primer. Following is the 300 yard target; the holes in the red are from the Omega; the holes in the white from the disc elite. Two shots were taken from a cold clean barrel from each rifle. The bottom bull was the aim for the Omega; the top bull was the aim for the elite.










The next hour or so was spent shooting and adjusting the elite' scope. More shooting and adjusting is still necessary tomorrow.





After an hour or more of cooling, the Omega was allowed more shots. The CDS dial was turned from 3 to 2, and a target was shot at 199 yard.















Then a move was made to 100 or so yard; the CDS dial set on 1, and the rifle cooled for 10 minute. Two shots taken at the same target.








The last photo is the same target as the previous photo, except the shots taken at 300 yard are painted onto the target. The six shots make a 2 1/2" group. After a click or two left, the Omega probably will be rested until September, when it will be fired for final adjustment prior to the hunt, assuming i draw a tag.

Ron, you are the Great Guru of the long shot. That's some mighty fine shooting.

that is some very impressive long range shooting. I am not sure I could even see a bulls eye at that distance let alone shoot one.

The bull is easy to see with a 7 power scope. The equipment is what allowed for the accurate shooting. The scope is crystal clear, and adjusts for the different ranges about as accurate as a scope can. The rifle has the same barrel as a 50 caliber Omega, but only has a 45 caliber hole in it. This barrel is quite thick around the hole, and noticeably heavier than a 50. The barrel is probably less prone to flex than a 50. It seems to me, this barrel is perfect for accuracy. Of course a near perfect trigger doesn't hurt.

Perhaps i could have been the Guru of nonsense, but that was already taken. Ha!