Omega/BH209/777
 

Early this year I purchased a TC Omega & will be getting it set up in a few days, I currently use a Knight which has been (still is) a good gun. In the knight I have been using trip7 without any problems but in the Omega I am going to try the BH209, I have read many posts dealing with BH/777, most of the posts I have read dealing with BH have been positive, very few negatives, can anyone give me the "Darkside" of using BH? & also maybe suggest a load make-up.
Thanks in advance,

Doc
The Blackhorn is comparitively expensive but well worth the usage.
The powder seems to last awhile, I have had mine 4 years, if it is kept tightly closed between uses.
For my purposes if you get 4 or 5 shots without cleaning out in the field you will do just fine.
I shoot an Encore Pro hunter in 45 and 50 and they both shoot great with 110 gr of blackhorn
My set likes the Barnes sabots in 250 or 300 gr
daddus

I have not found a negative of using BH209, other than cost. In every TC that I have owned they all have liked 110grains of BH209 and I use either Bonded Shockwaves or PT Gold's in a harvester short black sabot. On a rest, can usually cloverleaf at 100yds and just one ragged hole at 50.

Bein's how you will be using an Omega, there isn't much i can think of that is negative about using Blackhorn powder. Your rifle and Blackhorn, work quite well together. At the range, i never do any cleaning of my Omega, when using Blackhorn, i just shoot, and wait, and load, and shoot. However, when i clean my rifle at home, i do run a 1/8" drill into the flame channel to remove the hard baked on carbon. This restores the flame channel opening to what is was when new.

My Omega(s) have seen loads of 90g to 140g of Blackhorn, behind bullets of 200g, 240g, 250g, 290g, 440g, and 500g. Usually there is some combination of bullet and powder that produces good accuracy. For me 100g Blackhorn seems to work good for 250g bullets; 110g Blackhorn works with 300g bullet, and 120g worked with 200g bullets.

The load for this year' deer season will be 270g Deep Curl bullet, 90g Blackhorn powder, green crush rib sabot, and W209 primer.

If you have no bullets on hand, and need to purchase, just the other day i saw 300g XTP, Deep Curl, and partition in stock at more than one on line store. Muzzle loading bullets/sabots are readily available most anywhere.

In an Omega, i cant imagine a downside to BH209 other than cost. You can bring down cost by getting it in the 5lb jug. Its roughly $200 from Carlos at Ed's gunshop when its in stock. The Omega breach plug is one of the best OEM plugs for BH209.

A hex head 1/8" drill bit turned by hand will clean the flash channel quickly and easily. A nut driver handle or multi bit screw driver is helpful if you need a little more room under the scope.

A minor negative, is it requires a smokeless CF solvent for cleaning the bore.

Some people claim it does not work with lead conicals but i can tell you it works very well unless the conical is way too loose. The Omega might not shoot a conical well depending on how well the QLA was cut.

Ron,
Isn't 120 grains of blackhorn maximum?
Just sayin.
daddus

daddus1

Thats correct but emails with Western and some pressure traces with a 350gr sabotless bullet have confirmed its highly unlikely you will exceed 28Kpsi. Ive shot a bunch of 130gr and some 140gr loads in my stronger rifles.

Why yes, yes i believe it is.

I want to give a big thanks for all the advise, it has been downloaded for future reference, Thanks, Doc (I am really looking forward to shooting the Omega, & will post a report)