New Omega
 

Hello all
I just purchased a 50 cal. stainless barrel Omega and would like to know what loads people are using.
I shot the gun today using 260 grain Hornadays with 100 grains of triple 7 pellets. The only real problem that I encountered was loading the sabot, even after swabbing the barrell it was like trying to get my kids to take their medicine. Has anyone else had this problem?
Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks

RE: New Omega
 

It seems I am reading more and more reports about Omega's being hard to load even with swabbing. My first question would center on the kind of sabot and bullet combination you're using. What others you have tried, and what you want the rifle to do.

Get yourself some 375 grain Buffalo Bullet SSB sabots. I buy them from Cabela's. I load only 100 grains of Goex FFg but the accuracy is hard to match. I suggested this same load to another Thompson Center user, and learned they dropped a nice cow elk with that load. The bullet expaneded perfect and lodged just under the skin on the other side. I think on a deer it would have passed through.

I shoot a T/C Black Diamond XR and with the SSB's or the T/C line of bullets I get excellent accuracy and loading is not all that ruff. Another thing you might want to look into is some 460 grain No Excuses Conicals. They also shoot excellent....

Good luck. You have a great rifle. Someday I am going to have one just like that exact rifle you have.....:D

RE: New Omega
 

I have a .50cal stainless Omega and yes the Hornady sabots are difficult to load. The triple seven powder causes another problem with the formation of the crud ring. Personally I did the following after trying multiple breechplug configurations, making the switch to the .25ACP breechplug with small rifle primers and evaluating several powders. I now use Black Mag3 powder 80-110grains max under 300gr. Hornady bullets in Harvester sabots or 295gr. Powerbelt Aerotips or 348gr. Powerbelts. and this is with either the .25ACP conversion or with 209 Remington Primers (Not Federals). I hunt elk. If I was hunting deer I would go with the non-aerotip as expansion with aerotip is not good in deer.

RE: New Omega
 

Both Keith & Cayugad know their stuff. Harvester plastic sabots (50-pks) load pretty decent in the Omega when using the .429 or .451 XTP bullets. The 348 Powerbelt usually provides the best accuracy out of all Belt bullet sizes. Bullets other than the Powerbelts & Buffalo S.S.Bs that load easy in the Omega include the Precision 40/50 Extended Range, Dead Centers & QTs -- Harvester Sabertooths -- Barnes 40/50 200 gr Spitfires & Nosler sabot/bullets. T/C-packaged bullets used to load easy.... not anymore with their new packaging/new thicker Hornady plastic sabots supplied with their bullets.

Go to google.com & do a search on each of these bullets. Midsouthshooterssupply.com has the Noslers, Sabertooths & Spitfires. PRbullet.com has Precisions -- Cabelas & others have the S.S.Bs. I don't know how much longer Barnes will be making the 200 gr Spitfires undersized. Last ones I checked were between .450 and .4505. They load pretty sweet -- shoot accurately but need alot of speed (120-150) to shroom' properly.

RE: New Omega
 

I also just purchased the 50 calibur Omega and was wanting to put a scope on it. Can anyone help me with what size Weaver mounts I will need to mount a scope on it?

RE: New Omega
 

Thanks for the info, I will be using the Omega for deer. I have ordered the Harvester Sabots and see how they work. If they don't I will try the Powerbelts.
Thanks again