Thompsom Omega

[reddog]

1/28 twist facilitates itself to more velocity, up to a point.

Its not really the powder charge alone that is causing the improvement, but a combination of powder, increased velocity, which leads to a flatter trajectory etc. Sounds like you got a deer killer there now!

[harvey lee]

I just changed the load of powder. I'm also using a scope. I did not change my scope any from 90 grains to 120.

[delzz7]

Harv were you using the shockwave? or did you try the hornadays

[harvey lee]

I stayed with the Shockwave and if they did not p[attern well with the new powder load, the off to Hornady.

I believe I may try the Hornady after the season to see how they shoot. I would now but I have no time to test them out and I leave for ND for the ML season in a day.

If the Shockwave does a good job for damage then I might stay with that bullet. If not, I will be changing for sure.

[Gordie]

Tom I think you wil like the shockwave as they put the deer down but then so do the hornadys I used to shoot horns and switched to shockwaves but cant say which is better.

[harvey lee]

All I know is the gun is shooting well now with 30 more grains of powder.

[lakevet]

My williams sights cover 25% of deers chest at 100 yds. Just need to find a smaller front bead. Or grind yours down. Makes that 100 yd shot easier. Also can tighten your group.

Lakevet

[harvey lee]

I sure that would help. I just put a scope on it and even a 1x power which is all the North Dakota allows does help.

[92python]

I have an Omega and added a Williams peep. Had to swap out my front ramp for a shorter one. Thompson CS just sent me a new one after a call.

For loads, the best I have found is 100 grains of Pinnacle FFFG or 95 grains of Blackhorn 209 behind a 250 grain Hornady XTP (.452 dialmeter) with either a black EZ load or black crushed rib sabot.

After I run out of XTPs I will be trying a Speer Gold dot bullet as I have heard nothing but positives about the performance and price.

Buying the sabots and pistol bullets seperately saves you a BUNCH of money.

[charliepete]

Harvey....you'll get much tighter groups when using loose powder than the pressed charges. I get my best groups with barnes mz sabots with a 120 grain of loose triple seven. I'm shooting 1" groups at 100 yards with open sights from a bench. I agree that you'll get some good groups shooting powerbelts, but their terminal performance is terrible. They basically disintegrate on impact. I'll never use them on big game again. I get ok groups with shockwaves, but the barnes mx are more accurate in my gun.

[walleyemaniac]

Just gotta find what your gun likes. I've got an Encore and I shoot Cabela's 240gr balistic tip sabots (pretty cheap to shoot)with 2 or 3-50gr triple7 pellets. I hold an 1 1/2" pattern at 100yds doesn't matter how hot I load it. Nothing against Power Belts cause I,ve heard good things about them, but I tried the "platinums" and my Encore spit those things in every direction. Good Luck this season Harvey.

[harvey lee]

Seems the load I am shooting now will kill any deer it needs to up to 125 yards. I have no need for anything further.

It may be better and I might give it a try next summwer at the range.

[trolloni]

Harv sounds like you came up with results you were lookin for thats what makes this forum good ,everyone tries differant things and gives thier reports what works and what dont,now ive heard that blackhorn 209 powder is super clean with less fouling and better velocity anyone tried it yet and what were youre thoughts?i talked to a guy today says 200 yards consistatly,its no problem with this stuff

[harvey lee]

The question I would have is how do you place a iron sight on a deer at 200 yards as the sight would black out a deer as it almost does at 100. I know in North Dakota one can use a 1x power scope and that helps as you have crosshairs to place on a deer. I looked through a 1x power scope at some deer I could see 300 yards away and I could not find them in a 1x power scope.

I am having a hard time understanding how he can shot at a deer and know what he is shooting at.

Now, if I could use a variable powered scope, that could help with those long bomb shots.

[trolloni]

Sorry Harv im down here in illinois on the mississppi river northwestern part of the state 48 mi to the wisconsin border scopes are legal here and in iowa, it would be real tough to shoot those distances with iron sights its a shame to ,cause you have the gun that is capable of those types of shots ,you guys should get together and write letters whatever, to sway the powers that be to allow scopes on muzzeloaders ,also the guy i was mentioning was shooting paper i didnt witness it, but he wasnt bsing me, try the letter thing or email you would be surprized at how something that simple works,one example here we had a goofy law that we had to put a padalock on our bow string to make it inoperable at the end of shooting hours and in transport about 6 years ago it took a couple a years but we got rid of it through letters and calls!

[JacobMHD]

Personally I like the challenge. I wouldn't take the shot if it was too far out. Same mentality as hunting with a bow. I don't think I want high powered scopes used during muzzleloader season.

[Bear55]

I agree Jacob, whats the point of having a muzzy season if you are going to use a scope to shoot 200 yards. You might as well combine muzzy and rifle season.