Post by AJ on Sept 12, 2008 17:33:46 GMT -5
On my first outings with the Omega, I was not very happy. I had to use all of the scope's verticle adjustment to get close to zero. Since scopes rarely perform well at the extremes of their adjustment, I had to find another fix. I searched and found Ken Farrell makes a +20 MOA base for the Encore. The Omega and Encore share the same scope bases, so I ordered one. I ordered a set of Warne high rings to complete the setup.
While I was waiting for the mount and rings to arrive, I did a bedding job on the Omega. I found the action moves around a bit in the stock. I filled the holes in the mounting blocks with clay and gave it a good coating of release agent (Pam) and mixed up some JB Weld. I pulled everything loose the next day and after a little cleanup of the overflow spots, I mixed some more and did a skim coat to fill the voids. When this was done, I again cleaned the overflow, and the ramrod channel, and sanded the barrel channel to allow the barrel to free float from the front action screw to the end of the stock.
I slugged the barrel and find its measurements are .510" and .498". So with the grooves running about .012" deep, it should give decent bites on the sabots.
When the mounts and rings arrived, I installed everything and laid the Kahles 3-10x50 in the rings. It's a very nice fit. Allowing clearance for the flip up scope caps but nore too high to make the shooter's head float above the stock.
I pre-measured a bunch of 100, 110, and 120 gr tubes of Blackhorn 209 powder and headed to the range with a handfull of different bullets. The scope zeroed with minimal adjustments and I was very pleased with the results.
I tried the 340 gr Dead Center saboted bullets with 100 gr of powder and did not care for the 4" groups at 100 yards. Sure they are minute of elk, but I can do better.
I found the 300 gr Bonded SST/ShockWave in a Harvester sabot shot very well with 120 gr charges. I also found the 290 gr Barnes TMZ bullet shot very well. I moved to 200 yards and was able to shoot sub MOA groups with the SST and the TMZ! The first pic is the Barnes TMX and the second group is the Bonded SST, each group is at 200 yards. By the way, these shots were number 25-27 and 28-30 without swabbing or cleaning. I like BH209!!!
My Kahles has a BDC type of reticle and I found the center crosshair is zeroed at 100 yards, the second crosshair is about 1.5" high at 200 yards. The bottom crosshair is very close at 300 yards, as I was hitting the gong at 300 yards at will, although I would not shoot that far at an elk. I will shoot 250 with this setup though. I doubt that I will need to but its nice knowing I can if necessary.
I think I will be using the 300 gr Bonded SST for my elk hunt next month when I chase the bulls. The POI was close enough between the two, I can interchange between them. I am now happy with this muzzleloader. Now all I need is for a good bull to give me a clear shot.
While I was waiting for the mount and rings to arrive, I did a bedding job on the Omega. I found the action moves around a bit in the stock. I filled the holes in the mounting blocks with clay and gave it a good coating of release agent (Pam) and mixed up some JB Weld. I pulled everything loose the next day and after a little cleanup of the overflow spots, I mixed some more and did a skim coat to fill the voids. When this was done, I again cleaned the overflow, and the ramrod channel, and sanded the barrel channel to allow the barrel to free float from the front action screw to the end of the stock.
I slugged the barrel and find its measurements are .510" and .498". So with the grooves running about .012" deep, it should give decent bites on the sabots.
When the mounts and rings arrived, I installed everything and laid the Kahles 3-10x50 in the rings. It's a very nice fit. Allowing clearance for the flip up scope caps but nore too high to make the shooter's head float above the stock.
I pre-measured a bunch of 100, 110, and 120 gr tubes of Blackhorn 209 powder and headed to the range with a handfull of different bullets. The scope zeroed with minimal adjustments and I was very pleased with the results.
I tried the 340 gr Dead Center saboted bullets with 100 gr of powder and did not care for the 4" groups at 100 yards. Sure they are minute of elk, but I can do better.
I found the 300 gr Bonded SST/ShockWave in a Harvester sabot shot very well with 120 gr charges. I also found the 290 gr Barnes TMZ bullet shot very well. I moved to 200 yards and was able to shoot sub MOA groups with the SST and the TMZ! The first pic is the Barnes TMX and the second group is the Bonded SST, each group is at 200 yards. By the way, these shots were number 25-27 and 28-30 without swabbing or cleaning. I like BH209!!!
My Kahles has a BDC type of reticle and I found the center crosshair is zeroed at 100 yards, the second crosshair is about 1.5" high at 200 yards. The bottom crosshair is very close at 300 yards, as I was hitting the gong at 300 yards at will, although I would not shoot that far at an elk. I will shoot 250 with this setup though. I doubt that I will need to but its nice knowing I can if necessary.
I think I will be using the 300 gr Bonded SST for my elk hunt next month when I chase the bulls. The POI was close enough between the two, I can interchange between them. I am now happy with this muzzleloader. Now all I need is for a good bull to give me a clear shot.
