RedAllison

If your gun will shoot em (and most Encores/Omegas will) I say stick with 150 loads for anything over 150yds. The 250SST is THE bullet to use and be sure you have the black MMP sabots (they should come with the bullets if you buy the Hornady box instead of the TC Shockwave package). The key too 150grn charges and longranges is in the sabot. And of course they will be TOUGHER to load and seat properly but you must have that much pressure for a proper seal or otherwise you won't get a true clean burn (that's why so many guys have trouble making 150s shoot).

Also I recommend trashcaning ALL pellets. I know they are convenient but you simply wont get the consistency or cleaner burn of a granular load. I despised changing from pellets but was shown the truth by a Knight factory rep lastyear in Wyoming at a mfgrs event in Cody. (LOL well I sorta paid attention, I now shoot granular powder but it's Vhitavouri N110 in my Savage!)

With a properly shooting 150grn 250SST load you should be able to sight dead on at 100 which should leave you about 4" low at 200 and believe it or not, 16" low at 300 with enough killing power for deersized animals. I would hold the line on elk at about 225 or 250 unless you go up too the 300SST (which is what I shoot in my Savage). Run a simple brush through the bore after each shot and clean it after each half dozen and you will realize 300yd potential. Stick with 100grn loads and 200yds is your TOPS, they reallly start falling after 150yds with only 100grns.

Good luck and let us know how you do,
RA

Roseaukaine

Last deer of the season last year- small6 pt, about 140 lbs.
I was shooting my Optima (26" barrel) with the 250g shockwaves and 90g T-7 (2f). I watched him for a good while and when he presented me with a good standing-stillshot (perfect conditions) I took it -- at 192 yds. (ranged him with the rangefinder). He dropped in his tracks - never took another step. The bullet blew through the very top of his shoulder blade, crushed the bottom halfof his vertebrae, and lodged in the opposite shoulder, just under the skin. I held a bit too high thinking that the bullet would drop more than it did (I had been practicing at 150 yds with great accuracy). The bullet retained it's mass and expanded extremelywell. I guess what I'm trying to say is that one doesn't need to subject himself tothe massrecoil of a 150g load in order to successfully make a 200yd harvest. Had the bullet hit the boiler room, I feel confident that it would have blown through both sides with little effort.

Illini_Sportsman

Finally got to shoot the Omega tonight..............wow

cayugad

Illini_Sportsman .... I take it the experience was a good one then?

Illini_Sportsman

Indeed it was. I zeroed it at 35 yards because I had limited daylight. I'll pinpoint it at 100 withinthe week, but this thing's accuracy right out of the box and with a new scope on it without a single shot with the iron sights amazed me. When I say zero, I mean it. My last shot nailed the bulls-eye like it was point-blank. Overall just the way it shoots was sweet. I have a hard time seeing how anyone can call these weapons primitive just because they are muzzleloaders.

patchholder

I have a question for bowtech die hard you talked about 200yds with 150grns and maybe attaining 2400fps but you din't say what load only the charge? Thanks

cayugad

you want speed, power, and accuracy out of the Omega's and other rifles I would go with a 250 grain Shockwave. They should shoot real flat, hold way out at distances, and still have excellent knock down power. 150 grain loads are possible, but usually they find that with pellets. If your going to shoot loose Triple Se7en or Pyrodex you might want to look into the 110-120 grain range. The speed might not be there but it should be all the bullet you would need out to those distances.

I was shooting one afternoon at a paper plate at 150 yards with my Black Diamond XR. I was surprised at how easy it was to hit that paper plate off a set of shooting sticks. I think it took me two shots to figure out the drop but after that the rest was easy. I never did try to get back further then that.

Illini_Sportsman

Hey I have a question I forgot to ask though. My friend was with me and after we bulls-eyed it at 35, we backed way off to probably a little over 100. He shot and completely missed the target. Is this just shooter error, cause he said he thought he may have flinched, but wasn't real sure. The bullet wouldn't drop that much between 35 and 100-120 yards, would it? 100 grain Pyrodex, 250 grain Shockwave.

herman

Ra are you sure those drop figures are right.You would have to be getting 3000 fps to get a 4 in @200 and 16 in @300 yds sighted dead on at 100. shooting 150 grs and a 250 sst
Or am I reading it wrong
I am getting 2440 fps average with a 250 sst and my actual drops are 0@100,7.1@200 and 26.8@300yds
Been shooting quit a bit at 300 yds this year useing the 250sst
Below is some groups with different loads that I shot wed.at 300 yds.

cayugad

running the ballistics on that load for being sighted in at 35 yards it showed a -0.6 inch drop at 100 yards. I think a 1/2 inch difference would not have made that much of a off shot. I suspect he felt it was going to kick him bad and flinched....