100 or 150 grain for muzzleloader

David

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Nov 21, 2007
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So this is my first year muzzleloading. I bought a Thompson Center Omega .50 cal. All my buddies use 100 Grains of pyrodex and 300 grain bullet.

Is this a good combo?

Im just thinking if the gun maxes out at 150 grains of powder, why not max it out to make sure the fps is sufficient?

What do you guys think?

I put a nikon prostaff scope on it as well, so i know i SHOULDN't miss, just want to make sure there is enough ass on the shot.
 

Kevin B.

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Hardin County
It's been my experience that each ML has a load that it prefers. It may or may not be a 300 grain bullet. It may or may not be 100 grains of pyrodex. My omega shot its best groups (sub moa at 100 yds) with 100 grains of triple seven (ffg) and 250 grain shockwave w/ supplied sabot. Killed 5 deer last year w/ this combo. Hope this helps.
 

jakeway

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If your gun has a long enough barrel, you may be able to take advantage of all 150 grains. Diminishing returns usually sets in above 100 grains; the increase in powder fouling begins to outweigh the increase in velocity. Also, a lot of that powder leaves the barrel under-burned. Shoot it at dusk with 100 grains, then again with 150 and you should notice a lot more flames coming from the muzzle with the 150 grain.

To be sure, use your gun, try different loads, and if you have a chrony to check the velocity, that's great.

I shoot 110 gr loose 777 with a 300 grain Hornady XTP Mag.
 

breeze900rr

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Oct 28, 2006
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spring hill
By all means do your "home work"! Shoot it with both. I have a CVA Optima Pro and use 100gr triple seven wit 260gr (I think) powerbelts. I'm much more accurate with 100 as opposed to 150gr.
and when U do test them make sure U check for odd shaped bullet holes in your target with 150 grains (you should have a perfect circle, not an oval). In some guns with certain rounds 150gr will make the bullet "tumble" in flight which means poor accuracy. what kind of area do you hunt? If you won't be making shots longer than 100 yds then I'd go with 100gr! Whatever U use good luck with it!
 

bighead 1

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Sep 24, 2006
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middle tenn
My encore likes 100 grains loose T7 powder with 300 grain bullet ,you will have to see what your gun likes. My encore shoots 100 grains loose t7 the best,you have to find what your gun likes
 

bowhunter 51

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Mar 20, 2007
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Lauderdale Co. Tennessee
Wrong thinking, David...you don't wanna exceed your barrel
twist capability...You wanna use the least amount of charge
to group tight groups confidently...If you use too big a
charge, the projectile will over-run the cut barrel twist,
and spin poorly as a result...accuracy will be deminished..
You wanna start at a low charge and work up...I use only 80gr.
of 777 in my 45 with a 1:28 twist...I assure you..It will get
the job done....................................BH51.........
 

oldwun

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Sep 20, 2006
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madisonville
Bowhunter 51 hit the nail on the head. You will have to do some shooting to optimize your Omeag. The 100 gr loose and 250 SW usally but not always shoots pretty well in the Omega's. If you do use loose DO NOT EXCEED 120 gr.
 

Bubba in Fla

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Dec 12, 2006
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St. Petersburg, FL
I shoot an Omega 50 cal with 120 grains of loose 777 and the TC Shock Wave 300gr. - Be very careful if you are shooting 150 grains (as I did at first) - especially if you are not using a long eye relief scope - I bled more than the first deer I shot did with a normal eye relief scope!
 

cdtac1

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Feb 28, 2007
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Location
Atoka, TN
90 grains here and a 460 grain bullet and have have taken them out to 200 yards. You just have to find out what your gun likes.
 

kmac29

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Oct 7, 2005
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Cookeville
JSTEVE said:
150 The heavier the better. Make sure you boost the powder a bit for the bigger slug.
you dont need to boost the powder charge to go with a heavier slug. yes you will gain some velocity but sometimes that is not the best thing. as stated, do some experimenting and see what shoots best out of your gun. find a bullet you want to try and then play with the powder charge until you find the one that best groups that particular bullet. i shoot a 300gr SST and im only pushing it with 90gr FFG 777. it shoots 2"-3" groups at 100 yards. that was good enough to hunt with for this year but before next year i plan on playing with the powder charge a little more to see if i can tighten the group down to 1" or less.
 

bohun10g

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Dec 13, 2007
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Location
Sparta,TN
The Knight LK93 that I have shoots 100 grain Triple 7 and a 250 grain Barnes Expander MZ bullet real good.I have shot out to 150 yards with this combo.You'll have to test and tune your barrel {or try} several combinations to find which is the best for your muzzleloader after season is over.It may take the first try and it may take many.
 

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