I have read here and other sites that TC Omegas have a lot of problems shooting cronicals. Many/most have poor accuracy and/or consistency problems when shooting long/heavy cronical style bullets as required in Colorado.
My question is why ?
It seems to me that if the barrel is good and the twist is right, it should shoot anything that matches up with boar diameter and twist rate ?
My .50 cal TC side lock (Black Mt Mag) shoots cronicals as good or better than sabots. Why would an Omega be any different ?

Most Omegas will shoot conicals like Powerbelts but not solid lead. There are several opinions as to why. Some think the QLA is machined off center which causes problems with accuracy. I have a different opinion. I believe that due to the plastic on the sabots and the Powerbelts expanding when they hit the QLA thus sealing any gas that might get by the bullet until the bullet is clear of the barrel the bullets fly true. When a solid lead bullet passes the QLA the gas can excape by the bullet causing it to become unstable. Can't prove it but it is just a guess on my part. The fact is that Omega rifles with QLA usually do not shoot solid lead conicals well. Mine sort of is a hit and miss type that sometimes shoots them well and other times will not. Sabots and Powerbelts that are not shoot too fast seem to be very accurate.

Machined of center is correct !

Maybe that explains why my QLA sidelock works much better if I use a 50 cal wad behind the cronicals. The wad might expand enough to seal the gass
Thanks

My Omega shoots anything very well but the Black Diamond I had wouldn't shoot anything but sabots.I suspect it had to do with a screwed up QLA on that one.If you're using Bore Butter I'd strongly recommend cleaning it out of the bore.It's ok as a conical bullet lube or patch lube with RB's but it ruins accuracy when used in the bore with fast twist rates.In some cases Bore Buttons improve accuracy with cons.Good luck!

I have had some issues with some fast twist guns not shooting conicals well.I put it down to having shallow groove rifling,but I dont know for sure.

What is QLA?

JPK

QLA is the "false muzzle" end of many rifles where the rifling is basically machined down to the groove diameter for about 3/4 inch so that bullets can be started easier. I think it stands for "Quick Load Accurizer".

Thanks.

I got my QLA cut off and had an 11 degree match grade crown cut (by Bullberry) and it is a tack driver now.

The "QLA" has earned a less then enviable reputaion for causing accuracy problems in the T/C MLs that have it. I have read and heard about it all over the place including even being mentioned in "Gun Tests" magazines evaluation of a Encore Pro ML. PR bullets website talks alot about QLA problems.

I own a Encore and thank fully the QLA on it does seem to have been done correctly as the accuracy bears out.

But I have no doubt IMHO that off center QLAs do exsist and cause probelms.
I sure would be mighty P.O. if I had to have my $8-$900 inline's barrel cut off just to get it to shoot.

My Omega shoots the 348grn PBs over 100grns of 3f 777 pretty good, as good as I can hold with open sights. I'll be using it in CO for my September bull hunt.

I was worried as I read where a good many Omega owners said their Omegas would not shoot any type of conical well, but luckily mine does just fine.

It's hard to say that the Omega will not shoot conicals until you try it in your own Omega. Every gun has a different outcome.

Good Luck

Reloader

I think most will agree that the T/C rifles will usually shoot Powerbelts but not real conicals that do not have a skirt. My opinion is that the skirt helps to control the gas as the bullet exits the muzzle. If the QLA is off some it will allow the gas to excape unequally around a solid lead conical causing the bullet to lose accuracy. If the skirt stops the gas from exiting the barrel before the bullet clears the end then the problem of a slightly off center QLA is not so important. Some have had similar improvement by using a thick wad below the solid lead conical which accomplishes the same thing as the plastic skirt. I gave up trying to shoot conicals in my Omega and leave that up to the Whites or the NEF Huntsman.

Ever try a MMP sub base or a 28ga AA wad orb cup under the lead conicals MLkeith?

That may seal them well enough.

Reloader

Have not tried that although it might work. As I stated I have so many other rifles that shoot conicals when needed making the Omega do it is not necessary. It is good that the Omega will handle BH209 which my Knight KRB will not. Now that I have a breechplug for the NEF that will work with BH209 I am concentrating on that rifle for a while. Did not get drawn for anything to hunt this year so I am shooting targets only this year.

quote:

Originally posted by Reloader:
My Omega shoots the 348grn PBs over 100grns of 3f 777 pretty good, as good as I can hold with open sights. I'll be using it in CO for my September bull hunt.

I was worried as I read where a good many Omega owners said their Omegas would not shoot any type of conical well, but luckily mine does just fine.

It's hard to say that the Omega will not shoot conicals until you try it in your own Omega. Every gun has a different outcome.

Good Luck

Reloader

Reloader,

Not on topic, but for consideration: I like PB's for WT deer, but I would think that they are just too soft for anything larger, leading to overexpansion and insufficient penetration.

JPK

JPK, 348grn PBs were recommended to me by the Outfitter I'll be hunting with in September. He said that is the primary bullet his hunters use. I also searched several forums and found plenty of post where guys had good results on Bulls with that bullet. Knight recommended it to me as well.

I've decided to use my Knight with 80grns of 3f T7 under the 348grn PBs based on last weekends range results. It groups the PBs more consistant than the Omega and I like the sights on it alittle better than the Omega sights as well. I'll probably be carrying the Omega and FPBs as a back-up just in case.

Have a Good One,

Reloader

Reloader,

I use a .45 cal PB, can't recall off hand which weight, and 150grs worth of Pyrodex pellets, (and get very good accuracy, btw) which must explain my different observations. Clearly you have done your homework and it sounds like you are set.

Best of luck on your bull hunt!

JPK