Went shooting yesterday. Took the Disc Elite .50 and the Omega .50. Didn't start shooting until 4PM and it was still 89 degrees and no breeze.

I was mostly using 3-pellet Triple Se7en pellet loads trying to wring out the most velocity possible for an antelope hunt this fall.

Disc Elite
Using the 200gr Shockwave and 3-777 pellets average velocity was 2194fps. The heat may have been affecting velocity as well. In early May when the temp was 75 degrees this same load averaged 2287fps. Group(3-shot) size average(100yds)was 1.68 inches with best group 1.52 inches. Not that great. I next tried 250gr SST/Harvester sabots and 3-777 pellets. Average velocity was 2140fps. In April the load averaged 2193fps. Group size averaged 2.45 inches! In April this load averaged 1.33 inches with best group of 1.15 inches! Thinking it COULD be me I tried this rifles bread and butter load using ffg 777 110gr and the 200gr Shockwave. Average velocity was 2001fps with group size average of 1.1 inch and best group of .87. Previously this combo averaged .96 inches with best group of .65.

Omega .50.
Using 3-777 pellets and the 200gr Shockwave velocity averaged 2244fps. Groups size averaged 1.27 inches with smallest group .92. This is pretty good. I had never tried this combo so I didn't have data to compare. Next using the 250gr SST/Harvester sabot average velocity was 2150fps. Group size average 1.74 inch with best group of 1.3 inch. I had never tried this exact combo either. However using 2-777 pellets the 250gr SST has averaged .79 inches with best group of .60.

Conclusion...
I HAVE to believe the heat affected accuracy at all levels. The hotter 3-pellet loads were the most affected, demonstrated in the Knight Disc Elite. I guess I could TRY an MMP sub-base OR just wait for cooler weather! Other option may be to keep the loads on the mild side for now. I think that's what I'll do.

Well its 98 and rising today here in Phoenix, but I am too impatient to wait.

I will try shooting my old renegade with some pyrodex and 777 loads just to rebuild the motor memory of powder first, then bullet, then rod, then cap then cock then shoot...

Also will try loading some of the "new" sabots: Hornady SST 300 grains, and Barnes 300 grains. Never shot or loaded sabots before, and I read that loading is sometimes problematic..

No idea what to expect, since I have not shot this rifle at game since 198something..

Your heat observations make me relax my expectations. Frankly if I get four inch groups at 100 yards I guess that will be a start.

I will brush and swab between shots. And a long cooling period as well,,,

thanks for the help. PS looks like your OMEGA is the tighter rifle of your two!!

jameister

"thanks for the help. PS looks like your OMEGA is the tighter rifle of your two!!"

Well..It really depends on which day of the week it is!!!

USUALLY the Knight BARELY outshoots the Omega, but not always.. Can't wait for cooler weather to get here!!!

Can't wait for cooler weather to get here!!!

Hi Chuck,
You got that right. It has been very hot here also. Have you thought about trying those Blue .Cal MMP sabots for the Savage? Did Randy tell you about them. By the way, i sold My Knight Extreme. I'm not to sure i should of. I was complaining about those Red plastic jackets. I know I'm going to buy another Knight. Same problem again.

Hey Tom..

"Have you thought about trying those Blue .Cal MMP sabots for the Savage?"

Well..a couple of months ago I started just throwing away the sabots that come with bullets and use a new sabot with EVERYTHING! Sounds like one really has no idea what sabot they'll get that's packaged with bullets.

"By the way, i sold My Knight Extreme."

I did the same thing! At least I sold mine to my brother. That was one of the best muzzleloaders I've ever had too!

Hey Chuck,
I already upgraded the Knight Extreme. I bought a
Disc Elite. Once i sold the extreme i felt really bad. So i just bought another Knight.