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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,195
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,195 |
Shooting a TC Omega Z5 - 2 pellets of powder and 250 gr shockwave superglide sabots and I'm not very happy with the results I've had so far.
First off, they are VERY hard to push down the barrel even when it is clean. I know it should fit tight but I have to MAN UP to get it down the tube.
Second, I shot at a coyote last year about 60 yards and he turned and ran like I had missed and then fell like a brick about 40 yards from where I shot. There was great blood but he acted like he wasnt hit - but it did to the job.
Third, I shot at probably the biggest deer I have had an opportunity at a few days ago. He was slightly quartering towards me. I did not get the "jitters". I didnt feel like I made a poor shot. I didnt rush the shot. I waited for a clear opening about 50 yards away, squeezed the trigger and felt like I made a great shot. There were 5 deer in the group. He jumped at the shot and stood there several seconds before walking off. None of them ever saw me or ran off. I thought I missed - looked at his body in the scope and couldnt see a wound. About an hour and a half later when I got down I found blood. It was a great blood trail for about 150 yards to a barbed wire fence, then another 75 yards or so along the fence it was less and less of a trail. Bright red blood and some dark blood. He crossed the fence and I lost the trail about 20 yards past the fence.
I looked several hours and called a guy with a deer tracking dog. The dog didnt seem to find much of a trail.
I felt like I made a good shot. I dont believe I got a pass through. I feel like he is dead and tried all I know to recover him but I have not been impressed with the bullet Ive used.
Maybe I didnt make the proper placement on the buck (I would have to find him to make sure where I hit) but both animals I've shot at have acted like they havent even been hit and the bullets are very hard to push down the barrel.
I'm thinking about trying the powerbelt aerotips. What is yalls experience with the 2 different bullets?
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,884
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,884 |
I've had excellent performance out of shockwaves, but with 150 grains of powder. Never lost one or not a pass thru. And cut 1/2" off my powerbelt groups. Optima pro-hunter
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,111 Likes: 1
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,111 Likes: 1 |
I bought some 250 gr. Shock Waves about 6 or 7 years ago to use in my Optima and BamBam's Traditions Hawkins...had the same problem as you loading both of them. I mean they were beyond TIGHT...to the point that I was seriously concerned about breaking a ram rod. Still have 12 of the 20, the box is a dust collector since the first time I took them out and shot them!
Well behaved women never make history.~ Out back
Quit laughing...I think I broke something.
Fifteen is my limit on Schnitzen-Gruben, Baby...
I have OCD and ADD, so everything has to be perfect, but only for a minute.
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Matt Brock
Unregistered
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Matt Brock
Unregistered
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They loaded like that in my traditions pursuit, until I got about 40 rounds through it. They load easier now. Also, clean your barrel EVERY shot for the first 30-40 rounds and clean it good. It'll make loading easier.
As for their performance, I had excellent performance on my first 12 deer. Great penetration, very good retention, and deer didn't travel far, if at all. This year I'm 1 for 3 on does. The one I did find I shot with a rest broadside at 60 yards. She went 200 yards and didn't act hit. I had good blood so I found her, but am still puzzled as to why she went so far with a well placed shot. I watched one of the other ones crash after the shot. Went to get her and she jumped up to run off never to be found. She was shot broadside, with a rest at 90 yards. Great blood too, until she got up. Can't explain that one. This is the first year I have had any trouble from that sabot.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,967 Likes: 4
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,967 Likes: 4 |
My T/C Omega had a tight spot about 6" down until I did a barrel break in (shoot 100+ times cleaning between each shot)...now the sabot it slides VERY smoothly full length.
Also, my Omega doesn't like the T/C 250's, and hates anything lighter. But the groups are a thing of beauty with the Shockwave 300's and three triple 7's. The 250's were printing about 4-6" groups at 100 yards. The 300's are printing @1" or so.
It did kick like an angry mule, but I installed a recoil reducer in the stock (Brako brand I believe). Now it kicks about like a 30/30. Very pleasant to shoot.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 17,644 Likes: 17
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 17,644 Likes: 17 |
I shoot this round using a TC Encore. No problems whatsoever. This sabot:  ...brought down this buck.  The reason I recovered the sabot was because I was using a new gun/propellant (Blackhorn 209) and I didn't have a strong enough charge (I think I was using around 100 grains or so). I now load 130 grains.
Jesus... I hope you know Him personally like I do.
Si vis pacem, para bellum.
Proud crossbow hunter!
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15
spike
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spike
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15 |
i would look past the powerbelts. they are unreliable as far as expansion goes. barnes TMZ are great from the research I have read. switching to them and Blackhorn 209. barnes has a bullet that is easier to load...maybe the T-EZ? Shooting a TC Omega Z5 - 2 pellets of powder and 250 gr shockwave superglide sabots and I'm not very happy with the results I've had so far.
First off, they are VERY hard to push down the barrel even when it is clean. I know it should fit tight but I have to MAN UP to get it down the tube.
Second, I shot at a coyote last year about 60 yards and he turned and ran like I had missed and then fell like a brick about 40 yards from where I shot. There was great blood but he acted like he wasnt hit - but it did to the job.
Third, I shot at probably the biggest deer I have had an opportunity at a few days ago. He was slightly quartering towards me. I did not get the "jitters". I didnt feel like I made a poor shot. I didnt rush the shot. I waited for a clear opening about 50 yards away, squeezed the trigger and felt like I made a great shot. There were 5 deer in the group. He jumped at the shot and stood there several seconds before walking off. None of them ever saw me or ran off. I thought I missed - looked at his body in the scope and couldnt see a wound. About an hour and a half later when I got down I found blood. It was a great blood trail for about 150 yards to a barbed wire fence, then another 75 yards or so along the fence it was less and less of a trail. Bright red blood and some dark blood. He crossed the fence and I lost the trail about 20 yards past the fence.
I looked several hours and called a guy with a deer tracking dog. The dog didnt seem to find much of a trail.
I felt like I made a good shot. I dont believe I got a pass through. I feel like he is dead and tried all I know to recover him but I have not been impressed with the bullet Ive used.
Maybe I didnt make the proper placement on the buck (I would have to find him to make sure where I hit) but both animals I've shot at have acted like they havent even been hit and the bullets are very hard to push down the barrel.
I'm thinking about trying the powerbelt aerotips. What is yalls experience with the 2 different bullets?
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15
spike
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spike
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15 |
did the deer drop in his tracks? how much of a blood trail? looks like the bullet retained all its weight but it didnt expand much at all. I shoot this round using a TC Encore. No problems whatsoever. This sabot: ...brought down this buck. The reason I recovered the sabot was because I was using a new gun/propellant (Blackhorn 209) and I didn't have a strong enough charge (I think I was using around 100 grains or so). I now load 130 grains.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,717 Likes: 1
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,717 Likes: 1 |
I haven't used the Shockwaves, but I've been really impressed with the Barnes Spitfire T-EZ for accuracy and performance. No bullet recovered yet and this seems to be pretty common after reading up on them.
Also Hornady's 350 grain FPB bullets (no sabot) shoot really well out of my TC Impact, but I have not shot a deer with them yet.
I've been loading both with 90 grains of blackhorn 209.
Last edited by scrubbuck; 11/25/12 07:35 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 155
3 point
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3 point
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 155 |
Shooting the same bullet out of a TC encore, but using 150 grains of imr white hot powder killed a 9 pt Friday afternoon at 180 yards and had great performance from this combination.
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 9,285 Likes: 11
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 9,285 Likes: 11 |
Barnes!!! Haven't found a sabot yet and kill a couple a year with it
Give me bout 15 more minutes, I was dreamin about beavers..........
Si Robertson
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