T/C Omega rifles

[gill]

I'm a new member that has been using a T/C Hawken for thirty years to hunt deer. I'm thinking of getting another rifle, an in-line and am interested in possibly an Omega. I did a search and didn't find much so, I was wondering if anyone had much experience with an Omega. I would be interested in using it for deer to 200+ yds. At this time I limit myself to about 100 yds with the Hawken. Just curious about this rifle and any others you may recommend.
Thanks.
Greg

[bigiron]

I 've had my Omega for several years and really like it. There are many good guns out there now w/the break open(tip up) being the current rage it seems. If I were you I would look at as many different models as I could from "all" the Mfg. You will get lots of good advice on here and the other ML site modernmuzzler.com all great folks. With a tuned load,the right conditions and a good shooter most of these rifles will get it done @ 200 yds.

[nic58]

My Omega is one of the easiest guns there is to clean and accuracy was there right from day one. It's pretty well shot about anything I've stuffed down it. That's why I still own it. It will get the job done at 200+ yards, no problem.

[gill]

Thanks for your replies, I looked one over at Bass Pro today, looked allright to me, just have to figure out which one.
Greg

[esmd]

I've had two. They're great guns. I only got rid of the first one because I wanted a Savage and needed the money to put towards it. A year or so ago, I found a good deal on a used one and bought it as a backup/loaner gun. With Blackhorn 209, it's a fairly clean burning, great shooting gun.

[spaniel]

I'll admit it, I'm an Omega lover. I own two, a laminate thumbhole and an X7.

First off, spend the extra coin and get a laminate stock. The tupperware stocks are NOT great and if the gun is not accurate out of the box, having it in a tupperware stock greatly complicates solutions.

My take on break actions -- they are just that, a fad. There is no accuracy advantage, one only need to look at the mechanics and why they are not favored for centerfire long range work to see that. You can't really bed one or install pillars to great effect so if it's not good out of the box you are screwed. The Encore is famous for this, you either got a shooter or you were frustrated to no end and there wasn't a lot to do about it. While I've never owned one the Triumph and other newer designs seem to have improved on this, but I still favor a solid non-breaking action for long range work (which you reference with 200 yds).

One criticism I will say of the Omega is that while they used to be the gun that made T/C in the ML world (even more than the Encore), once they were replaced as the poster child by the Triumph and relegated to a lower price point (vs the triumph) I am not a fan of some of the changes. The lugs are now screwed onto the stock where they used to be welded (one more thing to come loose and cause problems). The older Omegas are superior to the newer ones (which are still great guns).

The Omega is a great ML for those who obsess about accuracy...like me. Mine shifted POI depending on action screw tightness, so I installed aluminum pillars and bedded it (pics on request). The result was a real tack-driver that I have taken to 500 yds with good groups, longest shot on whitetail a 338 yd 1-shot DRT in calm wind. 200 yd shots are routine and non-exciting with this gun the way it performs.

I wish they would upgrade it with a speed breech, but this is harder to do in this configuration than the break actions. Even with the fully threaded breech I can fully clean the gun (after shooting 777) in under 10min and a lot of this time is just getting the plug out and back in and re-wrapping with teflon tape.

[gill]

Wow, I never dreamed I would see this many replies! I want to thank all of you for your answers. I like to tinker with my rifles from time to time and have bedded two plastic stocks on a couple of Savage c/f rifles. If I can find one new or used, I'll probably fiddle with it if needed. Got any scope recommedations? I looked at some Buckmasters by Nikon and the BDC reticle looks interesting. I've also spent some time at the EABCO site looking at their ideas.
Thanks again
Greg

[gill]

BTW, BH209 was $45.00 at BassPro... where does one find this stuff at a reasonable price?

[Lee Sizek]

The Omega is a fine rifle I have had one for years, the one point I would make is that I also have a Triumph, and its sort of a Super Omega. It does have a couple advantages for me, it has a high comb since I use a scope all the time this is an advantage for me as the Omega was designed for iron sights with a low comb. I love the XT breach plug, and the fact that I can prime the Triumph with bare hands or gloves, and last but not least my Omega shoots a wide range of loads really accurate with a 100gr load of either 777 or BH the Triumph shoots just as accurate but with heavier loads. Depending on your particular needs and sensitivity to recoil one of them is a good choice or maybe like me you will end up with both. Lee

[spaniel]

I'm a fan of the Nikon Buckmaster scope. Get a BDC if you like to use them, I prefer dialing target turrets (the Buckmaster has them under the caps).

[Jon]

Spaniel 500 yrds with b/p I'm impressed. But near as much as with a 338 yd. kill with same. Congrats.

[spaniel]

Feb 5, 2010 0:26:49 GMT -5 Jon said:

Spaniel 500 yrds with b/p I'm impressed. But near as much as with a 338 yd. kill with same. Congrats.

Ha, thanks. The 338 yd kill was with a 200SW and the 500yd shot was with a 325FTX. 60% more weight, almost same ballistics through 300 yds (where the 325gr becomes superior), double the energy. No long range shots with the FTX yet.

My range at home is 300 yds with a fixed bench and I can go 400yds with a portable bench. When the ground is soft this spring I plan to dig out a tiny hill so I can do 400yds from a bipod. I do 60% or so of my shooting with this gun at 300yds, 30% at 400yds and only about 10% at 100 yds -- basically only when I need to check zero.

[robnj]

spaniel...I have the Omega with the synthetic thumbhole stock. It shoots great but when I remove the stock for my end-of-season cleaning, I get a POI impact change... not much, but enough to have to sight-in again.

I've been thinking about the laminate thumbhole replacement stock. Think it would also require pillar bedding to fix that issue ?

Thanks... Rob

[spaniel]

Feb 18, 2010 16:20:16 GMT -5 robnj said:

spaniel...I have the Omega with the synthetic thumbhole stock. It shoots great but when I remove the stock for my end-of-season cleaning, I get a POI impact change... not much, but enough to have to sight-in again.

I've been thinking about the laminate thumbhole replacement stock. Think it would also require pillar bedding to fix that issue ?

Thanks... Rob

I would go ahead and get the laminate stock if you have the plastic. The plastic stock stinks and is harder to accurize (though I'm told it has been done with filling etc). The laminate is easy and just much nicer. Consistent with my PM pics I would then install pillars and bed. Let me know if you need any other help.