MUZZLELOADING
Thompson/Center Omega .50
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| Maker: | Thompson/Center |
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| Action: | Swinging breech block, 209 primer ignition |
| Caliber: | .50 |
| Barrel length: | 28 in. |
| Overall length: | 42 in. |
| Weight: | 7 lbs. |
| Sights: | Adj. fiber optic; drilled and tapped for scope mounts |
| Stock: | Black synthetic, camo synthetic, laminated wood |
| Finish: | Blued, stainless |
| Price: | $405 to $517 |
In 1967 Warren Center and Ken Thompson launched a new company with the introduction of the Thompson/Center Contender. As shooters gained confidence in the single-shot pistol, its popularity took off like a 55-grain HP from a .220 Swift. The switch-barrel Contender is one of the most popular and influential guns ever devised.
However it hasn't carried the company alone. Through the years T/C has gained a loyal following among muzzleloading enthusiasts. Whether your possibles bag holds roundballs, spare flints and powder horns, or your ergonomic daypack is loaded with capsulated Pyrodex, musket caps and saboted pistol bullets, T/C's made a gun for you.
Interestingly enough, however, the Contender has in some ways influenced T/C's latest muzzleloader, the Omega .50. The break-action Encore—big sister to the Contender—introduced six years ago features a similar breech-loading design with multiple variations on barrel/cartridge configuration. Shotgun, handgun, rifle and muzzleloading barrels and stocks can be swapped in seconds with few tools.
In muzzleloader configuration (209x50 Magnum), the Encore's break-open action provides access to the breech plug and nipple or primer adapter—which is then sealed nearly air-tight when the gun is locked closed, thus blocking out moisture. With the trigger sear tripped, its exposed hammer slaps a floating firing pin, detonating the primer. It's one of the cleanest, consistent systems ever designed for an in-line.
The Omega's system is similar in theory, though altogether different by design--and better tailored for muzzleloading. There's no receiver or action to speak of. It features a swinging-block breech with exposed hammer and hinged trigger assembly all mounted as one unit to the rear barrel lug and protected by the stock. Pushing forward on a spur below the trigger guard drops the entire swinging breech block down and away from the stock, exposing the breech plug.
The action is closed by pivoting the trigger guard up into the stock, where it locks in place and provides a pressed and nearly air-tight fit between breech block and barrel. This is a nearly moisture-free system; no worries about your primer getting wet.
When not cocked, the trigger rests forward in the trigger guard and a hammer block prevents the hammer from reaching the firing pin. When cocked, the hammer block is disengaged and the trigger is moved to the rear of the trigger guard where you can reach it. This simple system features only a short bit of take-up. My test sample let loose at 4 1/2 pounds consistently.
Featuring a 28-inch barrel with a 1:28-inch twist, the Omega is designed for up to 150 grains of FFg or black-powder substitute such as Pyrodex, 209 shotshell primer ignition and modern saboted bullets or conicals. And while long barrels designed for increased velocity make most front-stuffers front-heavy, the Omega isn't because there's no receiver adding to its overall length. And the fact that it features a recessed crown (T/C's QLA system) making it easy to start bullets without a short starter is another mark in its favor. An aluminum ramrod is standard.The rifle features adjustable steel fiber optic sights and is also drilled and tapped for scope mounts. My test sample was fitted with a 2.5-7X T/C scope set in Maxima rings and bases.
To test accuracy at 100 yards, I used Pyrodex Pellets (100-grain loads) and an assortment of bullets. My first three-shot groups averaged about two to 2 1/4 inches, which isn't stellar. When I eventually found a bullet the rifle liked with that powder charge—300-grain XTPs—groups became much more impressive, averaging about 1 1/4 inches (a couple groups were well under that).
The test rifle did seem to foul up quickly, requiring me to clean the bore between shots for best accuracy. But muzzleloaders are like centerfire rifles--each is different from the next, and some need cleaning more often than others. It's not a matter of design, it's a matter of luck.
Simplicity and accuracy are hallmarks of T/C guns. The Omega .50 seems to keep with that tradition.
