Omega trouble....massive blowback and trigger breakage...

[Flatlander.54]

 Last year at the end of deer season I had the chance to pick up a used Omega. I have owned a few Omegas and never had the first bit of trouble with any of them, and all of them have been sub MOA guns.
I took it out to the range and it perfomed flawlessly, printing 3 shot groups @ 100 yards that could almost be covered with a nickle.
 Last weekend I took it to the range to verify my zero. Thats where the trouble began. Pre shooting routine was followed as usual. All oil removed from bore with dry patches, followed by a couple patches wet with Windex, then bore was dried with a couple dry patches. Breech plug removed, wiped free of oil, threads lubed with Super Lube and reinstalled. Snapped 2 primers to clear fire channel.

1st shot...So much smoke blew out of the reciever area that I thought the barrel had ruptured. For several seconds after the shot, smoke was rolling out of the ramrod channel and from under and around the breech area. I took the barrel out of the stock and inspected the welds and the outside of the barrel, found no residue where flame or smoke may have blown through a crack. No residue inside the stock either. Decided to shoot again since everything looked ok, chalked it up to missing some oil in the breech plug.

2nd shot...everything was fine, no blow back, but...the shot impacted approx 4" from the first.

3rd shot...so much smoke youd think the barrel ruptured again. What the....?

4th shot...everything was fine, no blow back.

5th shot...more blowback again....this went on for several more shots. It might shoot one or two with no blowback, then the next shot there would be so much blowback youd think you were standing on the wrong end of the gun.

 Went home and pulled the breech plug, cleaned it up, reamed, scrubed, Ultrasonic cleaned...inspected the plug and found no pitting or gas cutting, threads are fine with no damage. 
 Pulled barrel from the stock, found no residue on the outside of the barrel or inside the stock that would indicate a fracture of any kind where gas would be escaping. Tried new powder and primers...same results.
 Cleaned gun up again and then started having trouble with the swinging breech not wanting to snap closed.     Took barrel back out of stock, inspected for a spent primer or crud that might keep the breech from closing and found nothing. Tried to close the breech...still dont want to close. Inspected it a few more times, couldnt see any reason why it wouldnt close, so I squeezed it jus a bit harder and "PING"...felt something hit my foot and looked down to find the trigger laying on top of my foot. 
 Shipped it back to T/C with high doubts that it will get back to my in time to hunt., so I ended up picking up a new Omega Z5 just in case.

 Anyone ever have similar troubles? I dont know if the trigger breaking was related or a separate issue, but man...I dont know what in the world went wrong with this rifle. At first I suspected a bad or worn out breech plug but found that the breech plug was like new, the gun was used...but had less than 50 shots through it when I got it. NEVER had any trouble with an Omega until this one.

 

[anuguy]

Im not sure but I bought a Omega X7 this year and havent even fired it yet. Im scared to now.  Im thinking that maybe one of the trigger mechanism mounting holes was drilled to deep and it finally blew out the mounting screw which after a few shots caused the whole unit to pivot to one side or the other a little making the hammer area angled too far left or right to shut.  The trigger probably got broke by all the backpressure blowing through the trigger mechanism throught the screw hole. My best guess.

[Flatlander.54]

anuguy....I wouldnt be afraid at all to shoot you new Omega. My post wasnt meant to bash or condemn them at all, or to scare anyone awy from buying or shooting an Omega. If I thought for a minute they were unsafe I would not have bought a new Z5 Omega as a back-up to hunt with this year.
 I have owned at least 5 Omegas in all my wheeling and dealings, and I wouldnt buy anything else...period. In my opinion they are the best inline out there for accuracy and ease of upkeep/cleaning. The used one I got last year just happened to have some issues I guess, (im betting from previous owner abuse or misuse)and I was curious if anyone else may have experienced the same issues with one. T/C has already said they are going to take care of it. So, have faith in that X7 and drop the hammer on it with confidence! 
 For a starting load, try some 250 gr Shockwaves, 100 gr of loose T7 powder, and the Winchester T7 primers. Every Omega I have shot this combo in has given me sub MOA groups or at the very least 1" groups @ 100 yards.

[poncaguy]

My Z5 Omega has been fine, accurate and no problems............I would suspect the powder you were using, but still, it doesn't make sense...........

[Flatlander.54]

 Tried new primers and powder, same results. Actually...I used the old powder and primers today in a new Z5 Omega and had no problems at all, so that deffinately ruled out the powder/primer idea. By the way, the new Z5 did great today...3/4 to 1-1/4"" groups @ 100 yards. One group in particular (5 shots into 3/4") was going real good until I got on the trigger too early and opened it up to 1-1/4" with shot #6 
 Anyway, I agree that the whole situation makes no sense. On the first shot last weekend I was sure that the barrel had failed...thats how much smoke there was. I guess its possible that some of the primers ruptured...but I didnt notice any extreme fouling on the face of the swinging breech that would indicate that. I didnt think of this until earlier today...wish now I had thought to check the primers. On the other hand I used the same primers today, fired 15 shots and never had an issue. Im really interested to hear what T/C's diagnosis is, cause I'm totally stumped.
 

[poncaguy]

Keep us posted....have you tried the new IMR Hot Shot pellets?..............They really helped  my Z5 accuracy...............expensive though

[mirage1988]

You might be on to something with the ruptured primers- maybe the previous owner drilled out the breech plug flash hole? Stranger things have happened. If that was the case then t/c should catch it.

[Flatlander.54]

Poncaguy....I have not tried the Hot Shots, acually Ive never found a reason not to stick with T7 as I have never had a problem with accuracy. The Omega that I sent back to T/C was shooting groups at 100 yards you could almost cover with a nickle until the blowback issue started. The new Z5 I picked up is shooting 3/4" to 1" groups with T7 also. Once I find something that works well Im very stubborn about changing. 

mirage1988....I never thought about the previous owner drilling out the flash hole. When I got the gun last year I shot 5 groups with it consisting of 5 shots each. Never had any trouble like I had last weekend though. 3 out of 5 of the groups were sub MOA. The first 5 shots were getting the scope zeroed. Group #5 I blew with a called flyer.

 Anyway, when T/C contacts me, or when I get the rifle back, I will let you guys know what they said/done.

[poncaguy]

I like the pellets manly because they're handy in the field, was using Buckhorn 209, both shot less than MOA in my Z5

[AndyHass]

I can think of two possibilities:

1) small unseen crack leaking gas into the action below the barrel.  Perhaps under a lug where you can't see it.  I'll assume this is one of the newer Omegas, with the screwed on lugs, rather than the older welded ones.

2) as mentioned, an enlarged flash channel.

You've already sent the gun in, but first thing would have been to get a bright light in the bore and verify there are no unusual markings that could be a crack letting gas out of the barrel.  The second would be to try a new plug or at least visibly compare the plug in the gun to a new one.

I can't remember off the top of my head, but the Omega pressure relief hole for the breech vents downward into the action, does it not?  So #2 seems perfectly rational and much more likely than #1.

[Flatlander.54]

 Yeah, ever since mirage1988 suggested a previously drilled out flash hole I have been thinking more and more thats probably what the culprit is. I called T/C today and they say they still have not recieved the rifle. The gun shop owner says it was sent out when I brought it in almost 2 weeks ago. Im going to see if I can get a tracking number from him tomorrow and call T/C back with the number. The shop owner says its very likely they have it, but just have not logged it in yet. Regardless...I'll feel better when I know where its at.

[Fletch6]

Usually the breach not closing is because of fouling in the threads of the barrel. the end of the breach plug s not threaded and if you do not get it tight to the ridge blowback into this area will cause a hard deposit that will erode the corner of ware the breach plug seals.  they have a red or clear plastic thread cleaner that helps clean, https://secure.tcarms.com//store/thread-cleaner-for-encore-omega-cat-no-7499.html
I ground down the end so that it cleans deeper down into the threads on mine.
A lot of blow back is also because if you or the previous owner was shooting 150 gr. loads of Tripple 7 loose it will erode the vent hole very fast and also effect acurcy and it could be the breach plug was not the right size for the primers the previous owner was using and he drilled it out because they were sticking.  If when you first had the problem you went to a new plug you would know right away, but now with the broken gun T/C will fix and hopefully let you know.  One other problem with the older version of the Omega was blow back into the firing pin area.  this type had a screw on the rear below the hammer. the newer type has a round screw between the breach plug and the hammer assembly.  If the firing pin was sticking down you could not open up after firing not the problem you had closing.