Muzzleloading

kelcher · 12-29-2001, 09:34 AM

Guys,

I am thinking about getting into muzzleloading, but I have a few questions. Does anyone have any experience with the Thompson Center Encore? Thumbs up or down? Also, at the end of the day when you didn't get a shot, how do you unload? It takes a lot of effort to clean one of those suckers, I would hate to have to spend that much time cleaning just because I had to shoot the rifle to unload it. If you pull the breach plug and push it out is the powder ruined? I think there is a lot of grease in the threads of the breach plug that could get into the powder. Sorry for all of the questions, but I would rather ask you guys then most of the sporting goods sales guys.

BugleMIn · 12-29-2001, 03:10 PM

I have 2 Knights, they are good guns, but would take an Encore any day. Get a good scope for it and you have an excellent rifle.

The previous post was right in that you can take the cap off and case the gun. You can leave the powder and sabot for a few days.

Don't take the gun into a warm building each day at end of hunt if you leave the charge in it. Leave it in a garage or some place cold. Supposively condensation will form in the gun from the cold barrel and warm air. This could affect your powder.

I don't have experience with condensation because I was told before I bought my gun and followed those directions. I have left my charge in my gun for a week and it still fired.

kelcher · 12-29-2001, 03:31 PM

Thanks for the help guys, I have shot a Knight wolverine in the past and really liked it, but I have been leaning toward the Encore for some time. That is good to know about leaving the charge in for a few days. I think I'll like muzzleloading, but I still don't think it will compare to bowhunting. Thanks again for the help.

Bowmuzzbucko · 12-29-2001, 05:23 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kelcher:
Thanks for the help guys, I have shot a Knight wolverine in the past and really liked it, but I have been leaning toward the Encore for some time. That is good to know about leaving the charge in for a few days. I think I'll like muzzleloading, but I still don't think it will compare to bowhunting. Thanks again for the help.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bowmuzzbucko · 12-29-2001, 05:33 PM

Go with a Knight disc 50 or 45cal. you will very Happy.. I have a 50cal disc and left it loaded for a week or more without any problems. Keep it cold when its cold out.. I just killed a nice doe today after it was loaded a week ago .

full-strut · 12-29-2001, 05:40 PM

I would have to lean toward the Knight In-Line Disc rifle in either a .45 or .50 caliber. I sighted in my gun this year before 1st season and had it only drop 3/4 of an inch from 100 to 150 yards. This was done while using three 50 gr. Pyrodex pellets and a 250 gr .50 cal sabot Barnes bullet. I never unload my gun until after season is over, just remove the primer/disc and case it. Lock it in the truck so you don't get a condensation build up. I also have the TK2000 shotgun which I shot my Iowa and Missouri turkey's with. I have left it loaded and won't shoot it again until next season sight in. I am fully confident I will have no problems with it. I am a hard core Knight Rifle fan, as you can tell.

kelcher · 12-29-2001, 09:06 PM

Your inputs have brought up another question. Do most of you like the pyrodex pellets or are they not worth the extra cost? They looked a little pricey to me.

GunnerJon · 12-29-2001, 09:09 PM

T/C are good rifles, but I personally love Knight muzzleloaders. I have used one for a number of years now and it just keeps driving those sabots into the kill zone. This year during early muzzleloader season I loaded it up, hunted all day in the pouring rain, then shot a buck the next day......no problem with any water getting to my Pyrodex. No matter what the rifle, make sure you have a good scope and do some serious practicing. Good luck and good hunting!

Old Buck · 12-29-2001, 10:42 PM

I have several Knights and have gone exclusively to the pellets. Makes loading much easier.

muddy · 12-29-2001, 11:22 PM

kelcher-

Technically if you pull the primer or percussion cap out of the gun it is unloaded so you don't have to shoot it off at the end of every day. As long as you do that and then case the gun you'll be okay. As far as the Encore goes I do not have one but a friend of mine does, he just bought it and it gets really good groups out to 150 yards. I use a knight and think that they are just wonderful. Hope this helps ya.

MW