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T/C encore

Buckhunter

Buckhunter

New Member
I just bought an encore and I'm going to try and set everything up this next year but I was just going to see if I could get a few opinion's on were to start as far as bullet weight,powder,grain's ect,ect.
I know there have been a few post on this before but I would like to here a few more.Also mine is a SS/50 cal and I'm still trying to decide if I want to put a silver or black scope on it.I seen a pic of one today on this sight of one with a black scope and it look's kinda cool.
 
hey buckhunter, you have to ask yourself a couple questions!

1. what is the average distance you actually shoot while hunting?
2. is the area you most likely will ML hunt brushy/thick?

if the area you hunt allows you to take 150-200 yard shots i myself would recommend using 2 50g pyrodex pellets and a .245 grain powerbelt bullet. IMO you can't beat the powerbelts and the .245 grain is great for long distance shots and you do not need to use more then 100g of powder to reach out at 200 yards with this specific gun. my brother-in-law shoots one, loads 2 50g pellets and a .245 powerbelt and easily takes the bullseye out at 200 yards!

if your hunting think cover i would still stick with the 2 50g pyrodex pellets but would shoot a .295 powerbelt. with the heavier bullet you are able to shoot through a little bit of brush, and still make a clean kill.

excellent choice of gun! hope this helps
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DLO had some good info on Bullet/Powder combo in a post a while back. I am lazy and shoot 100gr 777 pellets, Hornady SST 250gr Speed Sabot. I will upload a pic of the gun.
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I will be shooting distance more then brushy thick areas.I would really like to feel confident out to 200 yd's although I would much rather take a closer shot.
I have heard the triple 7 burn's hotter and is sulfure free so I'v been really thinking I would like to try it but after what split said I'm thinking I would love to knock the bull out at 200 and have to clean it a little more often.
Ryan,that is an awsome looking encore!Mine is SS/And walnut.I'm still not sure about the scope choice.I really like the camo scope on your's,I think it go's perfect on your's.Are you guy's using 3x9's on your's?
ryan,how far would you take a shot with your setup.
 
2x7, I sighted it in at 150yds......I would not shoot anything over 125. I am still pretty green when it comes to M/L's. I went early M/L this year and really wish I could have waited until now. Between Liv's, 150 and a few others they really got me drooling for a ML buck. The stainless and walnut is a nice combo. I would recommend the hammer extension when using the scope.....it still is tough to get in there with gloves on. I shot Powerbelts last year with Pyrodex, worked fine just wanted to try some other combos.
 
buckhunter, i shoot a T/C Omega, basically same gun, except mine has more of a twist. i truly don't believe that you have to have a major/high priced scope to have a good shooting gun. on my Omega i have a 3X9X32 Simmons Black Powder scope. have never had a problem seeing deer that far away, crisp, clear, and great sight view, oh yeah, it's cheap too!

i myself would recommend to you a Simmons Black Powder scope or a Simmons 8 Point scope(the 8 point is a little bit better) good luck to ya!
 
Do you guys really like this gun? A friend of mine wants to sell his. He doesn't like it. Shot just this season. Asking $500 I think.
 
I don't have an encore, but i have a knight wolverine, the cheap model. I have shot, barnes, knight, powerbelts, hornady's and precision rifle bullets out of my gun. In the time that I have shot all of those I have never had to move my sights at all. They are all around 240-250 grain bullets. Right now Im shooting the Barnes expanders, That seems to be my preferred bullets, I have taken alot of deer with them. Kind of a if it isn't broke don't fix it kind of thing for me. As Far as powder goes, I shoot FFFG triple seven, im using the pistol powder because it burns hotter and produces just as much power as a magnum charge of FFG. I shoot 100 grains of loose powder. I have my gun topped off with a 4X12X40 Bushnell scope, I would definitely reccommend a 40 or 50 mm scope. About the highest power I will take it is 6 power, for shots over a 100 yards. And as far as how accurate and how far your muzzleloader is able to shoot, depends on how good of a shooter you are, the gun can outshoot you everytime once it is sighted in. I sight my gun in about 2-3 inches high at a 100 yards and don't really know what it does at 200, my range isn't that long. But I do know that at 163 yards I shot a doe and hit her right where I was aiming. So goodluck and you are gonna love your gun.
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2 50 grain pyrodex pellets with a 240 grain Hornady bullet packaged by TC at WalMart. Hard to beat for groupings. 3-9x40 black Luepold.
 
I suggest using 100 gr loose 777 powder, over the pellets, for a more complete burn. Also think you ought to try the 250 gr T/C Shockwave sabots. I agree that you don't need to spend high dollars on a scope, just need a decent 3x9.
 
I would suggest that you pick a few different bullets and try them but I also think they are sort of a Ford-Chevy-Dodge debate. Like Liv, I have a bullet that I am staying with just because "if it ain't broke, why fix it". Probably more deer have gone down to the Hornady 240 grain XTP than any other bullet but many of us are into the more modern looking bullets such as the Precision Bullet's line or the Barnes options or the Shock Wave along with several others.

As for the powder, I would recommend that you start at 80 grains and work your way up, 5 grains at a time, looking for that sweet spot for your gun, usually somewhere between 80-110 grains, maybe higher but usually the groups open up some with the magnum charges. Find the best "group" and try to avoid getting caught up in the "magnum charge hype", but don't be ashamed to shoot a mangnum load if your gun likes it. I am using T7 just to avoid the rotten egg smell when cleaning it but am considering trying the American Pioneer powder since I am getting tired of the T7 "crud ring" that develops in my gun when shooting this powder.
 
I agree with avid, you only need a good 3-9 scope for deer with a smokepole. I have a 3-9x40 Leupold VXI on mine...it works great.
 
Another load that works great:

200gr TC Shockwave .50 Cal Sabots
120gr 777 FFFG ( not FFG ) powder.

( never used that load fired with the factory 209 breech plug though.... Mine's a little different, it accepts .25 ACP brass loaded with a CCI 400 small rifle primer. I'll upload a pic of the breech plug soon.)
 
Thank's for the info everyone.I'm going to try and get a scope on it by spring and hopefully be ready to start setting it up through the summer.Again thank's for the response's.
 
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