IowaDeerHunter Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Well my dad finally got the TC Encore, black with the SS barrel. This thing is sweet! We took it out and shot it today and got it sighted in at fifty yards. We were having problems packing down the powder (pellets). Here is what we are shooting: Triple 7 pellets. two per shot (100grain). For bullets we have the 295 Gr. .50 hollow point PowerBelt Bullet. The guy at Scheels told us these were pre-lubed so they would slide easily downthe barrel, and we wouldn't have to oil them. The trouble we are having is packing it down in the barrel. We ram it down with the rod positioned in the middle of the palm and force it down. It gets to the point of where it won't go any farther. So we we have to do it lift the rod part way out and slam it down, like we were post pounding it down. It was getting it down but there is no way that will work in the woods, and we just didn'tthink it wasthe right way to be packing it. Any help is appreciated, and also any cleaning tips, or any suggestions for anything. This is the firsttime any of us have shot a muzzleloader, so we are new at this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Re: Finally got an encore, now have a question. Congrats on your new acquisition. Here are a few ideas. 1. You do not oil, lube, or coat sabots. Shoot them dry in a clean barrel. 2. Powerbelts seat pretty easily. When you can't seat the bullet without hammering or using excessive force, you need to clean the bore. I clean between shots with a patch coated with saliva followed by a dry patch. This keeps the amount of fouling consistant for better accuracy. 3. Never hammer the bullet down. You do not need to "pack" the powder. Just put the bullet on top of the powder and you are good to go. If you slam the rod into the bullet over and over to "pack" it, all you are doing is damaging the bullet. 3a. When your barrel is clean, load your powder, be it pellets, loose, or whatever. Load the bullet and push it until it stops. You will feel the bullet come into contact with the powder. At that point, mark your ramrod. You will be able to tell if your bullet is seated after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plannerman Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Re: Finally got an encore, now have a question. You shouldn't have trouble with the pellets, they should literally fall to the bottom of the barrel. If you pound them down, they're going to break or crush and you don't want that. The bullets you're shooting should seat prettty easily with the Encore, I'm shooting the same load (2 pellets and a 295 powerbelt). How many times did you shoot it before the powder problem? The barrel should be swabbed with a patch between shots to keep the crud ring from building. That crud ring is probably what you're having trouble with. Clean the gun and run a patch down the barrel between shots and see what you've got. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IowaDeerHunter Posted December 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Re: Finally got an encore, now have a question. We were cleaning it about every four shots. That is what the guy at scheels also told us. I think it would be a good idea to clean it after every shot. For cleaing it he set us up with a .50 caliber KNIGHT cleaning kit. After every shot do you think we should run a pad trough with the number 9 solvent on it and then a dry one? I also figured that ramming the bullet down there would break the powder and damage the bullet itself. We loaded it the first time, marked it and the second time we couldn't get it packed that far down. So figured something was wrong. Than later on we weregetting it packed down farther. So when it was geting packed down further, the powder was probably breaking, I take it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Re: Finally got an encore, now have a question. Don't be afraid to clean your new gun. I always clean my barrel between every shot. Pain? yes, but you are going to hunt with a clean barrel why not practice with one also? Use the solvent, brush, and patches. Your barrel will work in and you'll be happier for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IowaDeerHunter Posted December 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Re: Finally got an encore, now have a question. When you guys push your bullet down and it hits the pellets, do you pack it a little or just leave it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Re: Finally got an encore, now have a question. I clean my encore between every shot at the range. I use a patch that is wet with windex, followed by 2 dry patches. The second patch usually comes out almost spotless. I have no trouble, and I am shooting the same combo as you. I firmly seat my bullet until it stops. i don't give it an extra push or tap. One thing I noticed is that sometimes when cleaning between shots, the jag, and patch get caught up in the crud ring so tight I have to remove the breech plug. I have found that using short strokes, and scrubbing at the crud ring when you feel it, stops this from happening. Good Luck, I'm sure you'll love the Encore as much as I do mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IowaDeerHunter Posted December 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Re: Finally got an encore, now have a question. Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it! Any more tips are welcome also! We are enjoying the gun already, and I have a feeling that my brother and I will be getting one before season next year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted December 19, 2005 Report Share Posted December 19, 2005 Re: Finally got an encore, now have a question. It will take sometime to get your method down. You have a super gun there, just try different things with it till you get it right. I use pretty much the same as you, and have no problems seating my bullet. You will get it right, hang in there. too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IowaDeerHunter Posted December 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2005 Re: Finally got an encore, now have a question. THanks for the help guys! We took it out today, and it shoots dead on at 100 yards. It is very awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whttlbucksteve Posted December 31, 2005 Report Share Posted December 31, 2005 Re: Finally got an encore, now have a question. Yea mine is sighted in at 150 would feel pretty good on a shot out to 200 yards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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