Practice Session: Encore and BH Powder and Federal Bullets

I did a little experimenting this afternoon using my TC Encore ML rifle, Black Horn powder and the Federal Premium bullets. The 209 primer was a CCI shotgun primer. My first session using this combination. The evening was hot at 91 degrees. I shot six times and each time the TC Encore .50 produced higher bullet placement. I chose 100 grains of Black Horn powder. First shot was almost a bulls eye at 60 yards. The sixth shot was about 8 inches high. the in-between shots were in order of placement always rising. I am thinking the barrel became petty warm (not hot) and this could change the placement of the bullets. The time was probably within 30 minutes from start to finish. I tried to keep everything constant and tried to always use the same HOLD while using the open sights on the weapon. Any comments or advice for the next shooting session? Cow Tag

Did you swab between shots? I never do with Blackhorn. Doesn't sound like you shot fast enough for a heated barrel to affect it that much at 60 yards.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

LAST EDITED ON Jun-12-15 AT 06:13AM (MST)[p]The trigger on my Encore seems to be a hard pull. I was by my myself and I tried to do things orderly and sort of scientifically. The mental game was on my mind though as each bullet kept striking my target higher over the session. It was hot and I was sweating and the barrel did seem pretty warm/hot but not actually real HOT. Can a TC Encore ML rifle trigger be adjusted (by a professional of course)? What about a Timney replacement? At the end of my practice session, my Encore's trigger seemed to be more difficult than at the beginning. I did not run a wet patch and a dry patch down the bore as I was using Black Horn for the first time with this rifle. It could have been 'pilot error.' I am more concerned with the hard pulling trigger than with the bullet placement though. Thanks for your comment. Cow Tag

have you cleaned out the breech plugs flash channel with a 1/8" drill bit? It will highly affect your accuracy if its clogged up.

www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com

Frontier, I have not cleaned it out but I will do so. I have a new 1/8th" twist drill bit and also I will run a oxy-acetylene torch cleaner thru it a time or two. Thanks for the advice. I read the directions on how to do so when I researched Black Horn powder as it is on their website.