Shooting Session Today: July 10th

Cow Tag · Jul 10, 2015

Hunters, I did some target practicing this morning with the weather man cooperating. Used my newly 'tuned up' TC Encore .50. Had the trigger revamped and a new hinge pin installed. Put new Williams open sights on the barrel. Shot two three shot groups first using Black Horn powder at 110 grains by volume, a CCI hot shotgun primer, and a 250 grain Federal Premium bullet. Guessing prob a 5 inch group. I did swab in between each shot. Later, I used 777 powder at 100 grains by volume; a Rem. ML primer; and the Hornady FPB bullet at 350 grains. Improved my grouping considerable but still nothing to brag about. All distances was at the 50 yard mark. Six hours later, I used the geniune Goex Black Powder at 90 grains by volume; a Rem 777 primer, and both the Hornady FPB (350 grain) and the Federal Preminum bullet (250). The TC Encore preferred the Federal bullet over the Hornady and the accuracy was BETTER than this morning's shooting event. Again, distance was at 50 measured yards. Used a Lead Sled all three shooting sessions. I came to this conclusion: I am a poor marksman when using the black powder rifle. Is a factory breech plug OK to use BlackHorn 209 powder with in a TC Encore as that is what I have in my Encore. Back to the drawing board for me. Cow Tag

FrontierGander · Jul 10, 2015

swabbing with bh209 will hurt the accuracy big time. Its not needed with BH209. T7 on the other hand, yes! Swab the hell out of it.

www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com

Cow Tag · Jul 10, 2015

Do any of you know of a Colorado legal bullet that most TC Encore ML rifles will be somewhat accurate with? Any suggestions would be welcomed. One in twenty eight twist.

two7D · Jul 10, 2015

Sell the TC and get a cva accura. No modifications on it and you should be getting about 1" groups with pyrodex, 777, or bh. or keep experimenting I'm sure you'll find a load that shoots good.

FrontierGander · Jul 10, 2015

>Do any of you know of
>a Colorado legal bullet that
>most TC Encore ML rifles
>will be somewhat accurate with?
>Any suggestions would be welcomed.
>One in twenty eight twist.
>

Mostly its the 350gr hornady FPB with 80-110gr blackhorn209. TC's are just not known for their conical shooting ability. Their QLA system on their barrels is the main reason they suck at shooting conicals. Some cut them off, others buy a Bergara barrel and then are ok. That's always an option to look into.

www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com

Cow Tag · Jul 11, 2015

I use Murphys Oil Soap and isopropyl alcohol in a 50/50% solution to clean the barrel on my muzzle loader. This makes the bore shine and to look clean. Do any of you ever use a solvent to rid the bore of lead or copper debris? I use solvents on my ought six Garand but do not on my muzzle loader rifle. Should I be cleaning my TC Encore M.L. rifle with bore solvent each time I have visit the range? A brass brush also? My Encore has sort of gone south on me in the accuracy department and I am trouble shooting to find an answer. Comments welcomed. Cow Tag

txhunter58 · Jul 11, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Jul-11-15 AT 09:26PM (MST)[p]I think you should reduce your powder. Try 90-95 hrs BH 209 with the 350 fpbs. They shot better for me at lower charges. And as was mentioned. Don't swab and don't count the first bullet. See how bullets 2-4 group

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

txhunter58 · Jul 12, 2015

Plenty of punch at the lower amounts of powder. I have killed 4 elk with the 350 gr FPB and 90-95 gr of BH 209. Plenty of powder and out to around 120 yards, you can hold dead on.

txhunter58

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

NJ_CLAD · Jul 13, 2015

Thor's shoot pretty well in my TC.

txhunter58 · Jul 13, 2015

One last resort to consider: 405 gr aerotip powerbelts might fly OK and at moderate speeds would be OK for elk.

If you go that way, I would use 85-90 gr of BH 209, maybe 95 gr if I had to but no more.

txhunter58

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

TripleSe7en · Jul 14, 2015

You can dry-swab Blackhorn powder. I do after every 2nd shot. Also try a fiber wad between the powder and conical bullet. If no available wad nearby, use 40 grains of yellow cornmeal.