Help For a Newbie Please

[bamiller]

My wife bought me a TC Encore Pro Hunter for Christmas and I went out today to shoot and sight in my scope. Using TC Shockwave bulllets (yellow sabots and yellow tip) and Triple 7 pellets. Had a devil of a time getting the bullets to seat that last 1/4" to 1/2" so bad in fact that I popped my shoulder out pushing the ramrod. I did clean after every two shots. Any suggestions from you veterans would be greatly appreciated as right now I can't move my shoulder let alone load the Encore. On a positive note the scope sighted in easily and it shoots very accurate. Thanks.

 

[rdstrain49]

I quit using pellets due to heavy fouling build up at the breech. My Encore likes 105 gr. Pyrodex RS (by volume) and Hornady SST slug. I also season the bore with Bore Butter. I only swab the bore about every 5 or 10 rounds. It isn't really necessary, but it makes me feel good. Hope this helps.

 

[arcticap]

MMP sabots markets the easier loading 3Petal-EZ, TC offers their Super Glide sabots, and there are also the looser fitting plastic skirted Powerbelt bullets.

The sabots can be purchased in bulk to match up with the bullet of your choice.
And Blackhorn 209 smokeless substitute powder is the cleanest powder available for the easiest ramming shot after shot.

A range rod or an accessory ramrod handle might also help to provide some better ramming leverage.

A 777 crud ring can be formed by using hotter 209 primers with 777, especially with the 777 pellets.
The less hot Winchester 777 primers were designed to help eliminate the formation of the crud ring. Most powders require swabbing between shots when shooting heavy powder charges. Once a 777 crud ring forms it can very difficult to remove.
Were you swabbing with a 777 solvent like TC-17 between shots or every other shot?
TC's are known for having tight, accurate bores.


MMP sabots:

http://www.mmpsabots.com/

Super Glide sabots:

https://secure.tcarms.com/store/superglide-sabots-50-cal-no-8252.html

Range reports about the Encore:

http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php?action=printpage;topic=154096.0

The 300 grain superglides and the new blackhorn powder shoot the best in my encore and i have used alot of other loads but this one works best ,110 grain bh 209 and 300 grain super glide and cci 209 primer.

Blackhorn209 powder:

http://www.blackhorn209.com/

 

[trog]

+1 on MMP sabots. I went through the same thing with a TC Omema.
Clean all lubes out of bore befor shooting.
After 50 to 75 shoots everything got alot easyer and I can now use any bullet
or sabot with ease. It even seems easyer to clean.
I have never shot pellets so I dont know if that matters.

 

[bamiller]

Thanks for the help guys. I have purchased some of the TC Super Glide sabots and am going to try them. The thing shot so darn accurate I hate to change anything but my old shoulder can't take the current setup.

Were you swabbing with a 777 solvent like TC-17 between shots or every other shot?

I was swabbing with TC-17 bore solvent every other shot.

 

[PapaG]

Unfortunately, sabots and pyrodex/triple seven tend to put a ring of crud ahead of the chamber (or at least where the powder ends, sabot begins). I got so frustrated that I went back to real black powder and either patched round balls (in my .58 Hawken) or bore-butter lubed maxi balls in my fifty (one of two, a Renegade and a 50X209 G2).

Tried lubing the pocket in the base of the sabots with bore butter, crisco, other stuff and still got the ring, though a little softer. About the only cure is to wipe after each shot, one damp, one dry.