T/C encore 209x50

[olgeye]

Perhaps this ? should go in the rifle category because of the Encores barrel/caliber switching ability but I would like information and opinions re. the 209x50 Encore specifically. Do any THR members use, recommend, like, dislike, love, hate this gun?
Thanks for your help-
OG

 

[jbkebert]

I originally bought my encore pro-hunter in the 209x50. Since then i have added 8 more barrels to my safe. As far as the muzzle loader barrel goes. I have used 777 and pyrodex powders. It seems to favor loose powder over pellets for the best accuracy. Bullets the 250 grain t/c shockwave superglide 250 grain has been extreamly accurate. Also the hornady fpb bullet has performed great. The t/c bullet using 92 grains of 777 and a remington primer. The hornady shines with 83 grains of pyrodex and a winchester primer.

On a side note winchester puts out a primer made for 777 which is supposed to be hotter and made for better ignition of black powder. I have had no luck whatsoever with these primers. I have even had gasblowback through the breech with these. I had called t/c and spoke with a couple of their gun smiths. They two had heard of this problem with this particular primer. T/c strongly recommended not using them.

I have never fired the holy black through this rifle. No reason why i shoot it through my more traditional muzzle loaders. An encore is nothing like a traditional front stuffer.

 

[Legionnaire]

Love my Encore 209x50. I have not done a lot of experimenting with it yet. I only shoot GOEX black powder in all my muzzleloaders, so that's what I've shot through the Encore as well. I started with 240 grain .44 caliber Hornady XTPs (saboted) over a charge of 80 grains of FFg. 50 yard groups were no better than four inches. Jumped to 100 grains of FFg at another Shooter's recommendation and the groups dropped to just under two inches. I took two deer with that load this year, one in PA and one in NY. I'll be doing some experimenting to see if I can further improve on accuracy.

I also managed to find a 209x50 barrel for my Encore pistol. Picked it up just before hunting season, so that one hasn't even been to the range yet.

Encore warning: At least with centerfire cartridges, they are typically not as accurate as the best bolt action rifles due to inconsistent lockup. There are things that can be done to improve on this. But I have owned several Encores over the years, and all were plenty accurate for hunting. And as jbkebert noted, they are addicting and barrels tend to multiply.

 

[m21black]

I have a 45 x 209 for my TC G2 Contender.... shoots a 5 shot group of 1 .250" to 1.375" with Blackhorn 209 over a Harvester saboted .40 cal 200 grain scorpin.
Try the Harvester Sabots for easy loading a accurate results and the Blackhorn 209 powder to cut down on cleaning time.

 

[wrangler708]

Encore warning: At least with centerfire cartridges, they are typically not as accurate as the best bolt action rifles due to inconsistent lockup. There are things that can be done to improve on this. But I have owned several Encores over the years, and all were plenty accurate for hunting. And as jbkebert noted, they are addicting and barrels tend to multiply.

This was my experience with Encore as well.
I did all the black magic to it, like shims and a larger diameter hinge, sanding the forearm and washers and blah blah blah...

Would put 2 touching and then the third could be anywhere and I do mean anywhere. Broke my heart. A beautiful stainless and composite in 7mm-08.

Anyway, I wouldn't touch another Encore with a 10 foot pole.

 

[rdstrain49]

I have one Encore and three Contender's as well as a multitude of barrels. I have only had two barrels that would not shoot, a 308 and a 7 TCU. I have a 223 barrel that consistently shoots sub 1/4 moa. Most of the other barrels, pistol or rifle will shoot in the range of 1/2 moa. Load development is critical, but the results are well worth the effort. BTW the 50x209 with about 110 grains of pyrodex RS is a 300 yard rifle if you practice and do your part.