Encore 209x50 Elk Hunters!

[MF]

I just purchased an Encore 209x50 after finding out that I got drawn for a muzzleloader elk hunt in Az. From your experience, which bullet weight should I use? I'm thinkin' a 295 grain Powerbelt with 100 or 150 grains of triple 7? I'm planning on trying a bunch of different combos ( Loose powder, pellets, powerbelts, sabots, etc). I'm just wondering what you guys think as this is my first black powder weapon. TIA. Mike

[JJFly]

Well, I use 100gr (2-50gr pellets) of Pyrodex for target and lubricating the shoulder.  3 pellets for hunting.  Haven't tried the 3-7's yet.  I use a sabot and either an XTP or Partition HG bullet.  Great accuracy and terminal performance.  There are many other options out there, this is what I stumbled on and stuck with...

[hyltoto]

The pellets produce a serious flyer abot 20% of the time. Much more consistancy with loose powder. This is the result of as full factorial doe I did with minitab for a wealthy friend who had sent guns back to TC and VV for accuracy problems. For factors I used 3 projectiles, 2 guns, and loose pyrodex and pellets. The response was 100 yd group inches of 5 shots. I cleaned between each shot. The only significant factor was pellets vs. loose. I can say with a 95% confidence interval that group size for loose will be avg 3.2 inches, and with pellets 7.7. I had him switch to speed loaders and loose pyrodex and he loves both his Omega and Encore now. I missed a deer 2 years ago with my cross-hairs dead -on using pellets, I know why now.

Mounting the high powered scope on the Encore was a mojor struggle however, had to use Burris rings with internal shims to get on zero.