Encore 209x50

[Bullseye]

I assume you are talking about the caliber of bullets and sabots.  If so....

The 44 cal. will load 10 times easier but will fail with high pressure loads such as 3 Pyrodex Pellets.  The 45 cal will take the pressure but be prepared to work at getting them down the barrel.

I shoot 44 cal with 2 pellets and get great groups.  I have tried the 45 cal and will never use them again, bullets just should not be that hard to seat.  Matter of fact, I got a great deal on my Encore because the previous owner bought 45 cal bullets.  The first one loaded so hard he was scared to shoot it.  Pulled the breach plug and unloaded it.  Aw what a deal I got, I could not tell him there was nothing wrong with the gun.

[Leon Garfield]

Hi Kenmc77777 I have a 209x45 Encore and love it. I shoot the thompson 155gr. saboted bullet with 105 grs. of 777 and get moa groups all the time. I have lapped my barrel and took the time to find the powder charge that it liked but it was worth it. Good luck happy hunting :-D

[Grinder]

As long as you aren't going to shoot conicals, the 209x45 is just as good as the 209x50.  One of the guys I hunt with killed 1 deer and 2 turkeys with his a few weeks ago.  I think he's shooting 90 gr. of FFG Triple 7 and the T/C XTP (can't remember the bullet weight).  When we shot our guns before the season, he was shooting 1" groups at 75 yds with it, almost as good as my 209x50 (I was shooting 3/8" groups with 90 gr. of T7 FFG and a 295 gr. Powerbelt).

I wouldn't mind to have a 209x45.