Sighted my new Encore 209x50

[TomD]

I recently purchased a new Encore 209x50 and this morning was the first time that I had a chance to shoot it.  :-D  I had traded-in an NEF Huntsman w/ 3 shotgun barrels as a down payment.

I mounted a 3 - 9 x 40 Bushnell Trophy scope on the RedField 3 ring base.

I bought & installed the .25 ACP conversion breech plug. I used Copper Anti-Seize on the breech plug threads.

I was shooting 2 - 50gr Pyrodex Pellets under a 295gr PowerBelt AeroTip.

The weather was 33 degrees, windy and raining :roll:

I had done the 'old school' bore sighting by looking down the barrel and adjusting the scope to a target. The first shot was 6" right and 12" low. The second and third were grouped nicely with the first.

From there it was a matter of 5 more rounds to get centered on the 50 yd target. Or as centered as the wind gusts would allow. The groups opened up a little as the bore fouled, and the wind howled. I swabbed the bore with a hoppes patch and then a dry patch in-between each round. The crud ring was there, but not too bad. I was glad that I had the foresight to buy a longer ramrod as I had plenty to grip when I hit the crud ring. The breech plug unscrewed easily for cleaning.

Tomorrow, I plan to get to the range @ 9:00am when they open. The weather report is good. I'm going to shoot a 3 shot group to see how I did in the poor conditions today. I'm hoping that I dont' get a first shot flyer and that the group is centered and hunting tight. If I do get a first shot flyer but the group is centered, than I'll swab the bore with a patch of Hoppes followed by a dry patch and head to the blind. If the group is not properly centered, than I'll shoot until it is, clean the Encore and then head to the blind.

Tomorrow is the opening day of the 2 week Muzzleloader season here in CT. :-D

[savageT]

TomD,
Just a question.......Did you say you are getting a crud-ring using the new 25ACP breech-plug?  I was wondering since you are using Pyrodex pellets why you didn't just spit-patch your bore between shots and go to loose powder Triple7?  I'm sure it might knock down the crud-ring issue.

Jim

[TomD]

I like the convenience of the Pyrodex pellets...that's why I tried them. I usally use loose Pyrodex RS (in prevoius BP guns).

100 grs of the pellets with the 295gr PBs seems to group well in my Encore, so I figure to stay with it thru this season.

I made a mistake when I said that I used Hoppes in-between shots...it was actually TC Bore cleaner, I had switched from Hoppes this fall. I like the way both break-up the BP crud a little better than spit; and I use another dry patch after, just as you prescribe.

I seem to get a small crude ring with both types of Pyrodex...but nothing significant.

I haven't tried the 3x7 because I've read that many users have trouble removing the breech plug after a decent number of shots. Although, I saw that more on the Huntsman threads than the Encore.

I've had a change of plans tonite (as usual) and due to 'Family Stuff' I won't get to hunt either Wed or Thurs evenings as I had planned. So, I'll go back to the range tomorrow, and fine tune my Encore shooting.

I'm psyched for the chance to shoot the Encore some more before using it to hunt...and the wife set me free for hunting from Friday pm thru Sat PM :-D

[Redhawk1]

I did not get much of a crud ring when I used Pyrodex Pellets  and 209 primers. I get even less with triple7 and the 25ACP's.  

[TomD]

Do you have trouble removing the breech plug after 15 - 20 shots?

What lube do you use on the breech plug?

[AndyHass]

I have had poor luck with greases, though gun oil works fine for hunting when I'll only  be making 1-5 shots before I clean again.
   The best solution for long-term sessions seems to be 2-3 layers of teflon piping tape around the first half of the threads on the plug.  The only downside is the need to occasionally dig the used tape out of the threads in the barrel.

[TomD]

I've had great results using Copper Anti-Seize. I coat the first 3/4 of the plug threads. The breech plug comes out with a little more pressure than it was tighted with.

After hand cleaning the breech and breech plug, I clean the threads with my dremel tool on low speed with a soft-bristle round brush attachment.

[Redhawk1]

Do you have trouble removing the breech plug after 15 - 20 shots?

What lube do you use on the breech plug?

It comes out easy, I use Shooters Choice high temp grease.