Pro Hunter Muzzleloader

[Mahamari]

I've never used a muzzleloader nor do I know anyone that is really in to the sport currently.  However I've decided to try out the Muzzleloader season this year and need to decide on a barrel for my Pro Hunter.  From what I've seen it appears that the innovations on the Pro hunter barrels are worth the upgrade from the standard Encore Muzzleloader barrels.  So that leaves me with the choice between the standard 28" barrel and the 20" Katahdin barrel.  I'll use this gun from everything from 10 yards in the timber, to long shots over open agricultural fields  (well, as far as I can accurately shoot it I suppose).  So, from a muzzleloader hunter's POV, what are the pluses and minuses with the 8" difference in barrel length.  Will one typically get complete powder burn in the 20" rifle,  what will I loose in FPS, what will I loose in range abilities?  I assume the TC made the Katahdin barrel because it was a useful barrel but will it fit my needs.  Is the 28" barrel going to be a better "All around" gun, is the Katahdin barrel very application specific (i.e. thick woods hunting in the east)? 

Thanks for any input.

Mahamari

[Mahamari]

So did I post this in the wrong forum or something?  Maybe it should have been in the muzzle loading specific area?  No biggie, I got several  answers on other sites when I posted(quickly), and have the situation figured out.  Just thought maybe I put this in the wrong area or something.

Mahamari

[yooper77]

I know this is a rifle forum, but I have the T/C Encore in a 15" pistol barrel using 2 powder pellets and excellent accuracy.

I just acquired a used T/C Encore 209x50 26" blue rifle barrel and haven’t had the chance to try it yet.

If you were going to bring it up in a tree stand then the 20" would be better, but for long range on the ground the 26" or 28" is the key to more velocity but not guaranteed accuracy.  I feel the 20” would be the most universal for both worlds.  I don’t like a ported barrel though, isn’t the 20” barrel ported?

I have a T/C Tree hawk that I use for tree stand hunting, its short 21” barrel and compact and camouflaged.

yooper77

[martineta]

I have a 26 inch 50 cal. on my encore.  When I bought it, it was delivered the day before muzzle loader season opened in VA.  I was out of town working until 6:00 PM so no time to test fire or sight in.  I called Thompson and a help desk guy told me the gun was sighted in at the factory for 50 yards.  Use 100 grains loose pyrodex with a Hornady shockwave 250 grain saboted bullet.  I did as told and killed two deer using iron sights opening morning with the first two shots from my new gun.  Got two more the following day.  Sooooooo!  first four shots with a new gun killed four deer.  Yes I love my encore!  I have since put a leupold 2-7 scope on it and have stacked up the deer with it.  Granted where I hunt in VA is mainly in the woods .  My longest shot taken while hunting has been 85 yards.  You are going to love hunting with a muzzle loader.  Those 50's don't cripple deer.  You hit them anywhere in the chest and its like getting hit by a train.  The longest one has run away from me is 100 yards or so.  Always a plenty of blood to follow.

[dkhnt]

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