Has anyone heard of a smokeless barrel for the NEF

[Bill R.]

I have lost a link to a company that made a replacement barrel that could use smokeless powder for the NEF. Has anyone else heard of it.

Bill R.

[Busta]

Here it is Bill:

http://www.smokelessmuzzleloading.com/index.html

[Bill R.]

Been trying to decide which way to go this year. Been pretty unhappy with my Encore.

Bill R.

[tscott]

why would you want to go this way... everybody need a little poof in their lives....

[Bill R.]

why would you want to go this way... everybody need a little poof in their lives....

The main reason is that I have had really bad luck getting the Encore to shoot. The first load I tried I was lucky to get 6" groups at 100 yards. I tried about 10 different bullet sabot combinations before getting one that looked promising. It would group to about 1.5" but point of impact would move 4-6" I missed a deer last year at 40 yards off a rest. In fact other than the first deer I ever shot at, the only deer I have ever missed have been with this Encore. iamb 1 for 3 with it. What frustrated me was that I had a cheap Knight Wolverine that shot 3/4" at 75 yards and right at an inch at 100. I got the Encore thinking I could extend my range and not let those 125-150 yard shots walk. Well the only way I have gotten the Encore to shoot is to back off to 70-80 grains and the Knight could go 90 grains.

So I am looking for something new to try. I found a website where they use 25acp cases loaded with rifle primers rather than 209 primers. I have had problem with the Encore punching the primer and letting al kinds of gunk blow back into the firing pin area. When I get to muzzle load hunt it seems I usually get a shot the first day. If I am spending any more time in the woods I have to clean my gun or it starts to rust. I have used pyodex and 777 and seem to have the same problem. Now I should explain that I usually don't have any corrosion on my guns. With the Encore I have had the back end of the breech plug pit as well as almost rusted the firing pin spring in half. I'm just ready for something different and thought I might try the NEF for awhile and just sell the Encore.

Didn't mean to run off at the mouth but I'm pretty dissapointed.

[Busta]

Bill R.,

What caliber Encore have you got, .45 or .50? The first .45 barrels were 1:20 twist, they (Thompson) have been replacing any of those barrels for free with a 1:28 twist.

Thompson Center is a very good company and will stand behind their products, if you have a problem I know they will do their best to correct it. I would call their Customer Service and tell them the problems you are experiencing, they do not want any unhappy customers either.

I would personally give them a call, I am sure they will fix the firing pin issue as well as your barrel and breech plug. You could have them replace the breech plug with the new deeply dished out version for a trade of your old one.

Good luck!

[Sourdough]

I agree with yote, My Encore will hit a 6" pie plate all day at 200 yards.  I use three 50gr Pyrodex Pellets, with T/C high pressure sabots, and .458 pistol bullets.

[tscott]

I have had no encore experience. I bought my Huntsman barrel, as an
accessory to a cheap 45/70 I found.. Anyway, after adjusting to fit,
tough break open lever, etc. Problems that are well documented, on this and other boards, I found the Huntsman my most accurate muzzleloader.
.90 777, .295 Powerbelt are my go to players for deer. All 5 deer that I have shot with this setup in the past 2 years dropped immediately.
Including a 60 yd neck shot... I would err on the low side of charge weight
in establishing accurate hunting loads....

[DannoBoone]

They will also make a smokeless barrel for your Encore.

My Encore also has a bit of a problem with blowback. If you use Pyro,
I can see why your firing pin spring rusted. I eliminated the problem
by putting light grease throughout the firing pin assembly. Some
squeezes out the first few shots, but thereafter, there are no problems
with corrosives entering that area.

[Underclocked]

Danno, I did that on my Encores as well but I also take the firing pin assembly out and thoroughly clean it at least every other rifle cleaning.  It only takes a minute but you do have to be careful not to lose that spring.

[TOMMYY01]

My cva staghorn, I'm happy to say doesn't have any problems except me , sometimes.  I haven't shot it since I bought some 777. hopefully, ther won't be any change . It might be on the lower end of the muzzle loaders, but it sure shoots fantastic. I still want to get a sidekick,  buti don't want to tinker with something that is sooting great. Still contemplating about letting my brother having the staghorn or not. :roll:  I guess I will have to check on the price of the sidekick before I make my decision.
                                                                                  Tommy

[encore31]

in regards to your accuracy when siting in your encore. what time of year do you site in your gun?now maybe you know this or maybe not but if you site in on a hot day humid day you wont be able to get any type of consistant patternn as a matter of fact your patterns will actually be quit sporadic due to the humidity my friend had the same prob... with his encore but he would site in on a calm summer day and then the humidity become a factor in regards to your powder with mine i shoot the 777s 3 pellets in the 50 grain pellets tipped with the 250 grain shockwave and my accuracy at a 100 yds i am getting 1 inch groups although i am scoped not being scoped it would be pointless to shoot that much powder but i do allot of long rang shooting 150-200yds but at any rate try sitting in on a nice calm cool day were humidity isn't a factor and this may help your patterns quit substantualy good luck!