Encore Delema

[simplicity]

I bought a used TC encore (walnut stock blued barrel) about two years ago the barrel was just a little rough but the price was hard to beat. The barrel will shoot 1.25 groups at 100 yards but due to the slight pitting it takes absolutely forever to clean. and I have later bought a 280 barrel for it. and well Not really happy with the 280 barrel it shoots well but if absolutely everything isn't the same  it is not forgiving at all (ie hand position, etc etc etc) So it comes down to buying more barrels for it is pretty much out. So I've been thinking about trading it for one of the thumbhole stock stainless Omega. i don't know if I'm crazy to do this but it's such a pain to clean. Only reason why I say this is I had a TC firehawk in stainless and three swipe with hot water and it was clean no mater how much i shot it. It I can't find a way to in a way fill the pits to make it easier to clean it will be out the door.

[30-06man]

What are you shooting out of it? Do you clean it with hot water and soap? Or is like pyrodex?

[alsaqr]

Get some red Jeweler's rouge.  Cover a cleaning patch with it run it up and down the barrel about 50 times.  You really have to smear the rouge on the patch.   Do this with three or four patches and then clean the bore.  The bore will be much smoother unless it is badly pitted or rusty.   

"but if absolutely everything isn't the same  it is not forgiving at all (ie hand position, etc etc etc)) 

You have to rest the front frame of the rifle on the bag. 

[30-06man]

If the pitting was that bad you shouldn't have bought it unless it was that good of a deal.

[simplicity]

I use pyrodex for powder and hot water to clean it. An the slight pitting in the barrel isn't bad the rifle still shoots uner a 1.5 inch with 150 gr. charges behind a 250gr shockwave. It just makes getting it cleaned hard takes for ever to get a clean patch to come out after the hot water. My last muzzle loader was a TC firehawk in stainless and with hot water three swipes it was clean. An yes I got a really good deal on the encore I wouldn't really have boughten one if it wasn't. and as far as the forgiveness I can't take a sand bag out hunting with me kinda really defeats the purpose of haveing a light single shot rifle to carry. Also with the 280 barrel the impact of different weight bullets is drastic at 100 yards between 120's 140's an 160's all are 200fps apart according to my chrono but the difference at 100 yards is roughly 8 inches in hieght. I've just never delt with a rifle that's this finnessfull I should say. (pardon the spelling) Thank you fro the replys.

[30-06man]

Pyrodex works better with solvent. It wasn't meant to be cleaned out with water. If you want easy cleaning use triple seven or another power that can easily be cleaned with water. If you use loose T7 then only use 120 grains because that is a magnum charge. And if you use the pellets the 50grain pellets you can use 3 or if you get the magnum pellets they are 75 grains and only use 2. That is the magnum charge. I like 100 grains better if you are using something like powerbelts.

[str8shooter48]

also with the 280 barrel the impact of different weight bullets is drastic at 100 yards between 120's 140's an 160's all are 200fps apart according to my chrono but the difference at 100 yards is roughly 8 inches in hieght. I've just never delt with a rifle that's this finnessfull I should say. (pardon the spelling) Thank you fro the replys.
[/quote]

What are you shooting factory or reloaded ammo? If your shooting factory ammo and having that drastic POI change between bullet weights I'd start by checking your scope, mount and rings. Once you determine your sighting system is good, stick with one bullet weight to see if you cam get a group. If your shooting reloads spend the bucks for a box of factory ammo just to rule out any problems with your reloads.

I might be wrong but but in my opinion it doesn't sound like a barrel problem.

Good Luck.

[30-06man]

What size groups is the 280 shooting?

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

why are "we" talking about a .280 in here? I know theres a TC centerfire forum on the list. Modern muzzleloaders now able to load with a .280 down the muzzle?

[simplicity]

Sorry bigblock the conversation kinda got away, the groups with the 280 are about an inch or just above. I guess I'll try playing with the 280 more and try the jewelers rouge on the 209x50 barrel to see if that helps it any. Thanks for the help everyone.

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

Or forget about polishing the bore and just send the barrel back to TC seeing how they cover rust/ corrosion.

You TC guys should have told him this in the first place. Why screw around with a pitted bore when they'll replace it?

Always gotta do something the hard way 

[Double 30]

I'd just cut to the chase and get the Omega . Absolutely love mine. Great accuracy, easy to clean and loaded properly its a mild recoiling Death Ray. Mine has me 99% weaned off breech loaders.

[30-06man]

why are "we" talking about a .280 in here? I know theres a TC centerfire forum on the list. Modern muzzleloaders now able to load with a .280 down the muzzle?

Because he asked about it in his original post. Yes it should be in a different place.