A hammer extension is almost a necessity with a low mounted scope in the Encore. The addition of a hammer extension to a stock Encore is inviting misfires. Yep, the hammer extension adds weight to the hammer and the stock hammer spring is often too weak. My Encore worked great as a muzzle loader but had misfires with my first center fire barrel, a .30-06.
Stronger hammer springs are available from that guy we do not talk about on this site.