Encore .45 with digestive disorder

[eleventseven]

I have finally retired my T/C Hawken .45 and made the transition to the Encore, again in .45 cal for this years hunting season.  I again chose .45 cal for BC reasons (trajectory & kinetic energy)...The Hawken, for ten years, was fed a steady diet of buttered conicals with a Pyrodex P chaser anywhere from 90-110gr...The bullets were roll your own (245gr Lyman Maxis) plumbers lead and tire weight combo and shot almost MOA at 50yds off of a Ransom Rest and 4-5 inch groups at 100yds.  Using shooting sticks out to 100yds this is a deer slayer.  I think I paid around a hundred bucks for the T/C kit.

Many hundreds of dollars later I am having trouble getting my gormet fed Encore to perform at the $100 Hawken level.

To date I have gotten the fore end fully floated (stock and fore end synthetic); stock is tight; pin is tight.  Using 777 starting at 90gr up to 140gr  and Ultimate 1 360gr QT conicals in 1:28 barrel.  Tried Pyrodex P also.  My  best grouping at 100yds is 6 inches...50 yds 2.5+ inches with the Pyro.

Can anyone think of something I have not tried or give me a load to try.  My assumption is that long heavy conicals should be optimal in this barrel configuration...Thanx, j

[quickdtoo]

I have a TC Black Diamond super xr .45 with the 1:28 twist. It loves Powerbelt 275gr hollow points and 120gr T7 3f, shoots 3" groups at 100yds with my poor eyes and a williams peep and front fire sight. Using a scope it's more like 1". Maybe this will help, but since we're talking different rifles, it could be apples and oranges, who knows, but it may be worth a try. In the past with a couple different rifles, just using a wonderwad between powder and bullet made a difference in accuracy.  hth, Tim

[AndyHass]

From another frustrated Encore owner I know....some of these guns are really picky about their bullets and loads.  He did the same number to his, yet has not found a bullet he can shoot over 80 grains with MOA accuracy.  This is the 220 DC.  The conicals will be moving slower than that bullet, so maybe they are not stabilized enough.  The Encore and Omega seem to have virtually the same barrel, and my Omega tends to like shorter bullets than most 1:28 guns I have had experience with.  So far the highest BC bullet I have gotten to shoot well is the 200 gr Shockwave (up to 110 grains and sub-MOA so far).
   My suggestion would be to try some shorter bullets and go from there.  If your bullet is too long, reducing the charge will only aggravate the problem.
   I don't shoot conicals often so I can't help you there...in sabots, the 250 and 200 gr shockwaves of 220-200 gr DC would be a good starting point.  Of course, Cecil Epp basically called me a liar when I told him my gun wouldn't shoot the 220 well so I should probably stop recommending his products.  :roll:

[eleventseven]

Hello Andy and thank you for the reply...I too have spoken to Cecil and his recommendation is to switch to Dead Centers to take advantage of the inherent velocity benefits ( higher BC, reduced recoil using lighter sabots ) of the "magnum" Encore and it's faster twist...I will probably take his advice at some point prior to hunting season but old habits die hard so I am going to try some longer and heavier Montana Precision Conicals ( if they fit ) with reduced loads...I am going to use Pyrodex P and t7 FFg...My longest shots hunting are 110-120yds but most are in the 50-70yd range...I will get to it  weekend after next.

[eleventseven]

Hi quickdtoo...Tim, have you tried conicals?  jim

[quickdtoo]

Hi quickdtoo...Tim, have you tried conicals?  jim

Jim, yes, I shot the Precision Rifle Ultimate 1 QT .45 Polymer Tip 360gr, it shot OK, 2.5" with scope, but the PBs shoot better and loaded easier.