Hey,
I may be wrong, but I think the Encore barrel is the same basic barrel as the Omega, just configured diffently. So, my info may or may not be applicable.

I started using 250 grain shockwaves in my Encore at the beginning of last season. The only bullet I have used in it is the 250 grain shockwave, with an occasional test of the 200 grainers and some hornady xtps. When I first started, the shockwavess were a bear to load. Very tuff. But, the results were worth itto me, cloverleaf groups at 100 yards and superb ballistics.

Now, after two seasons of use the shockwavess are loading much, much easier. Nothing like a Power Belt, mind you. But nothing like when I first started shooting my Encore. I may be wrong, but I think the ones I am using now are the same as the ones I was using in the beginning as I had bought several boxes that were on sale after last year's season.

Also, my Encore gets shot allot. I hunt just about every day, sometimes twice a day. Not for long periods of time, but maybe the last hour and a half of daylite or the first hour of the day on most days. On weekends and an occaisional vacation day, hunt real hours.At a result, my gun gets carried around allot in my truck, my 4 wheeler and through the brush. Being very paranoid about the scope being on, I shoot it at least once a week, sometimes more. This is in addition to an occaisional shooting session when I am just shooting for fun. So, my gun probably gets shot more than your average muzzle loader and the barrel may be "broken in" a bit more than some. I don't know if shockwaves changed the sabot, my barrel is broken in or what has actually occured to make the loading a bit easier, but my groups and the guns accuracy haven't diminished, just easier to load.

So, what I guess I am saying is go get a bunch of sabots and shoot the heck out of that gun!
Can't hurt and it might be fun!
R
Hank