In my Encore, I have found that the loose powder is much better about not leaving a crud ring and tends to be more accurate than the pellets. Not that much more trouble either. I have also found that the more powder you use, the more likely a crud ring will form. I had been using 110 grains loose for the last three years. This year, I started trying 125 grains loose. I didn't get as good accuracy and the crud ring I had lost, came back. So, I went back to 110 and no more crud ring.
Every gun is different.

Hank