"Most folk I have read say the Encore likes hotter loads and heavier bullets, so the 1.75 group does surpise me."

All my hunting with the Encore has been with JSG. Have killed several deer and a bunch of hogs with 90 grains of JSG and the 250 grain SST.That loadmakes three shot groups of 1" to 1.5."at 100 yards. I have never fired more than 110 weighed grains of JSG in that gun-about 125 measured grains. My shooting today was with measured powder, old powder at that. Next time at the range will give some heavier charges of JSG a try.

JSG does not leave a crud ring.

Tried 777 granular in my Encore. 110 grains of777 and the 250 grain SST isdeadly accurate with the first shot from a clean barrel. The secondfrom a dirty barrel could be anywhere on the target 6-8" from the first. Thebore had to be thoroughly cleaned between shots.Like to stay inthe tree stand after I shoot a hog. Quite often another hog will come along. The idea of cleaning the gun bore in a tree stand does not appeal to me. So I gave up on 777.