I shoot 777 loose powder and have always liked it with my Encore. I swab between shots when at the range but when in the field deer hunting I dont and have not had any trouble getting a 2nd or even a 3rd shot to seat. One time at the range I had a couple of none fires and/or delayed shots... then I figured out it was ME that was to blame and not the powder. The patches I was swabbing with were way too wet and the dry patch couldnt get it dry enough. I dont think anyone makes a powder that would have worked for me that day. I unscrewed the breech plug and pushed the load out and I could see the powder was soaked... wow... MY BAD. Lesson learned for me that day.

Not sure how many pounds of 777 I have used but its been enough to log very close to 900 shots through my Encore now. I use the .25acp instead of the 209 shot shell primer and for me its been a world of difference in keeping the gun and breech clean. Seems like the only time myself or people I shoot with have trouble is when the gun isnt clean. Breech plugs especially when shooting the 209 shot primers need to be extra clean. Also I feel like its a MUST to fire off a couple of primers prior to loading for a hunt just to make sure everything is DRY. When you clean and lube your barrel, a lot of that will get trapped in behind the load and in the breech plug. Thats another mistake learned long ago. My standard is to fire off 3 primers just to insure its dry then load the gun as normal. I have had 100% NOW fires since doing that.