Funny post as just last week i took out the pro hunter for the first time since last year to sight it in. I couldn't break the darn thing open no matter how hard I tried. I had to take the barrell off and clean out the mechanism. I always clean my guns completely but I must say, I've owned the encore for2 seasons and never cleaned the mechanism that lets it break. LESSON LEARNED!!!!! I never even thought to clean it, I will now for sure