Originally Posted by
flyinlowe
Shooting Barnes bullets. It is shooting about the same as it was with the pellets, that's why I switched this year. I noticed last year with the pellets I was having similar issues. I might take the scope off and try the sites just to see if it groups any better or not.
Barnes shoot excellent from the Encore platform rifles. In production rifles, Barnes is the only bullet I'll shoot and is the 250gr TMZ.
I would suggest that you shoot it at maybe 75yds as it is and with the scope, keep the target. Then shoot a
different target WITHOUT the scope and compare the two targets. Shoot at least 5 rounds of each, which may take any shooter error out. This "should" give you an idea rather its the scope or not.
Muzzleloaders can test scopes. Some $60 scopes may last for years, others may last 10 rounds. Higher quality (more expensive) scopes can go bad too, however quality scopes "in general" hold up and last longer, a higher percentage of them. I had a guy shooting a new rifle here and put a NEW Nikon Prostaff scope on it. We zeroed the scope and it shot excellent but, after 15 rounds it started throwing bullets all over. Nikon repaired it and sent it back, however he mounted a Leupold.