I received my first ML this year, it is the TC Encore!!!!! I must be doing something right in there eyes!!
Any suggestions as I am new to hunting with MLs.

Wow, nice looking rifle!

Nice rifle, I will trade the tools I got from my inlaws! There have been many articles posted on this site and if you search TC encore loads and cleaning, you will get a pile of information. Shoot it lots in the off season so that you are VERY familiar with it come hunting season. I have a brother inlaw that shoots his rifle twice a year and wonders why he missed 4 deer with it this fall.

Good luck
Eric

Us in laws do some things right sometimes. They must love you . Remember that when you are an in law. Passing hunting on down is a must for the sport to continue. Half of my grandkids would rather play those play station type games than eat. Thank god I have one who likes the outdoors.

Sorry gelarson I have plenty of tools myself.
I also have a 7 year old son who just started hunting with me this year with a cross bow I have been hunting with him more this year than I have gone without him.

Huh...I got sport socks from my mother-in-law. Maybe she was trying to tell me to get off my @$$ and get in shape for the '08 season

Congrats on the new rifle and welcome to the club!

~Robert

Congrats on the nice Encore for Christmas.

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks I just wish I would have had more of anopportunity to use it this season. There is always next year, this will give me a chance to purchase a scope and get things dialed in.

Congradulations!

Lots of load configurations for the Encore. Search the site here and you will find enough reading to keep you busy for a long time.

Some top tips would be:

[ul][*]Can shoot pellets, but I would recommend loose powder for greater load development capability and greater overall accuracy.[*]From the hip, try a WIN209 (not the ML 209's) primer, 80-100 grains of Hodgdon 777 FFG and a T/C 250gr Shockwave. This should be a very to exceptionally accurate starting point. Clean after each shot from a dry clean bore.[*]"Seasoning" is for cast iron skillets where you find yourself cooking sausage and frying other foods. Not for your Encore.[*]Bore "Butter" is fine for a patch lube although you will be mostly shooting conical or sabot's from an Encore (you can shoot PRB's in a Encore at lower charges) but Bore Butteris lame as a metal protectant. Stick with a quality gun lube (Clenzoil, Otis Lubes, Birchwood/Casey Barricade).[*]Birchwood/Casey Choke Tube Lube.[*]Remove all lubes from bore with alcohol/windex 50/50 % mixture and patches or with a great bore solvent such as Butch's Bore Shine.[*]Get yourself a heavy range rod. You will remember this recommendationand wish you hadafter you have bent your ramrod. Nice ramrods that will fit in a hunting pack:http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=netcon&id=0034454215947a&a mp;navCount=0&podId=0034454&parentId=cat20 819&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catal ogCode=QW&rid=&parentType=index&indexI d=cat20819&hasJS=true[*]http://xssights.com/store/blackpowder.html[*]Ask lots of questions.[*]Enjoy your ML, they are a blast![/ul]
M2C,

Tahquamenon

Thanks for the info it will help during the off season while at the range, and hopefully next year when the season is here again.