This is my first year hunting with a muzzleloader, have a 50 encore. The very first time I loaded this, I was able to push my bullet all the way down to where the thread of my ramrod was even with the end of the barrel. Ever since then, and yes I clean it and swab it, I cannot get it to go down that far, almost an inch difference. I also cannot get this thing to shoot a decent group, is this the issue? Any help would be appreciated. FYI, 100 pyrodex pellets and 250 gr shockwave.

Thanks,
Bozeman

Make sure the barrel is clean all the way down, pull the breech plug and look. Could be when you shoot it is forming a crud ring just above the powder charge, swabing between shots helps. Also get an extension for the ramrod, it will help with the loading or when at the range get a longer range rod. If the bulet is not firmly seated on the powder and there is an air space between the bullet and powder that could cause a presure spike when it fires, resulting in a bulged barrel or worse.

Accuracy, you may need to experiment with different bullets and sabots and powders and powder charges and primers to find a good load. Some guns are easy some are finiky. And some just never will shoot good. Loose powder is a lot less expensive too and much easier to customize your loads.

Be sure you clean the threads both in the barrel and on the breach plug when you clean the gun. look at the amount of powder and what jags and their length. Yes, if there is a gap between the powder and the bullet or sabot it most certainly is a problem,first off its a safety problem it could act like an obstruction in the barrel, second that kind of a problem will eliminate any possibility of accuracy.
I suggest you clean everything very carefully reassemble it and put what we call a witness mark on your ramrod to show exactly where it sits with the gun empty and the load it and do the mark for when its loaded so you can tell when the load is correct.Lee

I have an encore seem to like more powder by best groups are with 110 gr of t7 3 f and a 300 gr xtp or TC sst. How is your trigger pull some encores are heavy that can effect accuracy also. I also shoot goex pinnacle 3f I use 130 gr of that. I think that TC recommended load is 3 t7 pellets and a sst 250 gr. I have a few spots I use the encore mostly for open fields. I got the flintlock bug this year and have basically spent my time on them.

My main concern with what you're saying is that there might be a possible short load going on there. Like Goatbrother was saying, this is dangerous. It sounds like you're feeling a false bottom caused by a crud ring.

Get a range ramrod that is six inches longer then your barrel. Put a good cleaning jag on the end of that. I use a jag that doubles as a cleaning and a loading jag. Save that ramrod in the rifle for hunting.

After you dump your powder and get your projectile started, push that down until you are positive you are on the powder charge. Like said, take a piece of masking tape and wrap it wound the range ramrod level to the end of the muzzle. This is a witness mark. All future loads need to meet this mark.

After you shoot, take a solution like Windex. Damp spray a patch and work that patch in short strokes down the bore of the rifle, cleaning fowling as you go. When you get near the bottom you will feel resistance. This is not always the breech of the rifle you are feeling. This can be a crud ring. So start putting a little more pressure on the ramrod and see if it does not start to move even further into the barrel. When you reach your breech plug, believe me you will feel the difference. You can push that wet patch down hard and it just stops suddenly. Also look at the ramrod. The witness mark should be under the muzzle of the barrel.

Pull that patch, flip it over, and do the whole process again. After that, put a dry patch on that jag and again, in short strokes work down that barrel to the breech plug. Feel that breech plug.

Now that you know the breech is swabbed and dried, dump your powder and push your projectile down. It should reach the same witness mark as before.

I think your accuracy is suffering because of inconsistent swabbing, and loading pressures. I would try 100 grains of Triple Se7en 2f or if you can find it, BlackHorn 209 and a 250 grain Shockwave. When you start to get a good group, then kick the charge up a little until the group opens up.

If you're shooting a scope, check the mounts and rings.