Ok, I am showing my complete ignorance here by admitting this but I really prefer to not make a mistake. I am picking up a brand new Encore 209x50 this evening from a fellow board member. I have never shot a blackpowder let alone used one.

My main use for this rifle is deer hunting and I want to capitalize on it's long range abilities. Does anyone know if there is a "care sheet" if you will that walks you through the basic do's and don't for the Encore? I truly need something basic that starts with simply loading the weapon but also addresses the tricks to easy operation (a buddy had suggestions on the breech plug to keep it from seizing) etc? Thanks in advance for your help!

Bob

Well it is better to ask then to make mistakes.. As for information about the rifle, I am sure it comes with a manual that explains the rifle in detail. Read the manual cover to cover until you understand it. With that is a wealth of information and suggested loads, etc.

There are some little tricks like putting anti seize on the breech plug to keep it from seizing up in the rifle. As for load, 100 grains of powder and a 250 gr Shockwave is a good place to start. You can shoot pellets or loose. Many Encore shooters on TV like 3 pellets and the Shockwave. I really do not know if three of them is necessary for deer, but it would give you some extra range and power. Also the Shockwave is a good long range rifle projectile.

Be sure to swab the barrel between shots. I use a 50/50 mix of alcohol and car windshield washer fluid, but even some cheap (dollar store) window cleaner will do the job. Don't soak the patch you intend to swab with, just get it damp. Then work it down the bore in short strokes, back and fourth. Flip it over and do the same thing again. After that use dry patches and swab the bore of the rifle dry.

Now load your powder (100-150 grains) down the bore of thebarrel. After that with the bullet in the sabot, push that into the muzzle of the rifle. With a short starter, push that sabot/projectile in as deep in the bore as you can. Now with the ramrod (on the range I use a range ramrod with is a lot stronger) be sure to seat that projectile all the way down the bore, firmly onto the powder charge. Now you put a 209 primer on the back of the rifle in the breech plug,and it is ready to fire. After you shoot, swab the bore like described above.

http://www.tcarms.com/manuals/
In case you don't have a manual.
A few pointers, all muzzle loading powders except Black Horn 209 are corrosive, that means you either scrub that gun till its clean or the next time you pick it up it may well be rusted up. Use Slick 50 one grease or breach plug grease so the breach plug don't seize and be sure when you clean the gun the breach plug and the threads it screws into in the barrel are also clean.
I am a TC person my self and all my newer guns and most TC inlines with a closed breach shoot the 250 gr SW with a Harvester short black sabot and a load of 90 to 120 gr of non corrosive Black Horn in a minute of angle if the shooter can, of course this is after the barrel is broke in. The large lead bullets are good for break in about 50 to 75 round of Sabor tooth or Power Belts should do it if you don't mined the price. If you should shoot large game with the PB's don't use more than 80 gr for the ones that are 300gr or under they will Fragment. Lee