After some less than spectacular shooting a few weeks back I went to the range Monday with my Encore to check its zero. Shooting BH209 110 g and 300 SST at a target 100yds. First shot was 5" high and windage dead on. Pulled the breech plug and cleaned the barrel. Reloaded and fired -almost holed the other 5" high shot. (Nice to see the fouling wasn't the problem with BH) Made a few more shots and mademy adjustments and got her 1.5" high and felt good about it.

Well I went hunting Tuesday and missed 2 deer with a solid rest at 75 yards and then hit one at 75-80 yds. The one I hit was in the spine about an inch below the top of the back and about 5-6" higher than where I was aiming. I have not been back to the range but it is almost like the gun is back shooting high again. I don't think anything is loose because I don't think the range session would have gone so well. I also hand measured every shot at the range so I didn't feel I was getting the barrel too hot. Seated everything the same (which I find easier with BH than any other powder I've shot). Any help would be appreciated!

Only thing that comes to mind, aside from scope and/or mounting issues, is what you were resting on. A hard rest, such as a rock (obvioulsy), a wood rail in a blind, a stump or whatever can throw a shot high.

Guess you need to go back to the rangeto figure it out for sure.

I love BH209 but it eats breech plugs. When the accuracy goes south,
check the flash hole for enlargement.
My first plug (Omega) lasted 250+ shots with T7 and pinnacle, the second one app. 75 shots with BH (110 gr. volume) with some primer side erosion.
Maybe it's the primers (win.209)
I'm going to try the primer pockets with small rifle magnum primers next
range session (BH does not recommend this)
I wish they would make a steel breech plug (non stainless) forthese!
This would make the perfect poor mans MZ imho

Also ream the flash channel of carbon every 5 or 6 shots (1/8 in drill bit by hand)

I too wonder if the 209 primers have something to do with it. I converted my first Omega to 25ACP ignition almost immediately, and have subsequently put at least 500 rounds or more through it with absolutely no loss in accuracy.

blackheel

I would like to agree with spaniel - I use the 25acp in my Omega and it has been flawless. Normally I shoot small rifle primers in it when/while shooting T7. I did find for me I need to convert the primer to small rifle Mag primer to get BH to ignite correctly a 100% of the time.

One thing there seems to be a Breech plug issue showing up with the use of BH in that it will/does eventually begain plugging the flash channel. I have only shot 1 bottle of it (dang 10 ozes) but I did not find that problem yet...

I 3rd the .25acp. I use it in my Encore and its extremely clean and seems way more consistent. I had the trigger done and also replace the hinge pin and all of those things combined has zeroed in my shots in the bulls-eye. I am extremely confident with this gun and its now the only inline I own. Its about 3 years old or so. I like the traditional guns- percussion and Flintlock but for inline this is all I need.

The 209's are way overkill for firing off an inline. Because of this they leave a terrible amount of residue. As I am sure the others can confirm the crud is was less and fouling just isnt there like it was before. I tried all the different 209's including the ones that are "made for" these guns. All did the same in the end till I switch to .25acp.

Well when I pulled the breech plug the other day when I cleaned the barrel, you could see through the hole in the breech plug so I don't think it's fouling up...

Thanks sabotloader, good to hear someone has tried the 25ACP conversion with BH209. I still use 777 and the CCI (400?) small rifle primer. It does indeed solve the crud issue with 777 and given that I already have everything worked out so well (sighting in this year consisted of 2 shots, one at 100 and one at 300 yds both within .75in of aim) that I have no plans to switch until something gives me problems.

Blackheel,
The reason I posted : the encore and omega have the same breech plug.
The flash hole enlarges, so you need to measure the flash hole (powder side) with a pin gauge or at least compare it to a new one.
When mine is ready for replacement, I can tell by naked eye (much larger).
The fire channel becomes uniformly caked with a fine sandy (carbon?),
but is still clear to the eye and may affect accuracy and the only way to remove it is a 1/8 in. drill bit twisting by hand.
Hope this helps.
Tim