The flame channel of my plugs does indeed get plugged with carbon. Use of a drill to remove the carbon is necessary. However, the flash hole of my breech plugs has never clogged from shooting. In my opinion, using the 'rasp' in the flash hole was an error, and will result in premature aging/failure of your plug.

I would totally agree and even go a bit farther never put any into or hrough the flash hole unless you absolutely have to. I even hate putting pin guages in the flash holes.

And adding my second to your high lighted thought...

I've just used a nipple pick in the flash hole, but it doesn't even need that most of the time.

Thanks for all the info guys. I will definitely be switching to powder for next year. My friend and I will likely be spending a couple days at the range trying a few different combo's, charges, etc.
Now for the stupid question of the week. This is the only ML I have ever owned and I have only shot pellets. With the in line ML's do you need any type of patch or wadding to go in before the loose powder?

Measure, Dump, Put bullet in (patched or sabot), Prime, Shoot. It becomes second nature. If you put a patch in before the powder, you will block the primer from igniting it.

I don't own a encore or pro hunter, but I hear guys talk about their hinge pin. You might want to look at this web site. www.bellmtc.com

That is what I thought but then I was wandering about powder getting into or through the breech plug so I wasn't sure.

So on a related topic what kind of range could I expect once I site it in. I guess I am curious as to how much drop there would be between 100 and 200 yards. For those of you who hunt with ML what yardage do you zero you scope in at. Given I hunt more wood lines and open field edges then I do actually in the woods.

I agree, but as an Encore shooter would add a few things:
Check your hing pin often when they wear in you need to get a plus 1 or 2 from Bellm, if you have fired over 250 shots you probably need to replace or modify your breach plug.
It is quite possible that your problem is the pellets the boxes they come in are not sealed from moister and they draw it if they are any good from the store they normally do not last a year.
In the situation you describe I would use Blackhorn as more shots are no problem with it and would be with 777. Do check the space under your primer seat if it is packed up with carbon that will cause these kind of problem or even misfires ,on a factory unmoded BP use an .125 drill by hand on a mod-ed plug use a #21 drill.
Should you chose to switch to Blackhorn use synthetic oil to protect your bore and clean it out with alcohol and fire at least 3 caps before loading. This will help keep the first shot in the group. If nothing else helps try a different scope as I have heard of the brand you have losing its POI.

If I decided to change scopes is there a good multi-reticle scope out there that wont break the bank.

I shoot Knights DE's with bare primers and changed to BH209 in 2010 behind Barnes 250 gr BT with good results.Tightened up groups using Harvester Yellow Crush Rib sabots. In 2012 I changed to Hornady 250 gr. SST with red 3 petal sabot and 110 Gr BH209. More than pleased with accuracy(3 shot 3/4 " group @100) and performance on game. One shot kills on Aoudad ram@125 yds, Fallow buck@153 yds and WT buck @130 yds. I sight in 2" high @100 and I'm good to 175yds. I pop 2 caps before loading; no hang fires.