Hey gang,
I have had a cast on my arm since I got my new Encore, but just couldn't wait any longer! Went to the range today and shot 10 of the TC Cheap shot sabots, 240 gr. I started with 90 gr. 777 FFG, then tried 100 gr, and finally a shot with 110 gr. All produced nice groups at 50 yards, though my very first shot was off from the group. Maybe I should have snapped a few caps and dry patched it first.
Anyway, my plan was to try out the 250 gr Shockwaves, and move out to 100 yards. So much for planning Got stuck just below the QLA, and would not budge. [>:] So that ended my shooting for today. I was able to remove it when I got home. I know I am not supposed to lube sabots, but I have also heard that some people use bore butter. Thoughts?
Oh yeah, between shots I used a spit patch, and then reversed it. Horrible crud ring to get through each time, am wondering about going to a "cooler" primer than the Winchesters I am using, maybe a CCP?
Just thought I would share my first outing with you all. I am very excited to keep at it and fine tune a bit. I'm thinking 100 gr 777 is plenty, but I don't know.
Todd

you need to use about 90gr.loose powder and shoot a bunch of solid lead bullets about a 100 or so and it will loosen it up real good and turn it into a killer.When i first got my encore i had a tuff time loading it also i had just got over a badly crushed arm from my shoulder all the way to my hand,i still have stainless rods in all the bones in my right arm matter of fact they are femur rods ,i had 3 bone graphs also but i can't tell nothing is wrong unless i go through a metal detector or touch my hipps thats where the extra bone came from to make my arm bones. Just keep on shooting it ,takes time to break in a new gun.

Sounds like the rifle is a good one. As for the crud ring, well it seems to happen when shooting Triple Se7en powder. You could go the the FFFg grade of Triple Se7en and see if that helps. The Winchester W209 is a good primer. I would not change. Although there are other primer options out there.

Also I can not state enough the importance of good swabbing. You mentioned you ran a spit patch down and back. Well next time take some 50/50 alcohol and windex (car windshield washer fluid) and use that to swab. Run two damp patches down the barrel and then a couple of dry ones.

Do not use any bore butter or lube on the plastic sabots. It can cause them to slip the rifling causing uneven spin from shot to shot and therefore the accuracy would suffer. In fact keep the bore butter out of the barrel (this is my personal opinion). After you dump your powder, I put the sabot in my mouth and get it just a little damp. Then push it past the QLA with a short starter. Then use the long ramrod to seat the projectile in one solid push. Whether the moisture from my mouth really helps that much, who knows... makes me feel better, and I do it every time, so I will keep on doing it.

Hope your arm gets better and you find more time to shoot.....

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it. Little-d, Well I can see I will get little sympathy from you, as my cast is a result of surgery on my pinky! Your arm sounds maybe just a bit more painful! I hope your doing alright with it. I'm going to follow your advice and pick up some maxi-balls today.
Cayugad, Good idea on the swabbing. I read somewhere (probably here) about using the Windex Multi-purpose for swabbing, it has vinegar and no ammonia. I think I will give it a shot.
Thanks again for your help, I'll let you know how I make out.
Oh, don't tell anyone it's just my pinky. I'm trying to squeeze as much sympathy out of it as I can!
Todd

Good luck with the rifle and the injury. Up here in Alberta the Red Cross can help in times of dire stress and emergency, MAYBE just Maybe they can send some one out to help clean the rifle and assist with the loading. After all what can be worse then not shooting a new rifle!

Take care and good luck
Eric

That's a great idea! Maybe I could get a medi-vac for me and my deer!

loading my muzzle loader was the best therapy i got the whole time i was down. I took the breechplug out of my mk85 and sat around pushing a sabot through it once i got my arm to move. Here is a picture of the last bonegraph i had in 01 the week before deer season.If you think this looks bad you ought to have seen my face and leg,it shattered my left femur and knee ,my jaw was broke in 8 places i had a crushed nose,cheek,two cracks in my forehead and lost a few teeth but all in all i got off easy most people that go off a 30 foot cliff in the dark on a bulldozer end up on the bottom of boot hill.

Man little-d, sounds and looks like you took a rough ride!!!! Glad to hear you're doing better, but it looks like the Calico in the background couldn't care less about your pain.lol I also had some trouble the first time I took my Encore barrel out to the range, but did the same thing you suggested. I put several rounds of lead bullets through it and it loosened up and worked well after that.[8D]

I guess I won't be posting a pic of my pinky anytime soon. The 8 stitches or so don't quite measure up with yours little-d! It sounds like you're pretty lucky to still be on the green side of the sod!
Todd