Pittsburghunter

Instead of leaving the breech plug loose in your son's MDM just take a wrench and every ten shots or so twist is forward and back to make sure it is staying free and not seizing. If you feel it not wanting to move, that is the time to pull it and clean it, then re-apply anti sieze and put it back in.

That's not all that bad an idea with any inline. It gives you a chance after say 20-25 shots to field break the gun down, and give the barrel a better then swabbing cleaning. (and to cool down in many cases) I do this even when changing projectiles for shooting if I have fired a lot of shots through the rifle. That way I know I am starting very clean again.

The trouble with leaving the breech plug real loose is you're just asking for blow back through the breech which will only produce more fowling. I never really tighten the plug down, but I don't leave it loose. I don't know how else to explain it....

The problem I would have with my Encore is I would have to remove the barrel to take out the breech plug the primer ejector is in the way and I would have to remove that. T/C has a new fold-away ejector that you can fold over then remove the plug w/o removing the barrel. I have yet to see one at my local shops yet and I hate buying stuff over the phone w/o checking them out first.

On another note I really like that ejector the thing works great and the MDM doesn't have one and sometimes those primmers get stuck real good. When that happens we end up using a pair of diagonal pliers to gently get the things off. The gunshop we bought the MDM at recomended Cheddite primers but the Winchester ones seem to work better and are easier to get unstuck.

We end up cleaning the primmer pocket every third or fourth shots. I started cleaning the Encore pocket every few as well I figure it can't hurt.

209 decapper

This is what I use to pull the 209 primers out of the breech plugs. I made some out of some steel I had around the house and they work excellent.

I never knew that the barrel had to be pulled on an Encore to remove the breech plug. Interesting. Even on my Black Diamond, you remove the striker and you can reach right in there and take it right out...

I guess all rifles have their quirks. I also take some Q-tips to the range with me and when the breech plug gets too fowled, I just spray it with some alcohol and wipe out the entire area of the 209 primer. They then fit better again and go in and out easier.....

Hey 'Pittsburghunter'......TC offers a neat aftermarket extractor that can be swiveled out of the path of the breech plug. You can then remove the breech plug without removing the whole barrel. Called "E-Z Tip" extractor and cost anywere from $15 - $20. BassPro and Cabelas have them in stock as do most gun shops that carry TC products. I put one on my Encore and it works as advertised! I asked TC why they don't install them at the factory but I didn't get much of an answer. Guess it's a great little money maker for them!


No.7211 "E-Z Tip" Extractor

I know read my post about that.

The main reason I have not bought it is it would give me an excuse not to take the gun apart and clean the whole thing.

That isn't good an Encore should be taken down at least a few times a year if not more I shoot gobs of lead out of mine. I have three barrels for it and use them all.

I have had a 50 and 45 cal.encore for years the first thing I did was take the extactor out and put in a drawer on my reloading table incase I ever wanted to sell it.Have never yet had a primer to stick in it,just turn it over sideways and the primer falls out.But the way it shoots (50 cal) it will never be for sale.
After shooting 4 lbs of 777 year before last I found a remedy for stuck breech plug,crud ring.Went back to pyro-select.
Barrel heat is a culpert for all muzzleloaders shooting sabots wether using smokeless or black subs.I use a spit patch between shots with reg muzzleloader and a dry patch between shots with a smokless muzzleloader.And let the barrel cool before shooting the next load.