[Jethro15]

Anyone shooting a TC Encore ( not pro hunter)? If so, what bullet, powder, and primer combos are you using. I have got one shooting 2x777 pellets and a 180 grain 40 cal Hornady XTP with Remington Muzzleloader primers. Would really like a better bullet choice, I’m not getting the terminal performance I would like to see. Not to start a war, but power belts are out for me.

 

[mike3888]

Try some of the 200 grain sst. Use a smooth blue harvester sabot. I'm using them in my smokeless 45 and they seem to hold together at the speed I'm running them at.

 

[Jethro15]

Mike3888,
Have you killed many deer with them? Ranges? Blood trails? Thx.

 

[fishr64]

I’ve got a 50 cal original Encore and so does my uncle, neither of us were pleased with our groups until I came across the Harvester crushed ribbed sabots. They helped our groups to tighten up and switching to Blackthorn 209 powder helped even more. I use the Remington primers and he uses CCI. I use the Harvester Scorpion PT and he uses the TC Hydroshocks.

I don’t see Harvester bullets for a 45 on their website but they have sabots for your 45. They’re good people to talk to if you’re interested give them a call.

https://www.harvestermuzzleloading.com

Hope this helps ya out.

 

[johnny v.]

Why don't you like Power belt's , I have always had good luck with them.

 

[Jethro15]

Fishr64, I have 2 Pro Hunter 50 calls with Bergara Barrels from Bellm TC custom shop, they shoot outstanding using the Scorpion PT and the Thor bullets, with BH209.

I am trying to get this darn 45 cal Encore to shoot better groups, but ultimately looking for better terminal performance.

JohnnyV, I can’t say anything bad about the Powerbeats as far as accuracy, they perform pretty good out of every BP hun I own(5). However, they have performed terribly as far as terminal performance and blood trails. I prefer to shoot behind the front shoulder and not into it. I have got several deer “perfectly” with Powerbelts, only to have to search with little or no blood to find them. Maybe I’ve just had bad luck with them, but with all the other choices out there, they are a no go for me.

 

[mike3888]

Mike3888,
Have you killed many deer with them? Ranges? Blood trails? Thx.

Yes I have harvested guite a few deer with them. I'm kinda of a neck or high shoulder kind of person when everything is right. I have shot a few in the pocket and never had one go more then 50 yards or so. Ranges vary where I hunt and I've had guite a few kills out too 280 yards, but remember I'm shooting a smokeless muzzleloader. I shot a huge 8 point on December 18 at 7:20 am that was over 200 lbs and it was bang flop. Shot was at 244 yards.

 

[Jethro15]

Mike3888,
I misssed the “smokeless” in your original reply. I have shotvthe 200 gr SST, with decent accuracy, haven’t tried them with BH209 yet.

 

[Bluesberry]

I have to agree with Jethro, stay away from the power belts, worst terminal performance I have experienced. 😩 try the blackthorn 209, you will never use anything else, once you try,,,,I use the crush ribs from harvester, and barnes bullets, most of the newer copper bullets shoot well, every gun has it's own recipe ,and shot placement is the key.

 

[johnny v.]

Thanks for the info Jethro15.

 

[kudu58]

I've had pretty decent luck with Powerbelts. From what I read, a lot of guys shoot too light of bullet weight in hopes of higher velocity and flatter trajectory and get blowups. I've read where many guys are shooting the 245 grainers (in .50 cal) and I started using the 295 and have since switched to the 348 grainers. I never shoot beyond 100 yards so losing a bit of velocity is no concern to me. Out of an inline, you also need to be shooting the Aerotips and not the hollow points. The Aerotips are designed for higher velocity impact. The 348's have blown clear through and left good blood trails for me so far. FWIW and to each their own.

 

[Jethro15]

Kudu you are right, I did try to push lighter bullets to get some distance. However, all of the deer I shot were with 245? Grain in my 45 cal Encore and 295 grain in my 50 Cals, all aerotip. I may be off on the 45 grain, as it has been retired for a little while, hence the reason for my post.

 

[kudu58]

Yeah, I have never even looked at the weights of the .45 cal, but I'll bet if you step up to the next heavier weight in the Aerotip you will be pleased. Worry about accuracy and not velocity. Good luck, and if you try it I'd appreciate if you'd let me know the results.

 

[Jethro15]

Kudu,
I’m just getting back to work, after being off injured for 6 months. Probably won’t get to test anything on paper till early spring and deer next season. I’ll be glad to let you know when I do.