Best bullet weight/powder combo for Encore 50.Cal

[AJ]

Mark and I share totally different views of ML'ing. For deer, I see no reason at all to shoot 300 gr bullets. All it does it cause extra recoil. A 200 gr bullet has more than enough energy to do the job at 150 yards when propelled by a standard 100gr Pyrodex charge. The trajectory is also flatter. So why get beat by the extra recoil?

I do know that the third pellet is utilized. I have shot a whole lot of 150 loads in a few different guns and have not had a problem with accuracy. The chronograph does not lie and my fastest shots came from pellets not loose powder. They also gave the lowest deviation.

Finding the correct combination can be a bear though. I have found that musket caps are the best ignition period for 3 pellet loads. I can shoot sub MOA - 1.25 MOA groups at 100 yards with any of 3 guns (TC Black Diamond, Rem 700, Knight Wolverine) using 3 pyrodex 50 gr pellets and a Precision Rifle QT40 235 gr sabot.

I have not had much success with 209 primers and pyrodex pellets though. Groups in the 2" range at 100 yards seem the norm. I could probably shrink them using loose powder and more playing around.

[tedicast]

In my Encore I'm shooting 295 grain Hollowpoint PowerBelts, with 100 grains of 777 pellets.

[RandyWakeman]

Can't say what the best is for you and your gun, but I can say what has given the best results for me and my Encore.

That is 110 grains T7 FFG pushing a 220 grain .40 / 50 Dead Center @ 2048 fps on my chrono, a consistent 3/4 MOA load that has quickly killed a few caribou.

[too_pointer]

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In my Encore I'm shooting 295 grain Hollowpoint PowerBelts, with 100 grains of 777 pellets.

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I shoot the same powder and bullet in my Encore also, really pleased with it.
too_pointer

[tped]

I shoot 120 grains of 777 loose behind the 250 grain barnes. 1" groups all day long, 2200 fps. It took alot of range time and many combinations of powders and bullets for this. 3 of my friends shoot the same load with equal results, a 4th does better with 100 grains of 777 and the 260 grain nosler partition or speer gold dot. Therefore results may vary, Each gun is different