I have read close to 100 reviews from actual 250 grain Shock Wave users in the field and while some complain about pass through or lack of blood trail, I would have to say somewhere around 75% or better swear that the TC Shock Wave bullet behind 90 to 120 grains of Pyrodex RS or Triple 777 powder is one of the most if not the most accurate combinations they have ever shot out of a muzzle loader. Even for those who made comments about too much expansion or not enough or too much penetration etc. darn near all of them recovered their deer at point of impact or within a very close proximity to the place where the deer was shot. Neither have any deer shot by myself or hunting companions have been lost or traveled more than 25 yards or so when hit with a 250 grain Shock Wave.
Here is a portion of an article from EABCO Inc. website on choosing a load for the TC Encore. E. Arthur Brown Co. Inc.is also the outfit that did the original trigger job on my own TC Encore 209/50 and they do absolutely first class work. I can highly recommend them. The following is from their website concerning the TC Muzzle loaders:
(Excerpt)
Loads - When poor muzzleloader accuracy is due to your load, it can most often be blamed on a magnum (150 grain) powder charge. A look at the names of the most match-accurate black powder rifle cartridges in history will give you a hint: 45-70, 45-90, 45-110, etc... The first number is 45 caliber, the second is the powder charge. They never went higher than 45-120... or 120 grains of black powder! For further confirmation, ask among experienced muzzle loader shooters and they will usually say your best accuracy comes from loads between 80-120 grains of black powder, Pyrodex®, Triple Seven, or other black powder substitutes.
Another accuracy consideration is the over blast and fouling from the 209X50 primers used by so many modern muzzle loaders. We recommend adapting to small rifle primers... Either with a 25 ACP Breech Plug or the new Variflame small rifle primer system- - Click Here for Info.
Magnum 150 grain powder charges are supposed to give you a harder hitting, flatter trajectory for long range shooting, right? Well first of all, long range shooting requires ACCURACY. If the magnum load isn't accurate, the flatter trajectory isn't going to help. Second, the magnum load only gives 100-250 fps more velocity so its not a dramatically flatter trajectory anyway. And finally, the US Cavalry was knocking over Volkswagen sized buffalo with 45-70... only 70 grains of powder. You don't need 150 grains to hit hard.
Here's the truth about shooting flatter trajectories: Smaller diameter, longer bullets have higher ballistic coefficients and shoot flatter trajectories. In 50 caliber muzzle loaders, this can be achieved by using sabots and 45 caliber bullets. For example, consider the TC Shockwave 250 grain 45 caliber bullet. Seated in a 50 caliber sabot and loaded over 90 grains of Pyrodex RS powder, it shoots approximately 1623 fps. Zeroed for 150 yards, it is about 4 inches high at 100 yds and 10 inches low at 200 yds. The load itself is an absolute one-hole tack-driver out of a TC Encore, and shoots with manage-able recoil... A 200 yard muzzleloader without a magnum load.
| Velocity | BC | 50yds | 100yds | 150yds | 200yds |
| 1623 fps | .210 | +3.29" | +4" | 0.0" | -9.87" |
| For deer, aim center chest out to 150yds, slight hold-over out to 200 |
Bullet Recommendations: The relatively lightweight 250 gr. Shockwave Sabot 200 yard load listed above broke through rib bones, lungs and exited breaking more rib bones of a 150 lb. whitetail doe at 80 yards last fall. I highly recommend that load. If your local hunting regulations don't allow sabots, I would recommend the Thompson Center 350 gr. Maxi-Hunter lead bullet for Deer and their 460 gr. Maxi-Ball lead bullet for Elk or Bear.
Powder Recommendations: I use and recommend Pyrodex® RS granular powder. If you use the new Triple 7 powder, remember it's a little faster than Pyrodex so work your loads up from a lower starting point. I believe granular powder gives me more flexibility and reliability than pellets.
(MY INPUT)
First of all I love these guys and as mentioned they did the trigger job on my TC Encore 209/50 and that same gun wears a Mueller 2X7X32 RED circle dot scope also from EABCO and the lubricant I personally use is another product they sell called CLENZOIL.
Other saboted loads that have performed well in the 1 in 28 twist of the Encore 209/50 and also the Omega are the Barnes 245 grain spitzer and the 285 grain HP BT load. Within their range limitations, the old standby 240 and 300 grain XTP saboted loads shoot very well and have a reputation for putting deer on the ground quickly and humanely. At one time I also shot up a lot of 275 and 300 grain Silver Lighting bullets from Precision rifle along with their Dead Center loads in various weights including 260 grain and 300 grain. Again, I am a big fan of the Pyrodex pellets and occasionally use Pyrodex RS powder. I have personally had NO LUCK at all shooting Triple 777 loose powder.
Most modern in lines with a 1 in 24 or 1 in 28 twist will shoot well with saboted bullets in the 250 grain to 300 grain persuasion and 100 grains of powder or pellets.
IF you have never tried any of these, here is a link to Precision Bullet's website:
http://www.prbullet.com/shop/products.php
Their dead center bullets are still quite popular. Check out their website.
One of the biggest accuracy killers with any weight bullet is the popular trend to stuff your ML with 150 grains of powder. YES, it is safe if your ML is safe for 150 grains of powder. However being safe and being accurate are two different things. Stick with 90 to 120 grains and find out what your gun likes to eat.
Dan
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