TC Encore 209/50 With Barnes 285 Grain Spitzer
IF my only experience with muzzle
loaders was with my own TC Encore 209/50, I would be at a loss to try and
understand why a lot of guys have so much trouble finding a powder, saboted
bullet and primer combination to shoot well enough for 150 to 200 yard deer
hunting.
Because I have owned 27 different muzzle loaders over
the years and sent a lot of bullets down range out of every one of them, I
realize the Encore 209/50 is a real gem.
Today I went to the club and
fired only (5) shots. The set up was with two 50 grain Pyrodex pellets behind a
Barnes 285 grain Spitzer saboted HP bullet. I used Winchester 209
primers.
The first two shots at 75 yards went into 1.25 inches center to
center and middle of the two shot groups was 2.5 inches high. The next three
shots went into 3/4 inch group at 150 yards and group was exactly two inches
low. I did NOT try 200 yards today on account of the wind blowing from left to
right across the target range. Wind did move my 3 shot 3/4 inch group to the
right one and 3/4 inches.
Top photo shows the two shot 75 yard group which went 1.25 inches
with the Barnes 285 HP
3/4 inch center to
center 3 shot group at 150 yards with two Pyrodex pelets and 285 grain Barnes
load
Estimated 200 yard drop with this set up is calculated to be approximately 8.5
inches. Barnes trajectory charts for the 285 grain Expander Spit-Fire MZ
HP show that using (2) Pyrodex 50 grain pellets, the muzzle velocity is 1730
fps. They then show a drop chart at 100 and 200 yards for 1600 fps and
1800 fps. The 1600 fps chart indicates if the bullet is 3.99 inches high at 100
yards, it will drop 9.54 inches low at 200 yards. The 1800 fps chart shows 3.06
inches high at 100 yards comes out to bullet drop of 7.64 inches at 200 yards.
This is NOT an exact science and of course can vary from one muzzle loader to
the next depending on twist rate, actual working length of the barrel
etc.
I split the difference as
beginning velocity is 1730 with the (2) Pyrodex pellets behind the 285 grain
bullet. I guesstimate the drop at 200 yards to be approximately 8.5
inches. I know it is 2.5 inches
high at 75 yards and exactly two inches low at 150 yards. Assuming it
drops another 6.5 to 7 inches over the next 50 yards at the 200 mark, I could
easily hold about 2 inches low from the top of the back (ON HAIR) and drop the
Barnes bullet into the vitals. I have
always read that MOST missed shots at long distance go OVER THE BACK of an
animal and not below the belly. A solid hit 10 inches down from the top
line of the back on a big buck is still in the vitals making this a dead on 150
yards deer hunting set up and with an accurate range finder and a solid rest on a broadside animal a darn
good 200 yard deer gun. I would avoid 200 yard shots until I fire a group at
exactly 200 yards first using this set up.
I am still working on the
Omega for my son, however I think I also have that solved with the 260 Grain
Dead Center saboted load from PR Bullets and the 95 grain load of Triple 777
loose powder.
Dan
Because I have owned 27 different muzzle loaders over the years and sent a lot of bullets down range out of every one of them, I realize the Encore 209/50 is a real gem.
Today I went to the club and fired only (5) shots. The set up was with two 50 grain Pyrodex pellets behind a Barnes 285 grain Spitzer saboted HP bullet. I used Winchester 209 primers.
The first two shots at 75 yards went into 1.25 inches center to center and middle of the two shot groups was 2.5 inches high. The next three shots went into 3/4 inch group at 150 yards and group was exactly two inches low. I did NOT try 200 yards today on account of the wind blowing from left to right across the target range. Wind did move my 3 shot 3/4 inch group to the right one and 3/4 inches.
Top photo shows the two shot 75 yard group which went 1.25 inches with the Barnes 285 HP
3/4 inch center to
center 3 shot group at 150 yards with two Pyrodex pelets and 285 grain Barnes
load
Estimated 200 yard drop with this set up is calculated to be approximately 8.5 inches. Barnes trajectory charts for the 285 grain Expander Spit-Fire MZ HP show that using (2) Pyrodex 50 grain pellets, the muzzle velocity is 1730 fps. They then show a drop chart at 100 and 200 yards for 1600 fps and 1800 fps. The 1600 fps chart indicates if the bullet is 3.99 inches high at 100 yards, it will drop 9.54 inches low at 200 yards. The 1800 fps chart shows 3.06 inches high at 100 yards comes out to bullet drop of 7.64 inches at 200 yards. This is NOT an exact science and of course can vary from one muzzle loader to the next depending on twist rate, actual working length of the barrel etc.
I split the difference as beginning velocity is 1730 with the (2) Pyrodex pellets behind the 285 grain bullet. I guesstimate the drop at 200 yards to be approximately 8.5 inches. I know it is 2.5 inches high at 75 yards and exactly two inches low at 150 yards. Assuming it drops another 6.5 to 7 inches over the next 50 yards at the 200 mark, I could easily hold about 2 inches low from the top of the back (ON HAIR) and drop the Barnes bullet into the vitals. I have always read that MOST missed shots at long distance go OVER THE BACK of an animal and not below the belly. A solid hit 10 inches down from the top line of the back on a big buck is still in the vitals making this a dead on 150 yards deer hunting set up and with an accurate range finder and a solid rest on a broadside animal a darn good 200 yard deer gun. I would avoid 200 yard shots until I fire a group at exactly 200 yards first using this set up.
I am still working on the Omega for my son, however I think I also have that solved with the 260 Grain Dead Center saboted load from PR Bullets and the 95 grain load of Triple 777 loose powder.
Dan
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