Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders New to Muzzleloaders, Again...

So, I’ve been shooting my Encore with 100gr of BH209 and a 245gr PowerBelt. Accuracy has been decent, as in I can keep all my shots on a paper plate from field positions out to 100 yards. I may see what the 295gr bullets do. In WA, any primer is legal now and you can have a closed breech. I’m using Federal 209A primers.

Some of the local BP shooters have been really helpful. They have me wanting to buy a traditional rifle, but I’m gonna stick with this and develop some practical experience.

Those Powerbelt cups aim the bullet better with lighter powder loads. I normally use 80-85gr of powder with my 295gr copper-clad HP Powerbelts.If you must shoot heavy powder loads, move to a sabot/bullet. A cheap place to start are T/C Cheap Shots and Hornady XTPs in 240gr. Once you get those dialed-in, then move-up to a meaner sabot/bullet.

Personally, I would kick your powder charge down to around 85gr. Then tweak it once you get good groups. I've never had any luck using 100+gr charges with a Powerbelt at 100 yards or more. I tried different ways to improve too. I would bore-butter the bottom of the Powerbelt cup. Then I would try using a fiber wad under the cup.

I like to reach out sometimes to 125-150 yards. But I couldn't depend on the Powerbelt, unless my charge was down around 80-85 grains. I don;t use any aiming sticks or sandbags when I shoot. We move around the Forest woods all the time. Sometimes I don't even have a tree to lean against. So I need an accurate bullet and lately it's been with 300gr XTPs and a Harvester ribbed sabot using Goex FFF powder.

Opinions vary on Powerbelts, but even those who like them seem to prefer the heavier ones, FWIW. 80gr of powder is plenty for any of them. Your Encore can handle better stuff, and by buying sabots and bullets separately you increase you options and save money. Among assembled combinations, I like the Barnes T-EZ 290. I'd like to try the Federal Bore Lokt (or whatever they call it) but have so much other stuff on hand I'll probably never get to them.

I too am in WA but only ML hunt elk. I use a TC Pro encore with 110 and BH209 and a 300gr Ballistic Tip and standard Winchester 209 magnum primers.

A Win209 is not a magnum primer but they work well in some rifles. Fed209A and CCI 209M are quite a bit hotter.

Thanks for all the guidance. I bought a few different bullets to try. I got some 295gr Powebelts and some other options from Hornady and TC.

Hey, guys,

Does Federal still make the 209A shotshell primer? I was just wondering and from what I have read about my NTM T/C inline, the Fed. 209A is hotter for using Blackhorn 209 powder. Thus should give better ignition to the powder?

Thanks!
Brittman

A few years ago,I bought a carton of 1000 Winchester shot shell primers. I pulled the last 100 tray out of the box the other day so I figure I have used maybe 850 of them. First in a TC Black Diamond,then and now in a TC Impact all using BH209.I have never had a misfire or failure to ignite. I am in a drier area in Colorado, though we usually get rain in ML season.

I just went to the store and bought 1000. So far, I’ve had good luck with the 209A and BH.

Fingers outran my brain, I am shooting federal 209a’s. That and the 300gr ballistic tip has always done great for me, even better that Nosler runs a sale on them a few times a year.

As a general guide line....Use a mag primer with BH209 if you have any doubts. I dont need them but i have plugs modified to fit them better for occasions they might help. Plugs like the Omega and Impact really dont need a mag primer at all but on the long quick release Encore or Pro Hunter plugs its probably a good idea. I seem to recall there are no less than 2 versions of the Encore and PH plugs.