Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Barnes/Encore

My 300gr Thors aren't shooting to my liking from my Encore. I've read that the encore and false muzzle struggle with full bore bullets sometimes. It'll kill a deer. And has. But I think it should shoot better.


I have a supply of .451 250gr TTSXBTs for my 450 bushmaster.


Am I wrong in thinking I can drop those bullets in a yellow harvester sabot???



Aa usual, stuff is tough to find and I need them ASAP.

If that diameter is what the yellow Harvester is designed to fit there is no reason you cant.

BTW what diameter Thor are you using?

I ordered the sizing pack from them and just sized the bore in my CVA last night. Going to order a 15 pack each of 250 and 300 grain at .501, be a spring load work up for next year. Hope to have the large rifle primer breech plug in it by then too.

I would go for it, I use the ftx in my encore just because I had them and they shoot great.

I'm using 501 Thors. I had them from a different barrel. I flare the skirt a bit with a socket and whack of a hammer.

I haven't tried 250s or a bunch of powder charges. But feel like I've seen enough to know they aren't going to shoot ragged holes.

I'm running BH209 and CCI 250s with a VariFlame plug.



For the cost of the sabots, I can test the bullets I have on hand.


The yellow harvester says it's for boat tail bullets....other than the pressure grooves I'd imagine they are the same bullets at the TMZs.


I'd like to play more but blackhorn is unobtainable and the bullets and powder aren't real economical.


I don't hunt with an inline hardly ever. Took my Ohio buck with one last gun season because I didn't realize they allowed straight walls. Planning to go back down for the muzzleloader season in a couple weeks since I have my tag still.


I did find TEZs in stock. (I know I can find various stuff in stock...but really like Barnes performance. That Thor did an absolute number on my Ohio buck last year and great penetration.

Little update.


The Yellow harvester, a Barnes TTSXBT "bushmaster " 250gr pill and a stiff load of BH209 underneath is wicked accurate out of my Encore. Sub moa at 100yds without trouble.

Getting like 2050fps out of it off the top of my head. Should smack deer silly. I know theh do at 2350 from the bushy bolt gun lol.



On a different note, I found out my scope took a dump and I'm not so sure the Thors were shooting sub-par.

It won't track right and doesn't seem to hold its zero. Thankfully, I found out before I have a buck in front of me.


If BH209 ever becomes available at a reasonable price again, I will reshoot the Thors. But I did load up on yellow harvesters and the TTSXBTs. Nice to be able to use that bullet in 2 rigs. But I also bought a new 50ct box of Thors last year.


Can't get over how well the bushmaster bullets are flying.