I was hoping all of you Encore .50 caliber users would post your most accurate load here. I wanna see if Encores tend to favor a certain bullet/sabot/powder combo. Please post average group sizes as well (be honest).
I shoot an Encore Endeavor. I use 110gr./BH209 with a 250gr. Shockwave and Harvester Short black sabot with a Win 209 primer. It really like this load. It'll shoot one inch groups or better if I do my part. I haven't tried any other loads though. I plan on trying some .430/300gr. Hornady XTP's and some Nosler Partition .429/250 gr. I really hope I can get the Nosler to shoot as well as the Shockwave. If so, then I'll be switching bullets.
I have not shot an inaccurate load thru my 50 cal PH. I have tried 240gr XTPs, 250gr SWs, 275gr Parker BEs and just ordered some 300gr Barnes & 300gr XTPs to try. Sorry, don't have documented group sizes or pictures. They just shoot good! All were shot with supplied sabots. All very tight fits. I'm going to try Crush Ribs with the Barnes.
Oh, I have used BH209 powder only so far. Probably won't change that.
300gr (.452) xtp- black crushed rib sabot
300 sst/shockwave with supplied sabot
2-50gr t7 pellets
The xtp's hands down are the most accurate in my encore, all my shooting is 100 yds and less.
I shot this yesterday. 1/4" 3-shot group at 100 yds. Encore Endeavor, 300 gr. Hornady SST-ML Low-drag sabot, 110 gr. BH209, Federal 209 primer. I was having hang-fires with other primers, but the Federal 209's seem to have resolved this issue. I also got a chance to try the Nikon Omega BDC scope. The second target was shot at 200 yds with the recommended "bubble" for 200 yds. (3.5" group) Please note that the wind picked up between the first and second targets and accounts for the horizontal spread. I'm very pleased with the rifle, scope, and load components. These groups were recorded after firing approximately 25 shots without swabbing. Swabbing only makes sabots load HARDER when using BH209 powder. This is a huge thumbs up for T/C, Western Powders BH, Hornady, and Nikon!
300gr (.452) xtp- black crushed rib sabot
300 sst/shockwave with supplied sabot
2-50gr t7 pellets
The xtp's hands down are the most accurate in my encore, all my shooting is 100 yds and less.
240gr XTP (.430) w/ 100 or 130gr 777 or Pyrodex pellets
270gr Speer (.429) w/ 130gr 777 pellets - current load
300gr Speer (.451) w/ 130gr Pyrodex pellets
All 4 loads were 1" groups or less @ 100 yds in a std Encore w/ MMP sabots
I've tried BH209 with 1.5" groups using 100 and 110gr. I decided to stay with the 777 only because I wasn't comfortable with the BH pressures I was seeing.
Not to get off on another topic, but my dad also uses the 270gr Speer in a Nosler sabot w/ 130gr 777 in a Lyman Mustang. He got a big doe in TN @ 180 yds (measured w/ a rangefinder). She dropped in her tracks. Bone in and bone out. Exit hole was the size of a half dollar. It had about 10-12" drop at that range.
The 270gr (in my experiences and his - 3 deer for me and 3 for him) do a lot of internal damage, but not a lot of meat damage.