I am fairly new muzzle loading. I have a TC Encore. What do you suggest for cleaning in between shots.

1. How often do you clean the barrel when shooting? Between every shot, after 2 shots...?

2. What do you use to clean the barrel with between shots? Water, oil base, ...?

I'm shooting pyrodex pellets if that makes a difference.

I dont clean till I have trouble putting the next bullet down the barrel.

I dont have any experience with modern inline though all I have shot are caplocks.

If I do have to clean between shotd wich is usualy after 10 pluss shots I use a patch with powder solvent then patch dry, pop a cap and back to normal.

matt

I have both and I do not clean still I start having trouble with the loading. It is usually around shot 6 or 7.

Also depends on what type of powder you are burning.
These are my observations / experience.
If real black powder- maybe after every other shot
Pyrodex or 777- about every 5th or 6th
Blackhorn 209 (what I use)- I have shot as many as 14 shots before I cleaned. Not that I had to. Was still able to load, but shooting session done.

To clean- I use two or three patches with powder solvent, followed by dry patches until no or very little residue, then snap one or two caps.

It seems that after 2 shots it is hard to load. Doesn't feel like the bullet is getting seated all the way down. I have been cleaning about every 2-3 shots.

I have a T/C triumph and know what your talking about I shot it twice this sunday morning killing 2 doe. Loadking the third shot was REALLY hard.

If you want to make it easier then swabing the bore with muzzle loader citrus based solvent helps

Try using bore butter and go to the range and put some rounds thru it. It coats the inside of the barrel the same as you would season an iron skillet.

I have the TC Triumph (i mentioned Encore by mistake earlier).

I went ahead and call Thompson Center and asked what they recommended for my gun. Below is what they told me...

1. Powder: 50 grain pyrodex (100 total grains)
2. Bullet: 250 grain shockwave
3. Cleaning: Use TC 13 Patch between every shot
4. Cleaning: Run a dry patch through the barrel following the TC 13 Patch.

They said that if you are not cleaning the barrel between each shot, then you accuracy could be off up to 6" due to the residue build up in the barrel.

Thanks for all of your tips. I'm headed to the range after lunch.

If you guys who shoot inlines would try Blackhorn 209, you wouldn't be worrying about cleaning after every 2 or 3 shots. I'm still loading fine after 20 plus! ...and when you do clean it's with Hoppe's #9 or WD 40, NOT water!

If your target shooting I would swab after every shot. Keeps the gun shooting accrate. If hunting your not going to be able to swab and you will have trouble stuffing the bullet down unless your shooting power belts. I dont use power belts myself only because my gun dont like them. They are s good bullet however. Good luck

I'm kinda the opposite. If I am just target shooting I generally don't clean the barrel between every shot. But if on a hunting trip, I know my first shot is going to be from a clean barrel. Therefore if I am sighting in in for hunting, every shot is out of a clean barrel. Bannon, can't use that Blackhorn out of my/the primitive guns using more traditional ignition systems or I would.

Go to T/C's websight.They have some videos on getting started and developing good habits to make it easy to follow on the range and in the field stressing however you do it be sure to do so on a consistant basis to retain performance from your rifle.