When I got my Encore the book said that you have to season the barrel with several shots - The book made no mention on how to do this - how much powder what kind of bullets - was there a plan I was supposed to follow? I have heard all kinds of things from people at the range aboutthis but nothing consistant - does anyone know the true answer.

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=3953

When I got my Encore the book said that you have to season the barrel with several shots - The book made no mention on how to do this - how much powder what kind of bullets - was there a plan I was supposed to follow? I have heard all kinds of things from people at the range aboutthis but nothing consistant - does anyone know the true answer.
Guy all they ment was go shoot your new gun to start breaking in the barrel. Heres some loads for you, 100 grains of any type of powder, or pellets, straight black 2ff, triple 7, pyrodex, black mag etc, what ever is available in your area. Any 200 to 300grain bullet will work, you can use ones like the power belts, or hornady's SST's, or lead conicals it don't matter, Thompson center who makes your gun has alot of different bullets available. A 209 primer, then go for it. After a shot or two, swab the barrel to get the fouling out, I use a product Butch's Black Powder bore shine, it also easily removes any plastic left from shooting sabots. When they make barrels, machine marks are left in the barrel, shooting, and regular cleaning removes these marks, and improves accuracy. Thats all they mean by seasoning, it's not like long ago, when a man had to season his barrel, according to my friends at T/C, the modern steels that are used to make modern muzzleloaders doesn't need seasoned. So go get what you need, and go have some fun with your gun. You sound new at this, here's a great book that will make it all sensible to you, Lymans BlackPowder Hand Book & Loading manual. Oh just for the record, my wife has been using the Encore for 4 years now, she shoots 80grains of Triple 7, with a 300grain Hornady SST, and a Winchester 209 primer. Shes killed 9 deer, two black bears and two caribou with it, all one shot, all but 2 deer dropped where she shot them, they wobbled about ten feet then fell over. Enjoy your Encore, it's a great gun!!!