Safety & Instruction Manual For Encore Muzzleloading Rifle ... · Springfield, MA 01104 Toll Free Phone: 1-866-730-1614 Customer Service E-mail: [email protected] NoTE:

Rimfire and Centerfire Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun Variations of the Encore® Are Covered In Separate Manuals.

They Are Available Free Upon Request.

WARNING: BlACk PoWdER oR AN APPRoVEd BlACk PoWdER SUBSTITUTE SUCh AS PyRodEx® ARE ThE

oNly PRoPEllANT PoWdERS ThAT ARE SAFE To USE IN A MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM.

ThoMPSoN/CENTER ARMS2100 Roosevelt Avenue • Springfield, MA 01104

Toll Free Phone 1-866-730-1614www.tcarms.com

Read the instructions andwarnings in this manual

CAREFUlly BEFoRE using this firearm.

Copyright © 2020 Smith & Wesson Inc.All rights reserved.

Safety & Instruction ManualFor Encore® Muzzleloading

Rifle and PistolIncluding The 209x50, Encore® Pro-hunter™

and Encore® Endeavor™ Muzzleloaders.

2

WARNING:REAd ThESE INSTRUCTIoNS ANd WARNINGS CAREFUlly.

BE SURE yoU UNdERSTANd ThESE INSTRUCTIoNS ANd WARNINGS BEFoRE USING

ThIS FIREARM. FAIlURE To REAd ThESE INSTRUCTIoNS ANd To FolloW ThESE

WARNINGS MAy RESUlT IN SERIoUS INJURy oR dEATh To yoU ANd oThERS ANd

dAMAGE To PRoPERTy

ThIS SAFETy & INSTRUCTIoNMANUAl ShoUld AlWAyS ACCoMPANy ThIS

FIREARM ANd BE TRANSFERREd WITh IT UPoN ChANGE oF oWNERShIP oR WhEN ThE FIRE-

ARM IS PRESENTEd To ANoThER PERSoN.

AlWAyS kEEP yoUR FIREARM PoINTEd IN A SAFE dIRECTIoN. NEVER PoINT A FIREARM AT

ANyThING yoU do NoT INTENd To ShooT.

IF yoU doN’T hAVE A MANUAl, PRINTEd CoPIES ARE AVAIlABlE FREE UPoN REqUEST By CoN-

TACTING ThE FACToRy AT ThE AddRESS BEloW. ThEy ARE AlSo AVAIlABlE VIA

doWNloAd AT WWW.TCARMS.CoM.

ThoMPSoN/CENTER ARMS• CUSToMER SUPPoRT •2100 Roosevelt AvenueSpringfield, MA 01104

Toll Free Phone: 1-866-730-1614www.tcarms.com

Customer Service E-mail:[email protected]

NoTE: The Encore®, as sold by Thompson/Center™, is sold as either a handgun or a long gun.

Changes to the configuration of the Encore® by the end user, including but not limited to, a butt stock on a pistol, or a pistol barrel (under 16 inches) on a long gun, may subject the firearm to classification under

the National Firearms Act, which imposes registration, taxes, and other requirements on the owners of such

firearms. It is your responsibility to comply with all Federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding the ownership or possession of a firearm such as the

Encore® and any conversions or additions of any aftermarket accessories to your Encore®.

3

yoUR SAFETy RESPoNSIBIlITIESSAFETy IS yoUR NUMBER oNE RESPoNSIBIlITy!

•Athome,inthefield,attherange,oranywhere,thefirstconcernofeveryfirearmownershouldbesafety.Applythefollowingsafetyrulesineverysituation,withanykindoffirearm.Ifyoufeeluncertainaboutanyoperationalaspectsofyourfirearm,pleasecontactThompson/Centerbeforeproceedingwithitsoperation.

•Ifyouareunfamiliarwithfirearmsyoushouldseekformaltrainingbeforeusingyourfirearm.

WARNING: yoU MUST FolloW All oF ThESE SAFETy RUlES To ENSURE ThE SAFE USE oF yoUR FIRE-ARM. ThE FAIlURE To FolloW ThE INSTRUCTIoNS

ANd WARNINGS IN ThIS MANUAl CoUld CAUSE SERIoUS PERSoNAl INJURy oR dEATh To yoU oR oThERS ANd dAM-AGE To PRoPERTy.

•Asafirearmowner,youacceptademandingresponsibility.Howseriouslyyoutakethisresponsibilitycanbethedifferencebetweenlifeanddeath.Thereisnoexcuseforcarelessorabusivehandlingofyourfirearm.Atalltimeshandleyourfirearmwithintenserespectforitspowerandpotentialdanger.

TABlE oF CoNTENTSYOUR SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES ..........................................3-7SAFE STORAGE ANd TRANSPORTATION ................................8-9SAFETY RULES FOR ALL T/C® MUZZLELOAdERS .............10-12BASICEQUIPMENTFORSHOOTINGTHEENCORE® .............. 13UNdERSTANdING BLACk POWdER ......................................... 14UNdERSTANdING PYROdEx® ................................................... 15ENCORE®TRIGGERANdHAMMER .......................................... 16PREPARATION FOR FIRING ....................................................... 17MOdEL ANd FEATURES IdENTIFICATION ................................ 18INSPECTING YOUR ENCORE® MUZZLELOAdER ..................... 19INSTALLING A BARREL .........................................................20-21AMMUNITIONANdCHARGINGTHEENCORE® ..................22-27PRIMINGTHEENCORE® MUZZLELOAdER .........................28-29FIRINGTHEENCORE® MUZZLELOAdER .............................29-31UNLOAdINGANdUNCHARGING .........................................32-34FIELd CLEANING ...................................................................34-35THOROUGHCLEANING ........................................................36-38dISASSEMBLYOFTHEENCORE® FOR CLEANING ............38-40MOUNTING A SCOPE ................................................................. 41SIGHTAdJUSTMENT ................................................................. 42LIMITEd LIFETIME WARRANTY ............................................42-43CONTACTANdSHIPPINGFORSERVICE.............................44-45ENCORE®SPEEdBREECH® APPENdIx ..............................46-49ENCORE®SWINGHAMMER® APPENdIx .............................50-51ENCORE®SPEEdBREECH® xT™ APPENdIx ......................52-55LOAd COMPONENTS ................................................................. 56SUGGESTEd LOAdS FOR ENCORE® MUZZLELOAdERS ...56-65BATTERY WARNINGS ................................................................. 66PATENT ANd CONTACT INFORMATION ................................... 68

4

yoUR SAFETy RESPoNSIBIlITIES CoNTINUEd

•AlWAyS kEEP yoUR FIREARM PoINTEd IN A SAFE dIREC-TIoN. Neverpointafirearmatanyoneoranythingyoudonotintendtoshootwhetherornotitisloaded.Thisisparticularlyimportantwhenloading,unloading,orfieldstrippingthegun.ALWAYScontrolthedirectionofthefirearm.

• AlWAyS TREAT EVERy FIREARM AS IF IT IS loAdEd ANd WIll FIRE.donottakeanyone’swordthatthefirearmisunchargedorunprimed–alwayscheckforyourself.Neverpassyourfirearmtoanotherpersonuntiltheactionisopenandyouvisuallycheckthatitisunchargedandunprimed.Keepyourmuzzleloadingfirearmunchargedandunprimedandsafelystoredwhennotinuse.

• NEVER PlACE yoUR FINGER INSIdE ThE TRIGGER GUARd oR oN ThE TRIGGER UNlESS yoU INTENd To FIRE.Ensurethatotherobjectsdonottouchthetrigger.

• AlWAyS BE SURE oF yoUR TARGET ANd WhAT IS BEyoNd IT.Alwaysbesureofwherethebulletwillstrikeandshootonlywherethereisasafebackstopfreeofobstructions,waterorothersurfaceswhichcancausericochets.Besureyourbulletwillstopbehindyourtarget.Bulletscanglanceoffmanysurfaceslikerocksorthesurfaceofwaterandtravelinunpredictabledirectionswithconsiderablevelocity.donotfirerandomlyintothesky.

• NEVER CRoSS oBSTAClES SUCh AS FENCES oR STREAMS WITh A ChARGEd oR PRIMEd MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM. Alwaysmakecertainyourmuzzleloadingfirearmisunprimedbeforecrossingafence,climbingatree,jumpingaditchornegotiatingotherobstacles.

• SAFE FIREARM hANdlING IS yoUR PERSoNAl RESPoNSI-BIlITy AT All TIMES.Firearmscanbedangerousandcancauseseriousinjuryordeathiftheyaremisusedorusedinappropriately.Safetymustbetheprimeconsiderationofanyonewhoownsorhandlesfirearms.Accidentsaretheresultofviolatingtherulesofsafefirearmhandlingandcommonsense.Firearmsafetytrainingisavailable.Contactyourfirearmsdealer,lawenforcementagency,localsportsman’sclub,theNRA,etc.foravailability.

• yoU ARE RESPoNSIBlE FoR ThE FIREARM AT All TIMES. Inowningafirearm,youmustundertakefull-timeresponsibilityforyourfirearm’ssafetyandsecurity.Youmustprotectyourselfand

allothersagainstinjuryordeathfrommisuseofthefirearm24hoursaday.

• FIREARM SECURITy IS yoUR RESPoNSIBIlITy.Youmustsecurefirearmssafelyfromchildrenand/orunauthorizedusers.Yourfirearmshouldalwaysbekeptunloadedandlockedwhennotinuse.Neverassumethattheuseofalockissufficienttosafe-lysecureyourfirearm.Youmustalwaysevaluateyourpersonalsituationandemploythesecuritysystemsthatmeetyourneedsandpreventchildrenandunauthorizedusersfromgainingaccesstoyourfirearm.

5


• APPRoPRIATE USE FoR yoUR FIREARM MEANS USING yoUR FIREARM FoR lEGAl PURPoSES.Forexample-targetshooting,huntingandlawfulresistanceofdeadlycriminalforce.Itisyourre-sponsibilitytoensurethatyouareincompliancewithallapplicablelawsandordinancesregardingtheuseofyourfirearm.

• NEVER REly oN MEChANICAl FEATURES AloNE.Onlyyoursafefirearm-handlinghabitswillensurethesafeuseofyourfirearm.Thisisyourresponsibility.

• AlWAyS SAFEly SToRE ANd SECURE yoUR FIREARM.Safeandsecurestorageofyourfirearmisoneofyourmostimportantre-sponsibilities.Itisafull-timeresponsibility.Youmustalwayssecureyourfirearm,ammunition,andloadingcomponentsseparatelysothattheyarenotaccessibletochildrenand/orotherunauthorizedpersons.

• NEVER kEEP AMMUNITIoN ANd loAdING CoMPoNENTS IN ThE SAME loCATIoN AS ThE FIREARM.Storeeachinasepa-rateandsecureplace.

• AlWAyS WEAR EyE PRoTECTIoN ThAT IS SPECIFIEd FoR USE WITh FIREARMSeverytimeyouhandleyourfirearmforcleaningandmaintenance.

• AlWAyS WEAR EyE ANd hEARING PRoTECTIoN ThAT IS SPECIFIEd FoR USE WITh FIREARMSeverytimeyoudischargeyourfirearm.Makesureothersinthevicinityofwhereyouwillbeshootingdosoaswell.

• NEVER USE AlCohol oR dRUGS BEFoRE oR WhIlE ShooT-ING.donotuseyourfirearmifyouareonanymedicationwhichimpairs,evenslightly,yourmentalorphysicalability.

• AlWAyS hAVE AdEqUATE VENTIlATIoN.dischargingfirearmsinpoorlyventilatedareas,cleaningfirearms,orhandlingammunitionandloadingcomponentsmayresultinexposuretoleadandothersubstancesknowntocausebirthdefects,reproductiveharm,andotherseriousphysicalinjury.Reviewthewarningsandlabelsforallammunition,loadingcomponents,andcleaningproductscarefully.Washhandsthoroughlyafterexposure.

• BEFoRE hANdlING ANy FIREARM, UNdERSTANd ITS oPER-ATIoN.Notallfirearmsarethesame.Familiarizeyourselfwiththemechanicalfeaturesofanyfirearmyouintendtouse.Ifyoufeeluncertainaboutanyoperationalaspectsofyourfirearm,pleasecon-tactThompson/Centerbeforeproceedingwithitsoperation.

• NEVER AlloW A FIREARM To BE USEd By INdIVIdUAlS Who do NoT UNdERSTANd ITS SAFE oPERATIoN oR hAVE NoT REAd ThESE FIREARM SAFETy RUlES.

6


• AlWAyS USE ThE CoRRECT CoMBINATIoN oF loAd CoM-PoNENTS FoR yoUR PARTICUlAR MUzzlEloAdING FIRE-ARMasdetailedinthismanual.

• BE CERTAIN ThE BARREl IS ClEAR oF oBSTRUCTIoNS BEFoRE ShooTING.Mud,water,snoworotherobjectsmayinadvertentlylodgeinthebarrelbore.Asmallobstructioncancauseadangerousincreaseinpressureandmaydamageyourfirearmandcauseinjurytoyourselfandothers.

• BE SURE All ACCESSoRIES, SUCh AS holSTERS, GRIPS, SlINGS, SCoPES ANd oThER ACCESSoRIES ARE CoMPATI-BlEwiththefirearmandthattheaccessoriesdonotinterferewithsafeoperation.Itisyourresponsibilitytounderstandandfollowalloftheinstructionsinthismanual,aswellasthosewhichmaybesuppliedwithyourammunitionandloadingcomponentsandanyaccessory.

• NEVER dISASSEMBlE yoUR FIREARMbeyondtheproceduresoutlinedinthismanual.Improperdisassemblyorre-assemblyofyourfirearmmaybedangerousandcanleadtoseriousinjuryordeath.

• NEVER MANIPUlATE, AdJUST oR ChANGE ANy oF ThE INTERNAl CoMPoNENTS oF yoUR FIREARM UNlESS SPE-CIFICAlly INSTRUCTEd To do So IN ThIS MANUAl. Improper manipulationofanyinternalcomponentmayaffectthesafetyandreliabilityofyourfirearmandmaycauseseriousinjuryordeath.

• NEVER AlloW ANy AlTERATIoN oR REPlACEMENT oF PARTS IN yoUR ThoMPSoN/CENTER FIREARM UNlESS PER-FoRMEd By A qUAlIFIEd GUNSMIThusinggenuineThompson/Centerparts.Ifyoudootherwise,improperfunctioningofyourfire-armmayoccurandseriousinjuryordeathanddamagetopropertymayresult.

WARNING: SAFE USE oF A FIREARM IS yoUR PERSoN-Al RESPoNSIBIlITy ANd ThE FAIlURE To FolloW All oF ThESE BASIC SAFETy RUlES MAy RESUlT IN

SEVERE PERSoNAl INJURy oR dEATh To yoU oR oThERS ANd dAMAGE To PRoPERTy. yoU ARE ThE MoST IMPoRTANT SAFETy dEVICE WhEN IT CoMES To ThE USE oF yoUR FIRE-ARM ANd ThoMPSoN/CENTER WIll NoT BE RESPoNSIBlE FoR ANy PERSoNAl INJURy, dEATh oR PRoPERTy dAMAGE ThAT RESUlTS FRoM: (1) ThE CRIMINAl oR NEGlIGENT USE oF ThIS FIREARM; (2) A dISREGARd oF ThESE SAFETy INSTRUCTIoNS ANd WARNINGS; (3) IMPRoPER oR CARElESS hANdlING oF ThIS FIREARM; (4) ThE USE oF NoN-STAN-dARd, dEFECTIVE, IMPRoPER loAd CoMPoNENTS, (5) oR, IMPRoPER oR NEGlIGENT ModIFICATIoNS oR REPAIRS To ThE FIREARM.

7


• NEVER ClIMB To oR dESCENd FRoM A TREE STANd WITh A PRIMEd MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM.Neverraiseorloweraprimedmuzzleloadingfirearmtoorfromatreestand.ALWAYSREMOVETHEPRIMERORPERCUSSIONCAPFROMTHEBREECHPLUGORNIPPLE.Failuretofollowthisrulemaycauseseriousinjuryand/ordeathtotheshooterorbystandersanddamagetoproperty.

• NEVER lEAN A ChARGEd ANd PRIMEd RIFlE AGAINST A TREE, A WAll oR ANy SURFACE WhERE IT MAy FAll oVER. Oncetheriflehasbeenchargeditisyourresponsibilitytoguardagainstsituationsthatmayresultinanaccidentaldischarge.Failuretofollowthisrulemaycauseseriousinjuryand/ordeathtotheshooterorbystandersanddamagetoproperty.

• USE ThoMPSoN/CENTER SCoPE MoUNTS oNly.Thecurrentproductcataloglistsaseriesofscopesandmountswhicharedesignedspecificallyforusewithourfirearms.Thesemountsmakeuseofexistingscrewholes.

WARNING: do NoT dRIll holES IN ThE BARREl AS ThIS CoUld WEAkEN ThE BARREl STRUC TURE lEAdING To A RUP TURE. A RUPTUREd BARREl CAN

CAUSE SE RI oUS IN JU Ry ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooT-ER oR BySTANdERS ANd dAMAGE To PRoPERTy. dRIll-ING holES IN ThE BARREl AlSo VoIdS All WARRANTIES.

• NEVER ModIFy ANy oF ThE PARTS IN yoUR FIREARM. donotaddorreplaceanyofthepartsinyourfirearmunlesstheyaregenuineThompson/CenterpartsandyoufollowtheinstructionssuppliedbyThompson/Center.Ifyoudootherwise,improperfunc-tioningmayoccurandseriousinjuryordeathmayresult.Inadditiontothedangerspresented,theuseofnon-factoryparts,includingbutnotlimitedto,stocksandsprings,voidsallwarranties.

WARNING: NEVER REly oN MEChANICAl SAFETy FEATURES oF ThE FIREARM AloNE. oNly yoUR SAFE FIREARM hANdlING WIll ENSURE ThE SAFE USE oF

yoUR FIREARM. ThIS IS yoUR RESPoNSIBIlITy.

WARNING: To PREVENT dAMAGE To yoUR MUzzlE-loAdER’S BoRE dUE To RUST, IT IS RECoMMENd-Ed ThAT yoU UNloAd, ThoRoUGhly ClEAN, ANd

lIGhTly oIl ThE BoRE oF yoUR MUzzlEloAdER BEFoRE SToRAGE. BEFoRE USING yoUR MUzzlEloAdER AGAIN, RE-MEMBER To WIPE ThE BoRE ANd BREECh ClEAR oF oIl.

8

SAFE SToRAGE ANd TRANSPoRTATIoN

WARNING: AlWAyS kEEP ThE MUzzlE PoINTEd IN A SAFE dIRECTIoN.

WARNING: FIREARMS ARE dANGERoUS WhEN USEd ANd SToREd IMPRoPERly. ThEy PoSE A RISk oF SERIoUS oR FATAl INJURIES. FIREARMS CAN BE

ESPECIAlly dANGERoUS To ChIldREN WhEN ThEy ARE SToREd IN AN IRRESPoNSIBlE ANd UNSAFE MANNER. FoR yoUR SAFETy ANd ThE SAFETy oF oThERS, IT IS IMPERA-TIVE ThAT yoU kEEP yoUR FIREARM loCkEd ANd UNloAd-Ed IN A SECURE PlACE. ThE AMMUNITIoN ANd loAdING CoMPoNENTS ShoUld BE SToREd IN A SEPARATE, SECURE loCATIoN WhEN NoT IN USE. SAFE ANd SECURE SToRAGE oF yoUR FIREARM IS oNE oF ThE MoST IMPoRTANT RUlES oF FIREARM SAFETy. yoUR FAIlURE To FolloW ThESE RUlES MAy RESUlT IN SERIoUS INJURy oR dEATh To yoU oR oThERS.

• AlWAyS SECURE yoUR FIREARM IN A MANNER ThAT WIll PREVENT UNAUThoRIzEd ACCESS.Wheneveryourfirearmisnotinuse,keepitunloadedandlocked.Yoursafetyandthesafetyofothersrequiresthatyoualwayssecureandstoreyourfirearminamannerthatwillpreventunauthorizedaccess.Neverleaveafirearmunattendedunlessitislocked,unloadedandsecured.

WARNING: NEVER loCk A loAdEd FIREARM ANd NEVER loAd A loCkEd FIREARM!!

•AlWAyS SToRE yoUR FIREARM ANd AMMUNITIoN ANd loAdING CoMPoNENTS SEPARATElysothattheyarenotac-cessibletochildrenorotherunauthorizedpersons.Safeandsecurestorageofyourfirearm,ammunition,andloadingcomponentsisyourresponsibility.Itisafull-timeresponsibility.

• NEVER ASSUME ThAT A “hIdING” PlACE IS A SECURE SToR-AGE METhod.Othersmaybeawareofyourstoragelocationorcomeuponitbychance.Itisyourpersonalresponsibilitytousecommonsensewhenstoringyourfirearmandammunitionandload-ingcomponentsandtoalwaysmakesuretheyarenotaccessibletochildrenorotherunauthorizedpersons.

• NEVER TRANSPoRT A ChARGEd oR PRIMEd MUzzlEloAd-ING FIREARM.Whentransportingyourfirearm,besureitisun-charged,unprimedandsecurelylocked.Safeandsecuretranspor-tationofyourfirearmisyourresponsibility.

9

SAFE SToRAGE ANd TRANSPoRTATIoN CoNTINUEd

• NEVER SToRE A ChARGEd oR PRIMEd MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM.Whenstoringyourfirearm,besureitisuncharged,unprimedandsecurelylocked.Safeandsecurestorageofyourfirearmisyourresponsibility.

• AlWAyS FolloW ThE lAW!Manyjurisdictionshavelawsthatmakeitacrimetokeepafirearmunlockedandinanareaacces-sibletochildrenorothers.Keepingafirearmlockedandunloadedwhennotinuseisnotonlycommonsensesafetypractice...ITISTHELAW.Youmustbefamiliarwithalllocal,state,andfederallawsregardingthesafestorageandtransportationofyourfirearm.Failuretoknowandfollowthelawmayresultinunauthorizedaccessoruseofyourfirearmbyanother.Obeyalllawsrelatingtothestorageandtransportationoffirearms.Yourlocalpolicedepartmentorgunshopcanfurnishyouwithavailableinformationonstoringand/ortransportingafirearmsafelyandlegally.

• yoUR FIREARM IS yoUR RESPoNSIBIlITy. Youmustpreventyourfirearmfrombeingstolenorfrombeingusedbyuntrainedorunqualifiedindividuals.Keepitlocked,uncharged,unprimedandsecuredwhennotinuse.

10

SAFETy RUlES FoR ENCoRE® MUzzlEloAdING RIFlE

InadditiontothegeneralFirearmSafetyResponsibilitiescoveredsofarinthismanual,thereareadditionalguidelinesspecifictoblackpowdermuzzleloadingfirearmsthatmustbeadheredtoatalltimestoensurethesafetyoftheshooterandothers.

• NEVER USE SMokElESS PoWdER oF ANy TyPE oR IN ANy qUANTITy IN A MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM ANd NEVER MIx PoWdERS. Theuseofanysmokelesspowdercouldresultinadetonationorexplosionwhichcouldcauseinjuryand/ordeathtotheshooterorbystandersanddamagetoproperty.

• NEVER USE ANy PoWdER ThAT yoU CANNoT IdENTIFy WITh CERTAINTy.Theuseofanymis-labeledpowdercouldresultininjuryand/ordeathtotheshooterorbystandersanddamagetoproperty.

• USE oNly BlACk PoWdER oR AN APPRoVEd BlACk PoW-dER SUBSTITUTE SUCh AS PyRodEx® To loAd yoUR MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM.Neveruseevensmallamountsofsmokelesspowder,evenifitisblackincolor.Theuseofanyotherpropellantmaycauseinjuryordeathtotheshooterorbystandersanddamagetoproperty.

•NEVER SMokE WhIlE USING yoUR MUzzlEloAdER. Thesparkfromalightedcigarette,cigarorpipecanigniteblackpowderorablackpowdersubstitutesuchasPyrodex®,andper-cussioncapsorprimers.Smokingaroundachargedand/orprimedmuzzleloader,percussioncaps,primers,primingpowderorsupplyofpowdermaycauseprematurefiringofthefirearmoranexplosionofthepowdercan,hornorflaskcausingseriousinjuryand/ordeathtotheshooterorbystandersanddamagetoproperty.

• BEFoRE loAdING, MAkE SURE ThE MUzzlEloAdING FIRE-ARM IS NoT AlREAdy ChARGEd.Tomakesureitisuncharged,keepthemuzzlepointedinasafedirectionandinserttheramrodprovidedwiththerifleintothebore.Notethepositionoftheramrodinrelationtothemuzzle.Itwillbeslightlybelowtheendofthebarreliftherifleisnotloaded.

• WhEN loAdING, BE CERTAIN ThAT ThE PRoJECTIlE IS loAdEd IN ThE PRoPER SEqUENCE ANd ThAT IT IS SEAT-Ed FIRMly AGAINST ThE PoWdER ChARGE.Seriouspersonalinjuryordeathcanresultiftheprojectileisnotseatedproperly.Toprovideareferencemarkforfutureloadings,marktheramrodatthemuzzleonceaprojectilehasbeenloadedtotheproperdepth.

NoTE:Besuretorechecktheramrodmarkifyouchangeloadingcomponentsoraltertheramrod.

11

SAFETy RUlES FoR ENCoRE® CoNTINUEd

• NEVER ExCEEd ThE RECoMMENdEd MAxIMUM ChARGE lISTEd IN ThIS Book.Todosocouldresultininjuryordeathtotheshooterorbystanders.

• NEVER PoUNd oN ThE RAMRod.BlackPowderandapprovedBlackPowdersubstitutessuchasPyrodex®arepotentiallysensitivetoimpactandcouldignitefromimpact.Alwayskeepthemuzzledirectedawayfromyourfaceorbodywhenloading.Placefingersandhandaroundtheramrod,notovertheendoftheramrodwhenseatingprojectile.

• BlACk PoWdER ANd BlACk PoWdER SUBSTITUTES SUCh AS PyRodEx® lEAVE CoRRoSIVE RESIdUES IN ThE BoRE ANd oN ThE FIREARM.Athoroughcleaningisabsolutelynecessarybeforestorageforanyamountoftimetokeepthefirearmfunctioningcorrectlyandinsafeacondition.

• UNdERSTANd ThE TERMINoloGy.“Charge”or“Charged”appliestothepresenceofapropellantpowderchargeandprojectileintheboreofthemuzzleloadingfirearm.

•“Uncharge”or“Uncharged”referstotheoppositeconditionto“Charged”andindicatesthatthepowderchargeandprojectilehavebeeneitherfiredorremovedandthattheboreiscompletelyclear.

•“Prime”or“Primed”appliestotheactofplacingaprimer,caporprimingpowderinoronamuzzleloader.

•“Unprime”or“Unprimed”referstotheoppositeconditionof“Primed”andindicatesthattheprimer,caporprimingpowderhasbeenremovedfromthefirearmorisnotinplace.

• NEVER PRIME yoUR MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM UNTIl yoU ARE REAdy To FIRE IT.Yourmuzzleloadershouldremainunprimeduntiltheinstantbeforefiring.Afteryouprimethefirearm,yourfullconcentrationshouldbeonthetargetandtheactoffiring.

• A ShARP oR hEAVy BloW To ThE ExTERNAl hAMMER CAN FRACTURE PARTS ANd CAUSE A MAlFUNCTIoN oR dISChARGE oF ThE FIREARM.Anaccidentaldischargemaycauseseriousinjuryand/ordeathtotheshooterorbystandersanddamagetoproperty.

• NEVER hANd A ChARGEd MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM To ANoThER PERSoN.Oncecharged,amuzzleloadingfirearmrequiresyourcompleteattention.Neverchargethefirearmandthenhandittoanothershooter.Equally,youshouldnevershootamuzzleloadingfirearmthathasbeenchargedbysomeoneelse.Onlythepersondoingtheloadingknowswhetherthefirearmhasbeenchargedproperly.

12

SAFETy RUlES FoR ENCoRE® CoNTINUEd

• WhEN PRESENTEd WITh A MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM, CoNFIRM FoR yoURSElF ThAT IT IS UNPRIMEd ANd UN-ChARGEd. Treatallfirearmsasiftheyareloadedandwillfire.

• do NoT ChARGE yoUR ThoMPSoN/CENTER MUzzlEloAd-ER dIRECTly FRoM A CAN, hoRN oR FlASk.Asparkfromapreviousfiringmayignitethestreamofpowderbeingpouredintothefirearmandcausethecontainertoexplode.Theexplosionofapowdercan,hornorflaskmaycauseseriousinjuryand/ordeathtotheshooterorbystandersanddamagetoproperty.Useaseparatepre-calibratedmeasuringdevicecontainingsmallquantitiesofpowdertochargeyourfirearm.Keepthemuzzledirectedawayfromyourfaceandbodywhenloading.

• AlWAyS kEEP SUPPlIES oF PoWdER, PRIMERS ANd CAPS WEll AWAy FRoM A FIRING PoSITIoN oR ShooTING BENCh. Apowderhorn,flask,canofpowder,orquantityofprimersorcapscanignitewithdeadlyforceifexposedtosparksorintenseheat.Followthemanufacturer’sinstructionsforsafehandlingandstorageofpowderandprimersorcaps.Keeppowderreserves,primersandpercussioncapswellawayfromfirearmsthatarebeingdischarged.Sparksfromthedischargeofamuzzleloadingfirearmmaycauseanreservesupplyofpowder,primersorpercussioncapstoignitecausingseriousinjuryand/ordeathtotheshooterorbystandersanddamagetoproperty.

• yoU MUST FolloW ThIS PRoCEdURE EVERy TIME A FIRE-ARM lEAVES yoUR hANd, IS ClEANEd, hANdEd To yoU oR ANoThER PERSoN, TRANSPoRTEd oR SToREd.

WARNING: NEVER REly oN MEChANICAl FEATURES AloNE. oNly yoUR SAFE FIREARM hANdlING WIll ENSURE ThE SAFE USE oF yoUR FIREARM. ThIS IS

yoUR RESPoNSIBIlITy.

13

BASIC EqUIPMENT FoR ShooTING ENCoRE® MUzzlEloAdER

InordertoshootyourENCORE®muzzleloader,youwillneedthefollowingaccessoriesorequipmentlistedbelowsoldseparately:

WARNING: do NoT ATTEMPT To ShooT yoUR MUzzlEloAdING FIRE ARM UNTIl yoU hAVE REAd ThIS MANUAl IN ITS EN TIRE Ty ANd UNdERSTANd IT

FUlly. FAIlURE To REAd ANd Fol loW ThESE IN STRUC TIoNS CoUld RESUlT IN IN JU Ry ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooT ER oR By STANd ERS ANd dAMAGE To PRoP ER Ty. IF yoU ARE UN ABlE To UN dER STANd ANy oR All oF ThIS MA TE RI Al, CAll ThE ThoMP SoN/CEN TER CUS ToM ER SER VICE dE PART-MENT AT 1-866-730-1614.

1.ProperEyeProtection-specifiedforusewithfirearms.

2.ProperHearingProtection-specifiedforusewithfirearms.

3.BlackPowderoranapprovedBlackPowdersubstitutesuchasPyrodex®,intheappropriatetypeforyourfirearm.

4.APowderMeasure.

5.ABulletStartertool.

6.Projectiles:Appropriateforyourfirearm. 7. 209 Primers.

8.Borecleaningpatches.

9.AJagtoholdcleaningpatches.

10.AnappropriateBoreCleanerformuzzleloaders(like Thompson/CenterNumber13®BoreCleanerorT17®BoreCleaner). 11.AnappropriateOilorRustInhibitingLubricant(like Thompson/CenterNaturalLube1000Plus™BoreButter).

12.BreechPluganti-seizelubricant(likeThompson/Center SuperLube®).

Accessories and consumables sold separately, see a selection of accessories for the Thompson/Center™

ENCoRE® at accessories.tcarms.com

14

UNdERSTANdING BlACk PoWdERShootingmuzzleloadingfirearmsrequirestheshootertobebothareloaderandariflemanatthesametime.Itrequiresstrictadherencetotheinstructionssetforthinthisbooklet.Failuretofollowtheseinstructionsmaycausedamagetothefirearmandinjuryand/ordeathtotheshooterorbystandersanddamagetoproperty.

NoTE:BlackPowderismanufacturedinfourspecifictypesorgranulationsforuseinfirearms.Generallyspeaking,itisthegranulesizewhichdeterminestheap-propriateuseofBlackPowder.Thelargestgranulationsarenaturallytheslowestburningand,therefore,workbestinlargecaliberriflesandshotguns.Pistolsorsmallercaliberriflesrequireafinerorfasterburningpowder.Theprimingpowderusedinthepanofaflintlockisextremelyfineandfastburningforpositiveignitionofthemaincharge.

FG (CoMMoNly CAllEd SINGlE “F”)Themuzzleloadingenthusiastfindslittleuseforthisverycoarseblackpowder.It’suseisrestrictedtothelargebore(10,8,4gauge)shotgunsofyesteryear.

FFG (CoMMoNly CAllEd doUBlE “F”)Thisisaverypopularpowderfor.45caliberto.58caliberrifles.Itisalsousedfor12,16,and20gaugemuzzleloadingshotguns.Whileitisnotconsideredapistolpowder,itissometimesusedinverylargecalibersingleshotpistols.ItisrecommendedforuseinmostThomp-son/CenterArms™muzzleloaders.

FFFG (CoMMoNly CAllEd TRIPlE “F”)duetoitswiderangeofuses,Triple“F”istheblackpowderthatismostcommonlyfoundonadealer’sshelf.Itisusedinallpercussionrevolvers,mostsingleshotpistols,andmostofthesmaller(under.45caliber)rifles.Itcanalsobeusedtoprimeaflintlockifno4Fpowderisavailableforthatpurpose.

FFFFG (CoMMoNly CAllEd FoUR “F”)Thefinestofallcurrentlyavailableblackpowders,Four“F”isbestusedforprimingflintlocks.duetoitslimiteduse,itissometimesdifficulttoobtain.

WhenpurchasingBlackPowderbecertainthatitisintheoriginalmanufacturer’scontainerandthatitsgranulationortypeisclearlymarkedonthelabel.Followthestorageandhandlingprecautionswhichareonthelabel.IfyouhaveanyquestionsconcerningthesafehandlingorstorageofBlackPowder,writetothemanufacturerofthepowder.Additionalinformationonpowderstorageisavailablefrom:

NationalFireProtectionAssociation 1BatterymarchPark Quincy,Massachusetts,USA02169-7471 Orcall+1800344-3555(U.S.&Canada) +1617770-3000(International) Askforpamphlet#495

15

UNdERSTANdING PyRodEx®

Pyrodex®isapropellantpowderdesignedforuseinmuzzleloadingcaplockrifles,pistolsandshotguns.PyrodexisnotBlackPowder.Inaccordancewiththemanufacturer’sinstructions,PyrodexrelatescloselytoBlackPowderonavolumetovolumebasis(notweightofcharge).Inotherwords,ablackpowdermeasurethatissettodispense70grainsofblackpowderwill,infact,dispenseapproximately52grainsofPyrodex(byweight).ThislighterchargeofPyrodexwillprovideachargewhichisballistically

similarto70grainsofBlackPowder.Forallpracticalpurposes,knowingtheactualweightofachargeofPyrodexmaybeinforma-tive,butnotnecessary.Yourblackpowdermeasurewilldictatetheproperamountbyitsgraduationsaccordingtovolume.IfyouwanttoknowtheactualcomparativeweightofaPyrodexcharge,contactthemanufacturer,HodgdonPowderCo.Inc.,6231Robinson,ShawneeMission,KS66202-1332.

Pyrodex®doesnotigniteaseasilyasBlackPowderand,conse-quently,itisnotrecommendedforuseinflintlockfirearms.Flintlocksrequirestrong,positiveignitionandshouldbechargedandprimedwithBlackPowderoftheappropriategranulationonly.

PyRodEx® CTG - FoR BlACk PoWdER CARTRIdGES. Thispowderwasdesignedtobeusedinbreechloadingcartridgefirearms(rifles,pistols&shotguns)whichwereintendedforusewithBlackPowder.IthasnoapplicationinThompson/Centermuzzleload-ingfirearms.Itislistedheresimplyforidentificationpurposes.

PyRodEx® RS (oR PyRodEx SElECT “RS”) RIFlE & ShoTGUN PoWdER.designedforuseinallcalibersofpercussionmuzzleload-ingriflesandshotguns,thispowderhasawideapplication.ItmaybeusedwithallThompson/Centermuzzleloadingriflesandshotguns.PyrodexSelect(RS)mayalsobeusedintheseapplica-tions.

PyRodEx® P - PISTol PoWdER.designedforuseinmostpercus-sionmuzzleloadingpistolsandcapandballrevolvers,thispowderhasapplicationintheThompson/CenterPatriot™Pistol.

PyRodEx® PEllETS-ThesepreformedchargesaredesignedforuseinmostThompson/CenterArms™muzzleloadersandaresuitablewherepermittedbystateandlocallaws.Usetheappropriatecaliberandchargeweightpelletforyourmuzzleloadingrifle.

ThereadershouldbearinmindthatThompson/CenterArmsdoesnotmanufactureorsellpowderofanytype.Ifthereiseveraquestionastotheproperapplicationofaparticularpowderorthesafetyofagivencharge,writetothemanufacturerofthepowder.Adheretothesafehandlingandstorageprecautionsprintedonthemanufactur-er’scontainerandneverpurchaseorusepowderswhichhavebeenremovedfromtheiroriginalcontainer.USEOFTHEWRONGPRO-PELLANTmaycauseinjuryand/ordeathtotheshooterorbystand-ersanddamagetoproperty.ForinformationonPyrodex,contactHodgdon:HodgdonPowderCompany,6430Vistadrive,Shawnee,kS 66218 Phone: 1-913-362-9455

16

ENCoRE® TRIGGER ANd hAMMER

WARNING: FAIlURE To FolloW ThESE FIREARM SAFETy REqUIREMENTS WIll CAUSE SERIoUS PER-SoNAl INJURy oR dEATh To yoU oR oThERS.

TherearethreehammerpositionsontheENCORE®muzzleloader:“AtRest”,“Cocked”and“Fired.”

• ThE hAMMER ShoUld BE IN ThE “AT REST” PoSITIoN dURING loAdING ANd WhEN CARRyING (FIGURE 1a).

• ThE hAMMER ShoUld BE IN ThE “CoCkEd” PoSITIoN oNly WhEN IN ThE PRoCESS oF FIRING (FIGURE 1b).

• WhEN ThE ENCoRE® hAMMER IS CoCkEd ANd ThE TRIG-GER IS PUllEd - ThE hAMMER CoNTACTS ThE FIRING PIN (FIGURE 1c).

FIGURE 1A

hammer“AT REST”

hammer“CoCkEd”

hammer in“FIREd”position

FIGURE 1B

FIGURE 1C

17

PREPARATIoN FoR FIRINGWARNING:ThE FAIlURE To FolloW ThESE FIREARM SAFETy REqUIREMENTS MAy CAUSE SERIoUS PER-SoNAl INJURy oR dEATh To yoU oR oThERS.

•AlWAyS TREAT All FIREARMS AS IF ThEy ARE loAdEd ANd WIll FIRE IF ThE TRIGGER IS PUllEd.

• AlWAyS WEAR AdEqUATE ANd PRoPER hEARING PRoTEC-TIoN SPECIFIEd FoR USE WITh FIREARMStopreventperma-nentdamagetoyourhearing.Makesureotherswhoarenearbyarewearinghearingprotectionaswell.

• AlWAyS WEAR PRoPER CloThING WhEN FIRING A MUzzlE-loAdER.Wearinglongsleevesisrecommendedtoprotectarmsfromdebristhatmaybeejectedduringfiring.

• AlWAyS WEAR SAFETy GlASSES SPECIFIEd FoR FIREARM USE, WhEThER INdooRS oR oUT.Safetyglassesshouldprotectyoureyesfromthefiringflashandparticlesassociatedwiththedis-chargeofamuzzleloader.Failuretodosocreatesariskofpersonalinjuryfromparticleordebrisspittingorricochets.Makesureotherswhoarenearbyarewearingeyeprotectionaswell.

• AlWAyS BE AlERT ANd AlWAyS FolloW ThE SAFETy INSTRUCTIoNS oF ThE RANGE oFFICER.Nevershootifyouaretired,coldorimpairedinanyway.

• AlWAyS BE AWARE oF oThER PEoPlE So ThAT PERSoNS CANNoT ACCIdENTAlly WAlk INTo ThE lINE oF FIRE.

• ThE ShooTER (ANd All oThERS IN ThE ShooTING AREA) MUST AlWAyS BE IN A PoSITIoN ThAT IS oUT oF ThE lINE oF FIREandarenotwithinanareawheretheymaybestruckbyricochetsorparticlesejectedfromafirearm.

• NEVER ShooT AT hARd SURFACES, WATER oR RANdoM-ly INTo ThE Sky.Alwaysselectaplacetoshootthathasasafebackstopandisfreefromobstructionsandsurfaceswhichcausericochets.

• NEVER USE AlCohol oR dRUGS BEFoRE oR WhIlE ShooT-ING oR hANdlING ANy FIREARM.

• NEVER SMokE WhIlE loAdING, ShooTING oR hANdlING ANy MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM.

• AlWAyS kEEP loAdING CoMPoNENTS ANd loAdING RESERVES WEll AWAy FRoM ThE MUzzlEloAdER

WhEN FIRING.

18

ModEl ANd FEATURES IdENTIFICATIoN

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 4

FIGURE 3

FIGURE 5a FIGURE 5b

FIGURE 6

FIGURE 7

Model designation marked on barrel

Serial number on frame

Caliber designation on barrel

older model - TCA - “E” ENCoRE®

frame identifier markingEncore® frame marking

Frame assembly

Breech plug

Barrel assembly with ramrod

Forend

Forend screwshinge pin

Stock

PRoPEllANT MARkING oN BARREl

19

INSPECTINGWARNING: AlWAyS kEEP ThE MUzzlE PoINTEd IN A SAFE dIRECTIoN.

WARNING: ANy TIME ThAT yoU hANdlE A ThoMP-SoN/CENTER™ ENCoRE®, oPEN ThE ACTIoN ANd ENSURE ThAT IT IS UNChARGEd ANd UNPRIMEd.

WARNING: NEVER REly oN MEChANICAl FEATURES AloNE. oNly yoUR SAFE GUN hANdlING WIll ENSURE ThE SAFE USE oF yoUR FIREARM. ThIS

IS yoUR RESPoNSIBIlITy.

INSPECTING

•Withyourfingerawayfromthetriggerandwiththehammerinthe“ATREST”position(FIGURE8),opentheactionbypullingupandbackonthetriggerguardspur(FIGURE9).

•Lookintothebarrelfromthebreechendtomakesurethereisnoprimerinthebreechplugandnochargeinthebore.

•Verifythattheboreisclearandfreeofobstructions.

•Youmustfollowthisprocedureeverytimeafirearmleavesyourhand,iscleaned,handedtoyouoranotherperson,transportedorstored.

FIGURE 8

FIGURE 9

open the action by pulling up and back

on trigger guard spur - allowing the barrel

to fall open.

NoTE: Place your finger low on the trigger guard spur for max i mum leverage; give it a fast, sharp pull

to open the barrel.

20

INSTAllING A BARRElWARNING: AlWAyS kEEP ThE MUzzlE PoINTEd IN A SAFE dIRECTIoN.

WARNING: AlWAyS ENSURE ThAT ThE FIREARM IS UNChARGEd ANd UNPRIMEd WhIlE INSPECTING oR ASSEMBlING.

•Ifthereisaforendattachedtothebarrel,theforendmustbere-moved from the barrelbeforeitcanbeinstalledontotheframe.

•Beforeassem-bly,applyalightfilmofqualitygunoiltoallmetalparts.

•Installabarrelandcorrespond-ing forend ontheframeassemblyasfollows:

•Insertthebarrellugintotheframe(FIGURE10).

•Alignthehingepin holes of thebarrelandframeandinsertthe hinge pin (FIGURE11).

•Withthehingepin centered in theframe(notprotrudingfromeitherside)tipthebarrelupandclosedontheframe

(FIGURES12and13).

FIGURE 10

FIGURE 11

FIGURE 12

FIGURE 13

hammer in the “AT REST” position

Insert barrel lug into frame

Align holes and insert hinge pin

Close barrel on frame

21

INSTAllING A BARREl CoNTINUEd

•Installtheforendontothebarrel.Placetherearof the forend againstthereceiver. Align the holes in the forend over the holesinthebar-relandsecurethe forend into placeusingthesuppliedscrews(FIGURE14).

•Withyourfingerawayfromthetriggerandthehammerinthe“ATREST”position,openthebarrelbyholding the thefirearmbythepistolgripandpullingupandbackonthetriggerguardspurtounlockthebarrel,allowingittotipdown(FIGURE15).

•PracticeopeningandclosingtheEncore®beforeyouattempttoloadandfireit.

NoTE:ThemodularnatureoftheEncore®designalsoallowseasyinterchangeofbarrels,gripsandforendsalongwithsightsandscopemounts(seeourcatalogorwebsitewww.tcarms.comforcurrentoptions).

FIGURE 14

FIGURE 15

Install forend

hammer in “At Rest” position

open action Tip

barrel

22

AMMUNITIoN ANd ChARGING ENCoRE® MUzzlEloAdERWARNING: AlWAyS kEEP ThE MUzzlE PoINTEd IN A SAFE dIRECTIoN.

WARNING: dISChARGING FIREARMS IN PooRly VEN-TIlATEd AREAS, ClEANING FIREARMS, oR hANdlING AMMUNITIoN MAy RESUlT IN ExPoSURE To lEAd

ANd oThER SUBSTANCES kNoWN To CAUSE BIRTh dEFECTS, REPRodUCTIVE hARM, ANd oThER SERIoUS PhySICAl INJURy. hAVE AdEqUATE VENTIlATIoN AT All TIMES. WASh hANdS ThoRoUGhly AFTER ExPoSURE.

•“Charge”or“Charged”whichappliestothepresenceofapropel-lantpowderchargeandprojectileintheboreofthemuzzleloadingfirearm.

•“Uncharge”or“Uncharged”referstotheoppositeconditionto“Charged”andindicatesthatthepowderchargeandprojectilehavebeeneitherfiredorremovedandthattheboreiscompletelyclear.

NoTE:Theloadingdatafoundinthebackofthismanualwascom-piledusingBlackPowderorPyrodex®asapropellant.WithanyotherapprovedBlackPowdersubstitute,followtheinstructionssuppliedbythemanufacturerandheedallwarningsandinstructionsastheyapplytoloadingandusageofthatproduct.

•Inspecttheboreforobstructionsandoilorgrease(andcleanifnec-essary).Thisistruewiththerifleasitcomesfromthefactory,asithasbeentreatedwithanti-rustcompoundthatneedstobeclearedbeforeuse.

•donotloadthemuzzleloadingfirearmuntilyouhavereadandfullyunderstandthismanual.

•donotloadthemuzzleloadingfirearmuntilyouarereadytouseit.Keepyourfingeroffthetriggerandoutsidethetriggerguarduntilyouarereadytofire.

•Readthismanualinitsentiretybeforeattemptingtoloadyourfirearm.Improperloadsorloadingprocedureandimproperuseofyourmuzzleloadingfirearmmayresultininjuryand/ordeathtotheshooterorbystandersanddamagetoproperty.

•Studythephotoonpage24carefullyandreadallthecaptionsbe-foreyouchargeyourmuzzleloadingrifle.ThephotoshowsashooterintheprocessofloadingaEncore®muzzleloader.

•ToopentheEncore®action-pullupandbackonthetriggerguardspurtounlocktheactionandallowthebarreltopivotdownward.Lookintothebreechplugprimerpocketandchecktomakesurethereisnoprimerinthepocket.Holdthemuzzleuptothelightandlookthroughthebreechplug/ignitionchanneltoensurethatthereisnoprimerorpowderchargepresent.

23

AMMUNITIoN ANd ChARGING ENCoRE® CoNT’d

•ToclosetheEncore®barrelontheframe,rotatethebarrelupwardatthemuzzlewhilesecurelyholdingtheframe/stockassemblyoftheEncore®stationarywithonehand.PracticeopeningandclosingtheEncore®beforeattemptingtoloadandfirethisfirearm.

•Tomakesureitisunloaded,keepthemuzzlepointedinasafedirectionandinserttheramrodprovidedwiththerifleintothebore.Notethepositionoftheramrodinrelationtothemuzzle.Itwillbeslightlybelowtheendofthebarreliftherifleisnotloaded.Committhisexercisetomemoryandpracticeiteverytimethatyouhandlethe Encore®,oranyothermuzzleloader.Beforeyouattempttoloadit-beforeyoustoreitaway-beforeyouhandittoafriendorleaveitunattended,alwayschecktoensurethatthefirearmisunprimedanduncharged.

•Wipetheborefreeofalloilbeforeloading.Bemeticulouswithyourcleaning.Thepresenceofanyamountofoilinthebarrelorcham-bercandampenthepowderchargeandcausetherifletomisfireorhangfire(seesectionon“Cleaning”).Pointthemuzzleinasafedirectionandsnapseveral209primersinthebreechplugbeforecharging.Thiswillhelpensurepositiveignitionandclearawayanyoilthatmayhaveaccumulatedintheignitionchannel.

•TochargetheEncore®muzzleloaderwithgranularblackpowder,ad-justtheblackpowdermeasuretodispensethedesiredchargeandfillitwithBlackPowderoranapprovedBlackPowdersubstitute,suchasPyrodex®.

•Toachieveaccuracy,consistencyinthepowderchargeisrequired.Fillthemeasureexactlythesameeachtime.

•Settherifleonitsbuttandholdthemuzzleawayfromyourfaceandbodyaspicturedonpage24.Pourthemeasuredchargedownthebarrelandstrikethesideofthebarrelseveralsharprapswiththeheelofyourhand.Thiswillsettlethepowderintothechamberareaofthebarrel.

•Ifyouareusingpellets-followtheinstructionsprovidedbythepelletmanufacturer.Seattheprojectilefirmlyontopofthepowderorpellets.donotpoundontheramrodorbeattheprojectilewithexcessiveforce,soastocrushthepowderorpellet(s)anddistortthebullet.

loading Conical lead Bullets or Sabots When Using loose Black Powder or Granular Pyrodex®

•TheproceduresforloadingsabotsorconicalbulletswhenusinglooseBlackPowderorloosePyrodex®arebasicallythesame.Careshouldbetakentoseatthebulletorsabotfirmlyagainstthepowdercharge.donotpoundonit.Again,markyourramrodatthemuzzle,ensuringthateachtimeyouseatabulletonthepowdertheprojec-tileisseatedtothesamedepth.

24


FIGURE 16WARNING:

IMPRoPERly ChARG ING yoUR ENCoRE® MUzzlEloAdER CAN BE dAN GER oUS. STUdy ThIS Pho To CARE FUl ly BEFoRE PRoCEEdING.

hold barrel securely with muzzle upwards - directed away from your faceand body.

Use Black Powder or an approved Black Powder substitute, such as Pyrodex®.Use a T/C graduated powder measure and do not over charge. NEVER charge directly from a powder flask, can or powder horn.

Be certain that the Encore® is unprimed.

Stay mentally alert. This task

requires your complete attention.

Be sure thateyes, ears

and arms are pro tect ed.

do NoTSmoke while

loading any muzzleloader.

keep com po nents and reserve

powder well away

from the firearm.

Support the rifle’s butt by using the

side of you foot to prevent it

from slipping while loading.

For the Encore® muzzleloading pistol the same basic rules apply - with butt of the pistol grip resting firmly on the ground to load (FIGURE 17). With barrel held securely with muzzle upwards - directed away from your face and body.

FIG. 17

25


•Ifyouareloadinganall-leadconicalbulletlikeThompson/Center’sMaxi-Ball™orMaxi-Hunter®,proceedasfollows;donotuseanykindofclothpatchwiththeseprojectiles.Theyshouldbelubricat-edpriortoloading,andaredesignedtobeshotascast(notsizedfurther).T/CMaxi-Ball™andMaxi-Hunter®comefromthefactoryprelubricated.However,ifyouencounterunlubricatedbullets,werecommendthatyoulubricatethesebulletswithanall-naturallubricant,freeofpetroleum,likeThompson/CenterNaturalLube1000Plus™BoreButter.WhenloadingaMaxi-Ball™orMaxi-Hunt-er®bulletintothemuzzle,youwillnotehowonlytheforwardmostbearingbandgroovestotheriflingwhenloading.Thebaseofthebulletupsets(increasesindiameter)uponfiring,causingittofillthegrooves,thusstabilizingtheprojectileandaidingaccuracy.

•donotlubricatesabotsbeforeloading.Theyareintendedtobeloadedintothemuzzleloaderjustastheycomefromthepackage.Infact,forbestresults,itisrecommendedthatallevidenceofoilorlubricantberemovedfromtheborebeforeloadingasabot-thedriertheborethebetterintermsofoptimalaccuracy.

•Holdtherifleaspicturedonpage24andpouryourmeasuredpowderchargeintothebarrel.Startthelubricatedbulletorsabotintotheborewithyourfingers.Thebaseoftheprojectilewillentertheboreeasilywithfingerpressure.drivetheprojectiledownaboutfourinchesintothebarrelwiththerodendofthebulletstarter(FIGURE18).Usingtheramrod,pushthepro-jectiletheremainderofthewaydownthebarreluntilitcontactsthepowdercharge.Thesabotorcon-icalbulletmustbeseatedfirmlyagainstthepowdercharge.Seattheprojectilewithexactlythesamepressureshotaftershottoaidinaccuracy.

•Pushtheprojectiledownthebarrelandseatitfirmlyagainstthepowdercharge(FIGURE19).

FIGURE 18

FIGURE 19

Bullet starter sold separately at: accessories.tcarms.com

26


•Oncetheprojectileisseatedfirmlyagainstthepowdercharge(FIGURE20),markyourramrodtoindicatethecorrectloadeddepthofthepowderplustheprojectile.Thiswillallowyoutoensurethateachprojectileisseatedtothesamedepthbeforefiring.Re-marktheramrodeachtimeyouadjustthepowderchargeorchangeprojectiles.Whenyouarriveatthedesiredcharge,marktheramrodsoyouhaveapermanentrefer-encemark(FIGURE21).Whenthepowderchargeorprojectilearethenchanged,thereferencemarkshouldalsobechangedtoindi-catethenewcorrectloadlength.

WARNING: NEVER FIRE A MUzzlEloAd-ER UNlESS yoU ARE

SURE ThE PRoJECTIlE IS PRoPERly SEAT Ed oN ThE PoWdER ChARGE ANd ThE RAMRod hAS BEEN REMoVEd FRoM ThE BoRE. ShooT ERS ShoUld BEAR IN MINd ThAT ThE MUzzlEloAdING PRo-JEC TIlE IS NoT CRIMPEd INTo Po SI TIoN AS IS ThE FIxEd CARTRIdGE PRo JEC TIlE. IF A PRoJECTIlE doES NoT FIT TIGhTly ThEN JARRING oR MoVEMENT oF ThE FIREARM CAN CAUSE IT To MoVE FoR WARd IN A MUzzlEloAdER. IF ThE FIRE ARM IS FIREd WhEN A PRo JEC TIlE IS FoR WARd oR oFF ThE PoWdER ChARGE, oR ThE RAMRod IS STIll IN ThE BoRE, ThEN ThE PRo JEC TIlE oR RAM Rod MAy ACT AS A BoRE oBSTRUCTIoN. ThIS CAN CAUSE A RUP TUREd oR BURST BARREl. A RUP TUREd oR BURST BARREl MAy CAUSE INJURy ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooT ER oR By STANd ERS ANd dAM AGE To PRoP ER Ty. IF, dUE To FoUlING, A BUl lET oR BAll BE CoMES lodGEd PART WAy doWN ThE BARREl, ThE FIREARM MUST BE dIS AS SEM BlEd ANd ThE ChARGE RE MoVEd. SEE SEC TIoNS oF ThIS MANUAl oN ClEANING, UNloAdING/UNChARGING.

•Removetheramrodfromtheboreandreturnittothethimbles beforeyouprimethefirearm.

WARNING: FIRING ThE ThoMPSoN/CENTER™ ENCoRE® MUzzlEloAdER WITh ThE RAMRod IN ThE BoRE CAN CAUSE INJURy ANd/oR dEATh

ANd dAMAGE To PRoPERTy.

loading Conical Bullets or Sabots When Using Pyrodex® Pellets

•Startbyloadingthepelletsintothebore,followingthespecificpelletmanufacturer’sinstructions.

FIGURE 20

FIGURE 21

Seat the projectile

firmly against

the powder charge

Mark the ramrod

27


•Next,starttheprojectileintotheboreandthenuseyourramrodtopushtheprojectiletheremainderofthewaydownthebore,untilitisseatedfirmlyagainstthepellet(s)(FIGURE22).donotpoundonit,asthiswilllikelycrushthepelletsandeffectthereliabilityofignition.Itcoulddeformthebulletandaffectaccuracy.

•Withsuccessiveshots,foulingmaybuildupenoughintheboretomakeloadingofsubsequentshotsmoredifficult,orevenimpossible.Themorefoulingthatispresent,themoredifficultitwillbetoseatyourprojectiletothesamedepth.Thiswillcausedifferencesinpressure,whichwillinturnaffectaccuracy.Whileattherange,youshouldcleanyourboreaftereachshotformaximumaccuracy.UseaborecleanerlikeThompson/CenterNumber13®andsuitablejag/patchcombinationtocleanthebore.Inthefield,youcanexpecttofiretwotothreeshotsbeforeswabbingmaybenecessary.Themorepowderyouuseineachcharge,themorefoulingwillbuildup.Whenyouexperienceprogressivelymoredifficultbulletseatingduetobuildupoffouling,youmustcleantheboreorsafeloadingwillbecomeimpossible.SeethesectionsofthismanualonCleaningandUnloading/Uncharging.

•Oncethesabothasbeenloaded,itisnecessarytocarefullymarkyourramrodtoindicatethedepthofthefullyseatedpelletandprojectilecombinationthatyouareusing(FIGURE23).

•Ifyouareloadingsabots,makesurethattheborehasbeencleanedandthatalloftheoilorlubricanthasbeenremoved.Thedrierthebore,thebetterwhenshootingsabots,asthiswillimproveaccuracy.

NoTE:UndernormalconditionstheEncore®muzzleloaderisunloadedsimplybyfiringitintoasuitableandsafebackstop.Thereare,however,conditionsunderwhichthefirearmcannotbefiredandthechargemustberemovedmanually.theseconditionsarelistedbelow:

•Theprojectileisnotseatedfirmlyagainstthepowdercharge,stopim-mediately!donotattempttofirethegun.Youmustremovethechargeandthencleanthebarrel.

•TheEncore®muzzleloaderisloadedinapropermanneryetfailstofireafterrepeatedprimingandclearingoftheignitionfirechannel.

•Youareatalocationthatisunsuitablefordischargingthefirearmbe-foretransportingit.

•ProceedtothesectioninthismanualonUnloadingandUnchargingiftheseconditionsoranyothersoccurwherethemuzzleloadercannotbedischargedsafely.

PELL

ETPE

LLET

PELL

ETPE

LLET

BORE

FIGURE 23

FIGURE 22

Mark the ramrod

Seat the projectile

firmly against

the pellet(s)

28

PRIMING ThE ENCoRE®

•“Prime”or“Primed”inthecontextofthismanualreferstotheactofplacingaprimerinthebreechplugofanEncore®muzzleloader.

•“Unprime”or“Unprimed”referstotheoppositeconditionof“Primed”andindicatesthattheprimerhasbeenremovedfromtheEncore®muzzleloader’sbreechplugorisnotinplace.

•Usea#209primerforignitioninallEncore®muzzleloaders.


WARNING: do NoT PRIME ThE FIREARM UNTIl yoU ARE ACTUAlly REAdy To FIRE ANd yoU hAVE doU-BlE ChECkEd To ENSURE ThAT ThE RAMRod hAS

BEEN REMoVEd FRoM ThE BoRE. ThoMP SoN/CENTER doES NoT RECoMMENd PRIMING ThE FIREARM UNTIl ThE INSTANT BE FoRE FIRING. CARRyING A ChARGEd, PRIMEd ENCoRE CAN BE dAN GER oUS. AC CI dEN TAl dIS ChARGE IS A CoN-STANT hAzARd WhICh, IF IT oC CURS, CAN CAUSE IN JU Ry ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooTER oR By STANd ERS ANd dAM-AGE To PRoPERTy. ThE oNly SAFE WAy To GUARd AGAINST AN AC CI dEN TAl dIS ChARGE IS To CARRy yoUR ENCoRE UNPRIMEd, WITh ThE hAMMER IN ThE “AT REST” PoSITIoN ANd ThE MUz zlE PoINT Ed doWN RANGE AWAy FRoM yoUR-SElF, By STANd ERS oR PRoP ER Ty.

•Afterfollowingtheinstructionstothispoint,yourfirearmischargedwithBlackPowderoranapprovedBlackPowdersubstitutesuchasPyrodex®.Aprojectileisfirmlyseatedagainstthepowdercharge.Theramrodhasbeenreturnedtothethimblesunderthebarrel.Theramrodwillbemarkedtotheexactseatingdepthofthepowder/projectilecombinationthatyouareusing-allowingyoutoensurethateachfutureprojectileisalsoseatedtothesamedepthinthebore.

•Withthemuzzlepointedinasafedirection,opentheactionbypullingupandbackonthetriggerguardspurthentippingthebarreldownandopen.

29

PRIMING ThE ENCoRE® CoNTINUEd

WhEN yoU ARE REAdy To FIRE yoUR ENCoRE®, oPEN ThE BARREl ANd PRIME IT AS ShoWN hERE (FIGURE 24).

•Handling209primerscanbemadeeasierwiththe(FIGURE25)primer/deprimertool(T/Cpart#7760)thatissoldasanaccessory.Slidea209primerintotheslotofthetoolasshowninthediagrambelow.Toprimethegun,placetheprotrudingpartoftheprimerintotheholeinthebreechplug.Oncetheprimerhasbeeninserted,pullthetoolawayfromthegunwhileleavingthe209primerinthebreechplug’sprimerpocket.Toremovea209primerfromthebreechplug,pushthisforkedendundertherimoftheprimer.Asyoupushthetoolforward,theprimerwillliftoutofitsholeallowingyoutograsptheprimerwithyourfingersandremoveitfromthemuzzleloader.

•Ifyoudecidenottofire;besuretokeepthegunpointedinasafedirectionandremovethe209primerfromthebreechplug.

FIRING ThE ENCoRE®

WARNING: AlWAyS kEEP ThE MUzzlE PoINTEd INA SAFE dIRECTIoN.

WARNING: WEAR EyE ANd hEARING PRoTECTIoN SPECIFIEd FoR FIREARM USE EVERy TIME yoU dIS-ChARGE yoUR FIREARM. MAkE SURE oThERS IN ThE

VICINITy oF WhERE yoU WIll BE ShooTING do So AS WEll.

FIGURE 24

FIGURE 25

Always keep the muzzle pointed

downrange and keep fingers

away from the trigger.

30

FIRING ThE ENCoRE® CoNTINUEd

WARNING: AlWAyS hAVE AdEqUATE VENTIlATIoN. ClEANING FIREARMS IN PooRly VENTIlATEd AR-EAS, dISChARGING FIREARMS, oR hANdlING

AMMUNITIoN ANd loAdING CoMPoNENTS MAy RE-SUlT IN ExPoSURE To lEAd ANd oThER SUBSTANCES kNoWN To CAUSE BIRTh dEFECTS, REPRodUCTIVE hARM ANd oThER SERIoUS PhySICAl INJURy. WASh hANdS ThoR-oUGhly AFTER ExPoSURE.

WARNING: NEVER REly oN MEChANICAl FEATURES AloNE. oNly yoUR SAFE GUN hANdlING WIll ENSURE ThE SAFE USE oF yoUR FIREARM. ThIS IS

yoUR RESPoNSIBIlITy.

WARNING: WhEN FIRING ThE ENCoRE, hold IT FIRMly, Al loW ING yoUR Body WEIGhT To AB-SoRB ANd BUFFER ThE FoRCE oF ThE RECoIl. AN

IMPRoPERly hEld FIREARM CAN CAUSE PoSSIBlE INJURy ANd/oR BRUISING.

•donotprimeyourEncore® muzzleloaderuntilyouarereadytofire.

•Graspfirearmfirmlywiththetriggerfingerrestingalongandoutsideofthetriggerguard(FIGURE26).

•Raisefirearmandpullthestockfirmlyintotheshoul-derorgripthepistolfirmly(FIGURE26).

•drawthehammerback tothefullrearward“COCKEd”position(FIGURE27).

•Thegunwillnowfirewhenpres-sureisappliedtothetrigger.

•Placeyourfingerontriggerandsqueezeuntilthegunfires.

•Toreload,seetheSectionon“CHARGING”.

WARNING: IF ThE FIREARM IS No loNGER GoING To BE USEd, UNChARGE IT By FIRING IT INTo A SUIT-ABlE BACk SToP oR PUll ThE ChARGE BEFoRE

RETURNING IT To yoUR VE hI ClE, CAMP oR hoME (SEE SECTIoN oN “UNloAdING”). AN AC CI dEN TAl dIS ChARGE CAN CAUSE INJURy ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooT ER oR By-STANd ERS ANd dAM AGE To PRoP ER Ty.

FIGURE 26

FIGURE 27

position with finger away from trigger

Move hammer to “CoCkEd”

31


•Ifyoudecidenottofire;makesurethefirearmisalwayspointedinasafedirection-thenyoumustcarefullylowerthehammerfromthe“Cocked”positiontothe“AtRest”position.Todothis,placethethumbofyourfreehandbetweenthehammerandtheframetopreventthehammerfrommovingfullyforwarduntilyourfingerisoffthetriggerandoutofthetriggerguard(FIGURE28).

•Placethethumbofyourfiringhandonthehammerspur.Youmustalwayscontrolthehammerwithyourthumbswhendecockingthefirearm.Ifthehammerslipswhilethetriggerisheldtotherearandyouhavefailedtoblockthehammertravel,yourfirearmwillfire(FIGURE29).

•Applypressuretothetriggertoreleasethehammerasshown(FIGURE29).Immediatelyafterthehammerhascomeoutofthecockedposition,releasethetrig-gerandwithdrawyourfingerfromthetriggerguard(FIGURE30).

•Carefullyeasethehammerforwardwhileremovingyourotherthumbfrombetweenthehammerandtheframe(FIGURE31)untilthehammerisinthe“AtRest”position(FIGURE32).

•OpenthebarrelandremovetheprimerfromthebreechplugoftheEncore®muzzleloader).

WARNING: IF yoUR FIREARM GIVES ANy INdICATIoN ThAT IT IS

NoT PERFoRMING PRoPERly oR ThE oPERATIoN oF yoUR FIREARM hAS ChANGEd “ThE WAy IT FEElS oR SoUNdS”, SToP FIRING. MAkE SURE ThE FIREARM IS PoINTEd IN A SAFE dIRECTIoN, UNloAd ThE FIRE-ARM ANd hAVE IT INSPECTEd By A FACToRy TEChNICIAN. CAll ThoMPSoN/CENTER CUSToMER SERVICE AT 1-866-730-1614.

FIGURE 28

FIGURE 29

FIGURE 30

FIGURE 31

FIGURE 32

32


WARNING: WhEN FIRING ThE ENCoRE, hold IT FIRM-ly, Al loW ING yoUR Body WEIGhT To ABSoRB ANd BUFFER ThE FoRCE oF ThE RECoIl. AN IMPRoPERly

hEld FIREARM CAN CAUSE INJURy ANd/oR BRUISING.

NoTE:Use“SnapCaps”oftheappropriatecartridgedesignationwhen“dry-firing”theEncore®toavoiddamagetothefiringpin.

UNloAdING ANd UNChARGINGWARNING: AlWAyS kEEP ThE MUzzlE PoINTEd IN A SAFE dIRECTIoN.

WARNING: NEVER ATTEMPT To PUll A ChARGE FRoM yoUR MUzzlEloAdER UNTIl yoU ARE ABSolUTEly CERTAIN ThAT ThE FIREARM IS UNPRIMEd. WhIlE IN

ThE PRoCESS oF PUllING ThE ChARGE, do NoT SMokE, oR BE NEAR ANyoNE ElSE Who IS SMokING; ThE SPARk FRoM A lIT CIGARETTE, CIGAR, oR PIPE CAN IGNITE BlACk PoW-dER, PyRodEx®, oR PRIMERS. ANy ExTERNAl hEAT SoURCE CAN IGNITE yoUR ChARGE, CAUSING AN ExPloSIoN, WhICh CoUld RESUlT IN INJURy ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooTER oR BySTANdERS ANd dAMAGE To PRoPERTy.

UNloAdING A ChARGE FRoM ThE ENCoRE® MUzzlEloAdER

•UndernormalconditionstheEncore®muzzleloaderisunloadedsim-plybyfiringitintoasuitableandsafebackstop.Thereare,however,someconditionsunderwhichthefirearmcannotbefiredandthechargemustberemovedmanually.

THECONdITIONSTHATREQUIREACHARGETOBEREMOVEdMANUALLYFROMTHEBARRELOFTHEENCORE® MUZZLELOAd-ER ARE AS FOL LOWS:

•Theprojectileisnotseatedfirmlyagainstthepowdercharge,stopimmediately!donotattempttofirethegun.Youmustremovethechargeandthencleanthebarrel.

•IftheEncore®muzzleloaderisloadedinapropermanneryetfailstofireafterrepeatedprimingandclearingoftheignitionchannel.

•Ifyouareatalocationthatisunsuitablefordischargingthefirearmbeforetransportingit.

33

UNloAdING ANd UNChARGING CoNTINUEd

To remove a charge from your Encore® muzzleloader it will be necessary to take the following steps:

•Makecertainthatthegunisunprimedbytippingthebarrelopenandremovingtheprimerfromthebreechplugifoneispresent.

•Removethebreechplug.

•Withthebreechplugremoved,pointthemuzzleup.Gravityshouldthencausethepelletsortheloosepowdertodropout.Thesabotorbulletcanthenbepokedoutoftheborewithyourramrod.Topushthebulletfullyoutofthebarrel,itwillbenecessarytoaddtheextendedsuperjag(whichcamewithyourrifle)toyourramrod,or,youcanusealonger“rangerod”ifyouhaveaccesstoone.

•Ifyourpropellant(pelletsorloosepowder)doesnotcomeoutasaresultofgravity,pushtheentirechargeoutfromthemuzzleendwithyourramrodandtheinstalledramrodextension.Ifthatisn’tpossi-ble,youshouldthenpourwaterintothebreechareaofthebarreltofullysaturate(andliquify)thepelletsorpowder.Afterthepowderisremoved,pushthebulletoutwithyourramrodinsertedfromthemuzzle(withtheramrodextensioninstalledifnecessary).

WARNING: yoU MUST AlWAyS CoMPlETE ThE EN-TIRE UNloAdING PRoCESS. oNCE ThE PRIMER ANd BREECh PlUG hAVE BEEN REMoVEd ANd ThE PoW-

dER ChARGE IS UNloAdEd FRoM ThE BREECh ENd, ThE PRoJECTIlE (SABoT ANd BUllET) MUST AlSo BE REMoVEd By PUShING IT oUT WITh ThE RAMRod. NEVER lEAVE ThE BUllET IN ThE BARREl.

WARNING: NEVER REloAd yoUR MUzzlEloAdER WITh A PoWdER ChARGE BEhINd A PREVIoUSly SEATEd PRoJECTIlE. ThE oNly SAFE WAy To

ChARGE A MUzzlEloAdER IS By loAdING IT FRoM ThE MUzzlE FoR EACh ShoT ANd FIRMly SEATING ThE PRoJECTIlE AGAINST ThE PoWdER IN ACCoRdANCE WITh ThE INSTRUCTIoNS ANd WARNINGS SET FoRTh IN ThIS MANUAl (PAGES 22-29).

FAIlURE To REMoVE ThE PRoJECTIlE FRoM ThE BARREl oR REloAdING A PoWdER ChARGE BEhINd ThE PRoJECTIlE WIll RESUlT IN A BoRE oBSTRUCTIoN ThAT MAy CAUSE INJURy ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooTER oR BySTANdERS ANd dAMAGE To PRoPERTy IF ThE MUzzlEloAdER IS ThEN FIREd.

If you can’t remove the breech plug at this point;

•Ifyoucan’tremovethebreechpluginordertounloadthecharge,itwillbenecessarytosubmergethebreechsectionofthebarrelinapailorbucketofwater.

•disassemblyoftheEncore®muzzleloaderwillbenecessary.

•Makecertainthatthegunisunprimedbytippingthebarrelopenandremovingtheprimerfromthebreechplugifoneispresent.

34


•detachthebarrelfromthereceiverassemblyasdetailedinthedisassemblySectionofthismanual.

•Oncethebarrelisdetached-submergethebreechsectionofthebarrelinapailofwater(hotwaterifpossible).Makecertainthatatleast8”ofthebreechsectionissubmergedforatleastonehalfhour.

•Aftersoakingthepowderfor30minutesandrenderingitinert,trypullingtheprojectilefromtheborebyusingyourramrod(orarangerod)withabulletpuller.Screwthebulletpullerontoyourrod,inserttheramrodfromthemuzzleend,andwhenyoumakecontactwiththeprojectile,turntherodclockwise,screwingthebulletpullerintotheprojectile.Oncescrewedintotheprojectile,pulltheprojectileoutofthebarrel.Ifyouareusingasabot,makesurethatboththeprojectileandthesabotareremovedfromthebore.

•If,foranyreason,youareunabletoremovethechargeintheman-nerrecommended,squirtoilintotheprimerpocketofthebreechplugandintothebarrel’sbreechareainordertoensurethatthepowderchargeisinert,(ifyouweretousewateronly-itwilljustdryoutoveraperiodoftime),andreturnthebarreltotheservicedepartmentattheaddressshownbelowwithaletterdescribingtheproblem.

ThoMPSoN/CENTER ARMS - Customer Support 2100 Roosevelt Avenue, Springfield, MA 01104 Toll Free Phone 1-(866) 730-1614

FIEld ClEANINGWARNING: AlWAyS kEEP ThE MUzzlE PoINTEd IN A SAFE dIRECTIoN.

WARNING: NEVER ATTEMPT To ClEAN A ChARGEd oR PRIMEd MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM. AN AC CI dEN TAl dIS ChARGE CAN CAUSE IN JU Ry ANd/oR dEATh To

ThE ShooT ER oR By STANd ERS ANd dAMAGE To PRoP ER Ty.

WARNING: AlWAyS hAVE AdEqUATE VENTIlA-TIoN. ClEANING FIREARMS IN PooRly VEN-TIlATEd AREAS, dISChARGING FIREARMS,

oR hANdlING AMMUNITIoN ANd loAdING CoMPoNENTS MAy RESUlT IN ExPoSURE To lEAd ANd oThER SUB-STANCES kNoWN To CAUSE BIRTh dEFECTS, REPRo-dUCTIVE hARM ANd oThER SERIoUS PhySICAl INJURy. WASh hANdS ThoRoUGhly AFTER ExPoSURE.

NoTE:Residuefromburnedblackpowderandblackpowdersubsti-tutesisverycorrosive.Thefoulingorresidueleftoverafterfiringyourmuzzleloadingfirearmcanbedestructivetothegun’sparts.Leavingyourfirearmuncleanedwiththisfoulingpresentcanleadtoaruinedfirearm,asthegun’spartswillrustandoxidizequickly.

35


•Thebuild-upoffoulingfromshottoshotwillproduceshottoshotincreasesinpressurethatwillgreatlyaffectaccuracy.Thebulletlu-bricantused,theamountofpowderinthecharge,andtheprojectileused(sabotorall-leadconicalbullet)willallaffecttheamountoffoulingyouwillproducewitheachshot.Eventually,ifnotcleaned,themuzzleloadingfirearmwillbecomeimpossibletoloadproperly.drivenpartwaydowntheboreandblockedbyfouling,aprojectilemay“hangup”andrefusetobudgefurther.

WARNING: A PRoJECTIlE WhICh IS SEATEd oNly PART WAy doWN ThE BARREl SETS UP A hIGh ly dAN GER oUS CoNdITIoN WhICh MAy CAUSE A BURST

BAR REl ANd IN JU Ry ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooTER oR By STANd ER ANd dAM AGE To PRoPERTy. ThE PRoJECTIlE MUST BE SEATEd FIRMly AGAINST ThE PoW dER ChARGE. IF ThE PRoJECTIlE IS NoT SEATEd AGAINST ThE PoWdER ChARGE ThE FIREARM MUST BE dISASSEMBlEd ANd ThE ChARGE REMoVEd (SEE SEC TIoN oN “PUll ING A ChARGE”). NEV ER FIRE A MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM UN lESS ThE PRo-JEC TIlE IS FIRMly SEATEd oN ThE PoW dER ChARGE.

•TheThompson/CenterEncore®muzzleloaderwassuppliedwithacleaningjagwhichisthepropersizeforcleaningthefirearm.Usecommercialcleaningpatches(roundorsquare)orpiecesofcottonclothingtocleanthebore.

•UsethecleaningjagthatwasprovidedwiththeEncore®,andacleaningpatchsaturatedwithaborecleanerlikeThompson/Cen-ter’sNumber13®BoreCleanerorT-17®BoreCleaner(FIGURE33).

•Runthesaturatedpatchupanddowntheboreafewtimes-toremovethefouling(FIGURE34).

•UseT/C’sNumber13® Bore cleanerforcleaningBlackPowderorPyrodex®foulingfrommuzzle-loadingfirearms.Itwasspecifical-lydesignedforthispurpose.

•Afterremovingallthefouling,followupwithafewdrypatchestothoroughlydrythebore.

•Cleantheframeassemblywithasoftbristlebrushdampenedwithsomeborecleaner.Whentheframeisdry,lightlyoilit.Reassembleandcheckforproperfunctionofthehammerandtrig-gerassembly.

FIGURE 33

FIGURE 34

Cleaning Jag

The cleaning jag threads

onto the end of the ramrod.

Position the patch over

the endof the jag

36

ThoRoUGh ClEANINGWARNING: AlWAyS kEEP ThE MUzzlE PoINTEd IN A SAFE dIRECTIoN.

WARNING: NEVER ATTEMPT To ClEAN A ChARGEd oR PRIMEd MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM. AN AC CI dEN TAl dIS ChARGE CAN CAUSE IN JU Ry ANd/oR dEATh To

ThE ShooT ER oR By STANd ERS ANd dAMAGE To PRoP ER Ty.

WARNING: WEAR SAFETy GlASSES EVERy TIME yoU ASSEMBlE oR dISASSEMBlE yoUR FIREARM.

WARNING: do NoT AlTER, ModIFy oR REPlACE ANy oF ThE PARTS oF yoUR FIREARM UNlESS ThIS WoRk IS PERFoRMEd By A qUAlIFIEd GUNSMITh USING

GENUINE ThoMPSoN/CENTER PARTS. IF yoU do oThERWISE, IMPRoPER FUNCTIoNING MAy oCCUR ANd SERIoUS INJURy MAy RESUlT.

WARNING: AlWAyS hAVE AdEqUATE VENTIlATIoN. ClEANING FIREARMS IN PooRly VENTIlATEd AREAS, dISChARGING FIREARMS, oR hANdlING

AMMUNITIoN ANd loAdING CoMPoNENTS MAy RESUlT IN ExPoSURE To lEAd ANd oThER SUBSTANCES kNoWN To CAUSE BIRTh dEFECTS, REPRodUCTIVE hARM ANd oThER SERIoUS PhySICAl INJURy. WASh hANdS ThoRoUGhly AFTER ExPoSURE.

•Propercleaningisessentialtoensuretheproperfunctioningofyourfirearm.

•Yourfirearmisaprecisioninstrument.Toensurereliablefunctionitisnecessarytofollowaroutinemaintenanceprocedure.Whenyouarefinishedshootingforthedayorfortheseasonandplantostorethe Encore®muzzleloaderaway,itisrecommendedthatyoucleanthefirearmthoroughly.

•Followtheseinstructionsforthoroughcleaning:

•Tipthebarrelopenandbecertainthatthereisnoprimerintheprimerpocket.

•Removethebreechplug.ThebreechplugofanEncore®209x50muzzleloaderisremovedfromthebarrelbyturningitcounter-clock-wise(asviewedfromthebreechendofthebarrel)usingthewrenchthatwassuppliedwiththegun.FortheEncore®Pro-Hunter™ xT andEndeavor™models-seetheappropriateAppendixinthisman-ualforbreechplugremovalinstructions.

•Onceremoved,thebreechplugshouldbescrubbedfreeoffoulingandthenthethreadsshouldbelubricatedwithananti-seizelubri-cantlikeThompson/Center’sSuperLube,beforereinstallation.Thethreadsinsidethebreechendofthebarrelmustalsobecleanedthoroughlywithastiffnylonbrushandsolventandthendriedandlubricatedwithanti-seizelubricant.

37

ThoRoUGh ClEANING CoNTINUEd

•Onceremoved,thebreechplugshouldbescrubbedfreeoffoulingandshouldthenbelubricatedwithananti-seizelubricantlikeThomp-son/Center’sSuperLube,beforereinstallation.Thethreadsinsidethebreechendofthebarrelmustalsobewellcleanedwithastiffbrushandsolventandthendriedandlubricatedwithanti-seizelube.

•Nextinthecleaningprocess;fillapanwithhotsoapywater.Submergethemuzzleendofthebarrelinthewaterandpushawetpatchdownthebarrel(fromthebreechend)ontheendofyourramrodthathasajaginstalledonit(ajagcomeswithThompson/Center™muzzleloadersfromthefactory).Pumptheramrodandpatchupanddowninthebarrel.Thiswilldrawwaterintothebarrelandflushoutthefouling.Whenthebarrelisclean,wipeoffanyex-cesswaterandallowittodry.

•Thoroughlywipeanypowderresiduefromtheframeassembly.drythepartsthoroughlyandlubricatethemlightlytopreventrustandcorrosion.

•Useapressurizedmoisturedisplacingoiltocleanandlubricatethefiringpinwithintheframe(fromboththefrontandback-asshowninFIGURES35and36).

•AftercleaningyourEncore®,itisrecommendedthatyoulightlylubricatethemetalsurfacesoftherifle.donotuseheavygreaseoroil,asduringcoldweather,lubemaycongealandslowthehammerfall(orkeepitfromstrikingthefiringpinaltogether)whenthetriggerispulled.

•Withthebarrelcompletelydry,lightlylubricatetheborewithaqualitygunlubricantor,inkeepingwiththeall-naturalmethod,Thompson/Center’sNaturalLube1000PlusBoreButter.Re-installthebreechplug,makingsurethatyouhavelubricatedallofthethreadswithananti-seizelubricantlikeThompson/Center’sSuperLube.Thebreechplugshouldbethreadedintoplacebyturningitclockwisewiththebreechplugwrench-untilitisseated.Screwbreechplugincarefully.Becertainthatthethreadsmeshproperly(notcross-threaded)andensurethatthebreechplugissnug.

WARNING: IMPRoPER TyPE oR INSTAllATIoN oF BREECh PlUGS CAN CAUSE INJURy ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooTER oR BySTANdERS ANd

dAMAGE To PRoPERTy.

FIGURE 35 FIGURE 36

38

ThoRoUGh ClEANING CoNTINUEd

•Also,lubricatethethreadsinsidethebreechareaofthebarrelwithanti-seizelubricant.

•AfteryourEncore®muzzleloaderbreechplughasbeenreinstalled,checkforproperfunctioningofthebarrelandthehammer/triggermechanismpriortoloadingandfiring

•IftheEncore®muzzleloaderhasbecomeverydirtyduetoextensivefiring,theshootermaywanttodisassembletheriflefurtherthanjustremovingthebreechplug.Ifthishappens,followtheinstructionsinthedisassemblySectionthatfollows.

CAUTIoN:Alwaysfollowtheinstructionsprovidedwithyourguncleanerandgunlubricant.

CAUTIoN:Somecleanerscancausedamagetoyourfirearms.Youshouldavoidprolongedsolventimmersionandprolongedultrasoniccleaningofyourfirearm.Choiceofsolventshouldberestrictedtothoseproductsspecificallydevelopedforfirearmsmaintenance.damagetoafirearm’sfinishmayoccurifthesecautionsareignored.Ammoniatedsolventsorotherstrongalkalinesolvents,shouldnotbeusedonanyThompson/Centerfirearm.

dISASSEMBly oF ThE ENCoRE® FoR ClEANING


WARNING: AlWAyS MAkE SURE ThAT ThE MUzzlE-loAdER IS UNChARGEd ANd UNPRIMEd BEFoRE dIS-ASSEMBlING IT. To ENSURE ThAT ThE GUN IS UN-

ChARGEd ANd UNPRIMEd, TIP ThE BARREl oPEN (doWN). ThIS WIll ExPoSE ThE BREECh PlUG. MAkE SURE ThERE IS No PRIMER SEATEd IN ThE BREECh PlUG. NExT, holdING ThE MUzzlE UP To ThE lIGhT, look ThRoUGh ThE IGNITIoN FIRE ChANNEl FRoM ThE BREECh ENd To MAkE SURE yoU CAN SEE ThRoUGh IT. IF yoU CANNoT SEE ThRoUGh IT, EI-ThER ThE GUN IS ChARGEd oR ThE IGNITIoN FIRE ChANNEl IS oBSTRUCTEd ANd IT WIll BE NECESSARy FoR yoU To REMoVE ThE BREECh PlUG. IF yoU CAN SEE lIGhT, PRo-CEEd AS FolloWS:

39

ENCoRE® MUzzlEloAdER dISASSEMBly CoNT’d

•TheEncore®Muzzleloaderbreaksdownintothreebasicgroupsofpartsasshownbelow:

•TheFrameAssembly-Thisassemblyisheldonthestockbyastockdrawbolt.Thefirecontrolmechanism(hammer,sear,firingpin,etc.)ishousedwithintheframe.

•TheMuzzleloadingBarrelAssembly-Thisincludesthebarrel,breechplug,ramrod,thimblesandsights.Itisheldtothereceiverbyahingepinwhichanchorsthebarreltotheframe.

•TheStock(orGrip)Assembly-Includesthestock,pistolgrip,gripcapandtheforend.

CAUTIoN:ThestockboltonyourEncore®firearmshouldnotbeover-tightened.Ifyouapplytoomuchforcetoyourstockboltduringre-assembly,youmaycompressthestockmaterialandinducecrack-inginthestockgriparea.Suchcrackingcanleadtoaprematurefail-ureofthestock.Thestockboltmustbetorquedto50inch-pounds(plusorminus5inch-pounds).

•AlwaysusethestockboltandwasherprovidedwithyourEncore®. Useofnon-factorystockboltsorstockboltswithoutwasherscanleadtostockfailures.

WARNING: IF, AT ANy TIME dURING dISASSEMBly oR REASSEMBly oF yoUR ENCoRE® yoU NoTICE CRACkING IN ThE SToCk AT oR NEAR ThE SToCk

ATTAChMENT BolT, dISCoNTINUE USE oF yoUR SToCk ANd RETURN IT To SMITh ANd WESSoN FoR INSPECTIoN.

NoTE:Federallawprohibitstheuseofabuttstockonafirearmthathasabarrellessthansixteen(16)inchesinlength.

WARNING: NEVER dISASSEMBlE yoUR FIREARM BE-yoNd ThE PRoCEdURES oUTlINEd IN ThIS MANUAl. IMPRoPER dISASSEMBly oR RE-ASSEMBly oF yoUR

FIREARM MAy BE dANGERoUS ANd CAN lEAd To SERIoUS INJURy oR dEATh.

TAkEdoWN oF ThE ENCoRE® MUzzlEloAdER

•Makesurethatthegunisunprimedanduncharged.

•Removetheramrodfromthethimble(s).

•Removetheforendscrew(s).Turnthesescrewsoutcounter-clock-wise(asviewedfromthebottomofthegun).Removetheforendfromthebarrel.

•Tipthebarrelopenandremovethebarrelhingepinbytappingitout(ineitherdirection).Removethebarrelfromtheframe.

40

dISASSEMBly oF ENCoRE® CoNTINUEd

•Removethescrewthatretainstheextractorinthebarrellug.

•Removetheextractorfromitsslot.

•UsethewrenchthatwassuppliedwiththeEncore®209x50muz-zleloader(barrel)toremovethebreechplugbyturningitcounter-clockwise(asviewedfromthebreechendofthebarrel).FortheEncore®Pro-HunterXTandEncore®Endeavor-seetheappropriateAppendixinthismanualforbreechplugremovalinstructions.

•Ifyouneedtoholdthebarrelmorefirmlythanyoucanwithjustyourhand,acrescentwrenchorviseonthebarrellugwillsupplytheneededholdingpower.Thisprocedurewillgiveyouthenecessaryleverageto“break”thegassealwhichwasformedwhenthebreechplugwasoriginally“snugged”tothebarrelduringinstallation.

Therewillbeinitialresistancebetweenthesepartswhichmust beovercome.

•Reversethesestepstoreassemble,makingsurethatyoucheckforproperfunctioningofthetrigger,strikerandsafetymechanismpriortoloadingandfiring.ThebreechplugoftheEncore®muzzleloadershouldbeseatedinthebarreluntilitis“snug”.“Snug”isdefinedasbeingastightasyoucanturnitintothebarrelbyusingthebreechplugwrenchandturningitclockwise,whileholdingthebarrelinyourhand.Whenyoucannolongergripthebarrel,anditturnsinyourhand,thebreechplugis“snug”.

•Thebreechplugshouldbethreadedintoplacebyturningitclock-wisewiththebreechplugwrench-untilitisfillyseated.Screwthebreechplugincarefully.Becertainthatthethreadsmeshproperly(notcross-threaded)andensurethathebreechplugissnug.

•ThisdiagramshowstheextenttowhichtheEncore®shouldbedisassembled(FIGURE37).

•Ifotherserviceisrequired,calltheThompson/CenterCustomerServicedepartmentat1-866-730-1614.

FIGURE 37

Frame assembly

Breech plug

Barrel assembly with ramrod

Forend

Forend screwshinge pin

Stock

41

MoUNTING A SCoPE•Werecommendthatyouhaveacompetentgunsmithinstallyourscopeandmount.

WARNING: AlWAyS ENSURE ThAT ThE FIREARM IS UNChARGEd ANd UNPRIMEd BEFoRE INSTAll-ING A SCoPE oR ANy ACCESSoRIES. FAIlURE

To do ThIS CAN CAUSE PERSoNAl INJURy oR dEATh To yoU oR oThERS.

WARNING: do NoT dRIll AddITIoNAl holES IN ThE BARREl AS ThIS CoUld WEAkEN ITS STRUC TURE ANd CoNTRIBUTE To A RUPTURE CAUSING INJURy

ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooT ER oR BySTANdERS ANd dAMAGE To PRoP ER Ty.

WARNING: FIRING A SCoPEd FIREARM WITh yoUR EyE Too CloSE To ThE SCoPE EyE PIECE, oR FAIlING To hold ThE FIREARM SECUREly AGAINST

RECoIl, MAy RESUlT IN SERIoUS PERSoNAl INJURy INClUdING, BUT NoT lIMITEd To, BlINdNESS.

WARNING: A SCoPE WhICh IS NoT SECUREly MoUNTEd MAy BECoME dETAChEd UPoN RECoIl oF ThE FIREARM. IF IT BECoMES dETAChEd IT MAy

Fly BACk ANd STRIkE ThE ShooTER oR A BySTANdER ANd CAUSE INJURy. oBSERVE ThE CoNdITIoN oF All ThE SCoPE MoUNT SCREWS AFTER FIRING. IF ThE MoUNTING SCREWS ShoW SIGNS oF looSENING do NoT FIRE ThE FIREARM AGAIN; TAkE IT To A qUAlIFIEd GUNSMITh FoR ASSISTANCE.

•ThebarrelisfactorydrilledandtappedforThompson/Centerscopemounts.Followtheinstructionsthatcomewithyourscopeandthemountsforproperinstallation.AddressquestionstotheThompson/CenterServicedepartmentat1-866-730-1614.

FIGURE 38

Follow the instructions supplied with the scope and rings to ensure proper eye relief

42

SIGhT AdJUSTMENTWARNING: AlWAyS kEEP ThE MUzzlE PoINTEd IN A SAFE dIRECTIoN.

WARNING: AlWAyS ENSURE ThAT ThE FIREARM IS UNChARGEd ANd UNPRIMEd BEFoRE ATTEMPT-ING ANy AdJUSTMENTS. FAIlURE To do ThIS CAN

CAUSE PERSoNAl INJURy oR dEATh To yoU oR oThERS.

•Toadjustelevation,movingtheelevation“blade”upordownchang-esthepointofimpact.Todothis,turntheElevationAdjustmentScrewclockwise(asviewedfromthereceiverend)tolowerthepointofimpact,andcounter-clockwise,toraisethepointofimpact.

•Toadjustthewindageitisnecessarytomovetheentirerearsightleafleftorrightbyusingtheslottedscrewheadontherightsideoftherearsight(asviewedfromthereceiverendofthesight).Movetherearsightbladeinthedirectionyouwantyourshotstohit--(Ex-ample;Turnthescrewclockwise-therebymovingthesightbladetotheright,tomoveyourshotstotherightandcounter-clockwisetomovetheshotstotheleft).

lIMITEd lIFETIME WARRANTyThiswarrantyisgrantedbySmith&WessonInc.doingbusinessasThompson/CenterArms.Thiswarrantyiseffectivefromthedateofpurchaseforthelifetimeoftheoriginalretailpurchaserofanyfactoryfinishedfirearm.Inordertobeeligibleforserviceunderthiswarranty,theoriginalretailpurchasermustreturnacompletedauthorizedwar-rantycardorregisteronlineathttp://www.tcarms.com/warrantycardwithinthirty(30)daysofpurchaseofsuchfirearm.Withrespecttosuchfirearm,thiswarrantysupersedesanyandallotherwarranties.

Thompson/CenterArmsbrandfirearmsarewarrantedtobefreefromdefectsinmaterialandworkmanship.AnysuchdefectsofwhichSmith&Wessonreceiveswrittennoticebytheoriginalretailpurchas-erwillberemediedwithoutchargewithinareasonabletimeaftersuchnotificationanddeliveryofthefirearmasprovidedbelow.

Tosubmitawarrantyclaimpleaseseethe“ContactandShippingInformation”belowfordetails.Inadditiontotherequestedinforma-tion,pleaseincludeacopyofthebillofsaleintheowner’sname,oracopyoftheATFForm4473indicatingdateofpurchase.Itisalwaysimportantthattheownercomplywithallapplicablefederal,stateandlocallawsandregulations.

WindageAdjustment Screw Elevation

AdjustmentScrew

FIGURE 39

43

lIMITEd lIFETIME WARRANTy CoNTINUEd

NoTE: See the Contact and Shipping section of this manual for further details regarding returns.

Warrantyclaimsshouldstatethemodeland,whereapplicable,theserialnumberofthefirearmconcernedandthedescriptionofthedif-ficultyexperienced.Itisrecommendedthatshipmentsbeinsuredbytheowner,sinceSmith&WessonInc.willacceptnoresponsibilityforlossordamageintransit.TransportationandinsurancechargesforreturntotheownerwillbepaidbySmith&WessonInc.iftheclaimiscoveredbythiswarranty.

Iftheworkrequiredisnotcoveredbyour“LimitedLifetimeWarranty”youwillreceiveaquotationwhichmustbeauthorizedbyyou.Noac-tualworkwillbedonewithoutyourapproval.ReturnshipmentscanbeshippedviaUPS,FedExormailatyourcost.RepairedproductwillbeshippedbacktoyouviaFedExrequiringanadultsignatureuponreceipt.

UNdERNOCIRCUMSTANCESSHALLSMITH&WESSONINC.BERESPONSIBLE FOR INCIdENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL dAMAGES WITHRESPECTTOECONOMICLOSS,INJURY,dEATHORPROP-ERTYdAMAGE,WHETHERASARESULTOFBREACHOFTHISWARRANTY,NEGLIGENCEOROTHERWISE.

Somestatesdonotallowtheexclusionorlimitationofincidentalorconsequentialdamages,sotheabovelimitationorexclusionmaynotapplytoyou.

Smith & Wesson Inc. will not be responsible for:

•defectsormalfunctionsresultingfromcarelesshandling,unautho-rizedadjustmentsormodificationsmadeorattemptedbyanyoneotherthanaqualifiedgunsmithfollowingauthorizedprocedures,orfailuretofollowtheinstructionsinSafetyandInstructionmanualthatwasprovidedwiththefirearmfromthefactory.

•Useofdefectiveorimproperammunitionand/orpropellant,corro-sion,neglect,abuse,ordinarywearandtear,orunreasonableuse.

•Useofreplacementparts,includingbutnotlimitedtobarrelsandsprings,otherthanfactoryorauthorizedparts.

•Criminalmisuse,negligence,oruseundertheinfluenceofdrugsoralcohol.

ServicesthatwereperformedbytheThompson/CenterArmsCustomShopand/orthatareperformedbytheSmith&WessonRepairde-partmentdonotvoidthiswarranty.Thiswarrantygivesyouspecificlegalrights,andyoumayalsohaveotherrightswhichvaryfromstatetostate.

NoTE:Allliabilityisexcludedintheeventthattheinstructionspro-videdintheSafetyandInstructionmanualthatwasprovidedwiththefirearmfromthefactoryarenotobserved.

44

lIMITEd lIFETIME WARRANTy CoNTINUEd

•ServicesthatwereperformedbytheThompson/CenterArmsCustomShopand/orthatareperformedbytheSmithandWessonRepairdepartmentdonotvoidthiswarranty.Thiswarrantygivesyouspecificlegalrights,andyoumayalsohaveotherrightswhichvaryfromstatetostate.

NoTE:AllliabilityisexcludedintheeventthattheinstructionsprovidedintheSafetyandInstructionmanualthatwasprovidedwiththefirearmfromthefactoryarenotobserved.

CoNTACT ANd ShIPPING INFoRMATIoN

NoTE:AReturnMerchandiseAuthorization(RMA)isthefirststepintheprocessofreturningaproductinordertoreceivearepair,replacementorrefund.

PleasecontactThompson/Center’sCustomerServicedept.(e-mail:tca_customerservice@tcarms.comorbyphoneat1-866-730-1614toobtainauthorizationtoreturnyourfirearmsowecanprocessitquicklyandefficiently.TheRMAnumberthatissuppliedbyThomp-son/CenterArmsmustbedisplayedontheoutsideofthereturnedproduct’spackaging;returnswithoutanRMAnumberwillberouteddifferentlywhichwillresultindelayedprocessing.

TheReturnMerchandiseAuthorization(RMA)procedureallowsThompson/CenterArmsanopportunitytotrytodiagnoseandcorrectacustomer’sconcernswiththeproduct(suchasammunition/load-ingcomponentproblems)beforeitisreturned.Accordingly,pleasecontactusbeforereturningyourThompson/Centerfirearm.

Shipping Address: Thompson/Center Arms 2100RooseveltAvenue Springfield,MA01104

ShouldyourThompson/Centerfirearmrequireservice,itshouldbereturnedtotheThompson/Centerfactory.

•Callore-mailtheCustomerServicedept.forauthorizationandshippinginstructions.

•Ensurethatthemuzzleloaderisunloadedandunprimed.

•do not attempt to ship a firearm via US Postal Service; only fed-erally licensed dealers may ship a firearm by US Postal Service.

•do NoT ShIP ANy loAdING CoMPoNENTS.

45

CoNTACT ANd ShIPPING CoNTINUEd

•Enclosealetterwhichincludesyourfullnameandphysicaladdress(noP.O.Boxes,please),daytimetelephonenumber,e-mailaddress,theserialnumberofthefirearm,anddetailsoftheproblemexpe-rienced(statingthebrandandtypeofloadingcomponentsusedwhentheproblemoccurred)orworkdesired.

•Recordtheserialnumberbeforeshipping,incaseyouwishtocheckontherepairstatusofyourfirearm.

•Pleaseremoveallcustompartsandaccessories,suchasstocks,specialsightsandscopes,orslingsfromyourfirearmbeforereturning.

•Placethefirearminitsoriginalcaseorinasimilarlysecurecontain-erandpackitsecurely.

•ThepackagemustNOTbearanymarkingswhichindicatetheidentity of the contents.

•Itismostimportantthatyoucomplywithfederal,state,andlocallawsandregulations.Thefollowingguidelinesaremeanttohelp,butyoumustseekassistancefromtheappropriateauthoritiesifnecessary.

•Ifyourfirearmmustbereplaced,itmaybenecessarytoshipthereplacementtoadealerratherthandirectlytoyou.YoumayberequestedtofurnishasignedFFL(FederalFirearmsLicense)fromyourdealerinsuchaninstance.

•Warrantyrepairworkwillbeginuponreceiptandexaminationofthefirearm.Inthecaseofrepairsorworknotcoveredbythewarranty,aquotationcoveringthecostoftheworkplusshippingchargeswillbesenttoyou.Repairsormodificationwillbescheduleduponreceiptofpayment.

WARNING: yoU MAy PURChASE ACCESSoRIES FoR yoUR ThoMPSoN/CENTER FIREARM. yoU MUST hAVE SoME oF ThESE PARTS INSTAllEd By A GUN-

SMITh qUAlIFIEd To PERFoRM SERVICE oN ThoMPSoN/CENTER FIREARMS. NEVER ATTEMPT To ModIFy yoUR FIRE-ARM oR INSTAll REPlACEMENT PARTS IN yoUR FIREARM. AlWAyS USE A qUAlIFIEd ThoMPSoN/CENTER GUNSMITh EVEN IF ThE REPAIR SEEMS SIMPlE.

46

ENCoRE® SPEEd BREECh® APPENdIx

•Thisappendixisasupplementtotheinformationprovidedinthepreceding Thompson/Center Encore®muzzleloaderSafetyandInstructionManual.TheappendixappliestothespecificdifferencesinoperationfortheSpeedBreech®andtheSwingHammer®.

•TheEncore®Pro-Hunter™Muzzleloaderbarrelisequippedwiththe Speed Breech®breechplugsystemandarotatingextractorforconvenienceinunloadingandcleaning.Itdiffersfromthestan-dardEncoremuzzleloadingbarrelinseveralimportantaspectsasdetailedhere.

•TheEncore®Pro-Hunter™SpeedBreech®breechplugusesaninterrupted“Buttress”threaddesignthatrequiresonly1/4turntoremoveitortoinstallit.

WARNING: NEVER ATTEMPT To REMoVE ThE BREECh PlUG FRoM yoUR ENCoRE® MUzzlEloAdER UNTIl yoU ARE ABSolUTEly CERTAIN ThAT ThE FIRE ARM IS

UNPRIMEd (PRIMER IS REMoVEd FRoM ThE BREECh PlUG). AN ACCIdENTAl dISChARGE CAN CAUSE INJURy ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooT ER oR BySTANdERS ANd dAMAGE To PRoPERTy.

REMoVING ThE SPEEd BREECh® - BREECh PlUG

•ToremovethebreechplugfromtheEncorePro-Huntermuzzle-loaderbarrel-theextractormustfirstbetippedoutoftheway-toallowthebreechplugwrenchaccess.First,tipthebarrelopenandremove the primer.

•drawtheextractorslightlyrearwardandrotateit90degrees(ineitherdirection)toallowclearanceforthebreechplugwrench

(FIGURE40).

•Thebreechplugisremovedfromthebarrelbyturningit1/4turncounter-clockwise(asviewedfromthebreechendofthebarrel)withthewrenchsupplied.Thesuppliedbreechplugwrenchhasaclipwhichautomaticallyengagesagrooveinthebreechplugwhenitispushedontoit-allowingyoutoeasilywithdrawtheunscrewedbreechplugfromthebarrel(FIGURE41).

REMoVING A ChARGE FRoM ThE ENCoRE® PRo-hUNTER™ MUzzlEloAdER

•Undernormalconditions,anEncore®muzzleloaderisunloadedsim-plybyfiringitintoasuitableandsafebackstop.Thereare,however,someconditionsunderwhichthefirearmcannotbefiredandthechargemustberemoved.Thiswillrequiretheremovalofthebreechplug.

47

ENCoRE® SPEEd BREECh® APPENdIx CoNTINUEd

•Oncethebreechplughasbeenremoved,pointthemuzzleup.GravityshouldthencausethePyrodex® pelletstodropout,ortheloosepowdertopourout.Thesabotorbulletcanthenbepushedoutwithyourramrod-insertingtheramrodfromthemuz-zle.Itwillbenecessarytoaddtheextendedsuperjag(whichcamewithyourrifle)toyourramrod,oryoumayusethelonger“rangerod”topushtheprojectileout-ifyouhaveaccesstosucharod.

•Toreleasethebreechplugfromthewrenchforcleaning,pushforwardontheslidingbuttontoraisetheclipoutofthegrooveinthebreechplug

(FIGURE41).

•Proceedtocleanthebreechplug,thebarrelitselfandtheinternalthreadsinthebarrel’sbreechareaasneeded.

FIGURE 40

FIGURE 41

FIGURE 42

FIGURE 43

Cutaway View of T/C® Pro-hunter™

Speed Breech®

Barrel

Extractor retainer

Extractor

Speed breech breech plug

Use T/C® breech plug

wrench #7521 (provided)

Sliding

retainer

release

Tip barrel open

Extractor

Rotate extractor 900 After pulling itrearwardslightly

To Gain Access to Breech Plug

48

ENCoRE® SPEEd BREECh APPENdIx CoNTINUEd

•Youcannowre-installthebreechplugintothebarrelwiththesuppliedwrench-withtheextractorslot oriented to the right andthealignmentpinisorientedtotheleft(asviewedfromthebreechendofthebarrel)(FIGURE45).Tightenthebreechplugintoplacebyseatingitfullyintothebarrelandturningitclockwisejust1/4turn-atwhichpointtheextractorisalignedwiththeextractorslotinthebreechplugwhentheextractoristippedbackintotheuprightposition.

NoTE:Ifthebreechplugisnotinstalledcorrectly,theextractorwillnotengagetheextractorslotinthebreechplugandthebarrelwillnotcloseonthegun’sframe.

•Pushforwardontheslid-ingbuttononthewrenchtoraisetheclipoutofthegrooveinthebreechplug-allowingyoutoremovethewrenchfromthebreechplug(FIGURE47).

•Thisbreechplughasareplaceableheat-resistantO-Ringthatsealsthebreechareafurtheragainstfoulingresidue(FIGURE49).ThisO-Ringcanbeeasilyreplacedifitshouldbecomedamaged.UseT/CPartNo.7531replace-mentO-Rings-availablefromyourdealer-orbycontactingthefactory.

•Thegasrings(showninFIGURE49)aredesignedtobeapermanentassem-blywiththebreechplug.Theyshouldbecleanedinplacewithabrushandsolvent(likeT/C’sNumber13®BoreCleaner).

FIGURE 44

FIGURE 45

FIGURE 46

FIGURE 47

FIGURE 48

Use 1/2˝ breech plug wrench and turn it 1/4 turn counter-clockwise to remove

diagram showing breech plug rotated 900 counter-clockwise

Withdraw breech

plug using wrench

Alignmentpin to theleft

Extractorslot to the right

Pushing Retainer Forward Releases Breech Plug

Unlock

lockAlignment pin indicates if breech plug is locked

49

ENCoRE® SPEEd BREECh APPENdIx CoNTINUEd

IMPoRTANT: When re-installingthebreechplugaftercleaningyourmuzzleloader,youshouldlubricatetheentiresurfaceareaofthethreadsonthebreechplugwithagoodanti-seizelubricant(likeThompson/Center’sSuperLube)aswellasthethreadsinsidethebreechareaofthebarrelitself.Failuretolubricatethethreadsinbothplacesmayleadtodifficultyinremovingthebreechplugafterfiringthegun(FIGURE50).

WARNING: dISChARGING FIREARMS IN PooRly VEN-TIlATEd AREAS, ClEANING FIREARMS, oR hANdlING AMMUNITIoN MAy RESUlT IN ExPoSURE To lEAd

ANd oThER SUBSTANCES kNoWN To CAUSE BIRTh dEFECTS, REPRodUCTIVE hARM, ANd oThER SERIoUS PhySICAl INJURy. hAVE AdEqUATE VENTIlATIoN AT All TIMES. WASh hANdS ThoRoUGhly AFTER ExPoSURE.

FIGURE 49

FIGURE 50

Alignment pin

Gas rings

heat-resistantreplaceable

o-RingT/C® Part #7531

T/C® part #7362

50

ENCoRE® SWING hAMMER® APPENdIx

•TomakeiteasiertocockyourEncore®Pro-Hunterwhenascopeismounted,itcomeswithapivotingspurhammer.TheSwingHam-mer®canbelockedintoaleft,centerorrightposition-dependingonyourpreference.

WARNING: BEFoRE MAkING ANy ChANGES To ThE ENCoRE®, MAkE SURE ThAT ThE FIREARM yoU ARE WoRkING WITh IS UNloAdEd. AN ACCIdENTAl

dISChARGE MAy RESUlT IN INJURy ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooTER oR BySTANdERS ANd dAMAGE To PRoPERTy.

•TheEncore®SwingHammer®usesoneself-lockingscrewtoholdthespurinthepositionthatyouchoose.Awrenchisprovidedfromthefactory(FIGURE51).

•Ifyouwanttochangethepositionofthehammerspur-andthescopebellinterferes-itmaybenecessarytotipthebarrelopentogainaccesstothelockingscrew.

FIGURE 51

locking screw

Use wrench provided

51

ENCoRE® SWING hAMMER® CoNTINUEd

•Loosenthelockingscrewbyturningitcounter-clockwise(asviewedfromabove)untilthescreweithercomesoutcompletelyoritislooseenoughtoalloweasymovementofthehammerspur(FIGURE52).Afterthehammerspurisrepositioned,tightenthelockingscrewsecurely.

NoTE:TheSwingHammer®willnottightendowncorrectlyinanypositionotherthanthoseshown.

•ForthoseEncore®modelsnotequippedwiththisoption,itisavailableasafactory-installedaccessory.Contactusfordetails.Onceinstalled-theshootercanalterthepositionofthehammerasdirected here.

Spur left Spur center Spur right

FIGURE 52

52

ENCoRE® SPEEd BREECh® xT™ APPENdIx

•Thisappendixisasupplementtotheinformationprovidedinthepreceding Thompson/Center Encore®muzzleloaderSafetyandInstructionManual.TheappendixappliestothespecificdifferencesinoperationfortheSpeedBreech®XT™(FIGURE53).

•TheEncore®ProHunter™XTMuzzleloaderbarrelisequippedwithaSpeedBreech®XT™breechplugsystemandarotatingextractorforconvenienceinunloadingandcleaning.TheEncore®ProHunt-er™XTandEndeavor™differsfromtheotherEncore®muzzleload-ersintheaspectsdetailedhere:

•TheEncore® Speed Breech®XT™breechplugusesaninterrupted“Buttress”threaddesignthatrequiresonly1/4turntoremoveitortoinstallit.

WARNING: NEVER ATTEMPT To REMoVE ThE BREECh PlUG FRoM yoUR ENCoRE® MUzzlEloAdER UNTIl yoU ARE ABSolUTEly CERTAIN ThAT ThE FIRE ARM IS

UNPRIMEd (PRIMER IS REMoVEd FRoM ThE BREECh PlUG). AN ACCIdENTAl dISChARGE CAN CAUSE INJURy ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooT ER oR BySTANdERS ANd dAMAGE To PRoPERTy.

FIGURE 53

The breech plug is stamped “UP” indicating the orientation when installing it.

Barrel alignment mark

Breech plugalignment mark

53

ENCoRE® SPEEd BREECh® xT™ APPENdIx CoNT’d

REMoVING ThE SPEEd BREECh® xT™ - BREECh PlUG

•First,opentheaction,removeanyprimerfromthebreechplug.

•Toremovethebreechplugfromthe Encore®ProHunterXTandEn-deavormuzzleloaderbarrel-first,drawtheextractorfullyrearwardandrotateit90degreesasshowntoallowclearance(FIGURES54to56).

•Removethebreechplugbyturningit1/4turncounter-clockwise(asviewedfromthebreechendofthebarrel)byhandorwiththewrenchsupplied(FIGURES57and58)andthenwithdrawingitfromthebarrel(FIGURE59).Ifthebreechplugdoesn’tcomeoutreadilyusingyourfingers,atapfromtheramrodinserteddownthebarrelfromthemuzzleshoulddothetrick.

REMoVING A ChARGE FRoM ThE ENCoRE® PRo hUNTER and ENdEAVoR™ MUzzlEloAdERS

•Undernormalconditions,anEncore®muzzleloaderisunloadedsimplybyfiringitintoasuitableandsafebackstop.Thereare,however,someconditionsunderwhichthefirearmcannotbefiredandthechargemustberemoved.Thiswillrequiretheremovalofthebreechplug.

FIGURE 54

FIGURE 55

FIGURE 56

FIGURE 57

Pull extractor fully rearward

Pull extractor fully rearward

Rotate extractor 900 to the right

Breech plug

wrench

Turn 900 (counterclockwise) to unlock

54

Breech plug alignment

marks

Pin on breech plug contacts barrel lug when it is in the

unlocked position

Grasp the breech plug and withdraw it from the barrel


•Oncethebreechplughasbeenremoved,pointthemuzzleup.Gravityshouldthencausetheblackpowderorpelletstodropout.Thesabotorbulletcanthenbepushedoutwithyourramrod-insertingtheramrodfromthemuzzle.Itwillbenecessarytoaddtheextendedsuperjag(whichcamewithyourrifle)toyourramrod,oryoumayusethelonger“rangerod”topushtheprojectileout-ifyouhaveaccesstosucharod.

•Proceedtocleanthebreechplug,thebarrelitselfandtheinternalthreadsinthebarrel’sbreechareaasneeded.

WARNING: AlWAyS hAVE AdEqUATE VENTIlATIoN. ClEANING FIREARMS IN PooRly VENTIlATEd AREAS, dISChARGING FIREARMS, oR hANdlING

AMMUNITIoN ANd loAdING CoMPoNENTS MAy RESUlT IN ExPoSURE To lEAd ANd oThER SUBSTANCES kNoWN To CAUSE BIRTh dEFECTS, REPRodUCTIVE hARM ANd oThER SERIoUS PhySICAl INJURy. WASh hANdS ThoRoUGhly AFTER ExPoSURE.

•Re-installthebreechplugintothebarrel-withthe“UP”markingorientedinthatmanner(FIGURE60).Tightenthebreechplugintoplacebyturningitclockwisejust1/4turn.Atthispointtheextractorisalignedwiththeextractorslotinthebreechplug-whentheextractoristippedbackintotheuprightposition(FIGURE51).

FIGURE 58

FIGURE 59

55


NoTE:Ifthebreechplugisnotinstalledcorrectly,theextractorwillnotengagetheextractorslotinthebreechplugandthebarrelwillnotcloseonthegun’sframe.

•Thebreechplughasareplaceableheat-resis-tantO-Ringthatsealsthebreechareafurtheragainstfoulingresidue(FIGURE62).ThisO-Ringcanbeeasilyreplacedifitshouldbecomedamaged.UseT/CPartNo.7531replacementO-Rings-availablefromyourdealerorfromtheThompson/Centerfactory.

•Thegassealrings(FIGURE62)aredesignedtobeapermanentas-semblywiththebreechplug.Theyshouldbecleanedinplacewithabrushandsolvent(Thompson/Center’sNumber13®BoreCleanerorT17®BoreCleanerworkswellforthis).

IMPoRTANT: When re-installingthebreechplugaftercleaningyourmuzzle-loader,youshouldlubricatetheentiresurfaceareaofthethreadsonthebreechplugwithagoodanti-seizelubricant(T/C’sSuperLube®-FIGURE63)aswellasthethreadsinsidethebreechareaofthebarrelitself.Failuretolubricatethethreadsinbothplacesmayleadtodifficultyinremovingthebreechplugafterfiringthegun.

The breech plug is stamped “UP” indicating the orientation

when installing it.

Extractor fully forward - after

breech plug has been locked In

ENDEAVOR BREECH PLUG,SPEED BREECH® XT™

RUBBER “O”-RING GAS SEAL RINGS (QTY 3)

FIGURE 62

FIGURE 63

T/C Part #7362

Barrel alignment

mark

Breech plugalignment

markFIGURE 60

FIGURE 61

56

loAd CoMPoNENTSWARNING: NEVER USE loAdING CoMPoNENTS NoT SPECIFICAlly REFERENCEd IN ThIS MANUAl. FAIl-URE To FolloW ThIS RUlE MAy CAUSE ExCESSIVE

PRESSURE WhICh CAN dAMAGE oR EVEN RUPTURE yoUR FIREARM, CAUSING PERSoNAl INJURy, dEATh oR PRoPERTy dAMAGE.

• USE oNly BlACk PoWdER oR AN APPRoVEd BlACk PoW-dER SUBSTITUTE SUCh AS PyRodEx® To loAd yoUR MUzzlEloAdING FIREARM.Neveruseevensmallamountsofsmokelesspowder,evenifitisblackincolor.Theuseofanyotherpropellantmaycauseinjuryordeathtotheshooterorbystandersanddamagetoproperty.

• yoU ARE RESPoNSIBlE FoR USING ThE CoRRECT CoMBI-NATIoN oF loAd CoMPoNENTS IN yoUR T/C® ENCoRE®

MUzzlEloAdERasdetailedinthismanual.

NoTE:differentcombinationsofbulletweightandpowderchargecanhaveamajoreffectonfeltrecoil.Heavierbulletsandheavierpowderchargeswillresultinmorerecoil.

WARNING: dEATh, SERIoUS INJURy ANd dAMAGE To PRoPERTy CAN RESUlT FRoM ThE USE oF INCoR-RECT loAd CoMPoNENTS.

57

SUGGESTEd loAdS FoR ENCoRE®

ThefollowingchartsshowrecommendedchargesusingBlackPowderoraPyrodex®equivalentasthepropellantfortheENCORE®muzzleloadingrifle.Loadsarelistedbycaliber,powderchargeandtypeofprojectile.

NoTE:Ineachinstanceaseriesofchargesarelisted.Morethanonechargeisshownineachcategorytoillustratetheappropriatepowderchargerangeforthatparticularcaliber,firearmmodelandprojectile.

WARNING: MAxIMUM loAdS ARE NoT To BE ExCEEd-Ed NoR IS A SUBSTITUTIoN oF PoW dER oR GRAN U-lA TIoNS To BE ATTEMPTEd! oNly USE loAdS ThAT

ARE lISTEd FoR yoUR PAR TIC U lAR CAlIBER, ModEl ANd BUllET STylE. FAIlURE To Fol loW ThESE IN STRUC TIoNS MAy RESUlT IN INJURy ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooTER oR By STANd ERS ANd dAMAGE To PRoP ER Ty.

•Theshooterisinstructedtostartwiththelightestchargelisted.Asyoubecomefamiliarwiththefirearm,increaseyourchargesgraduallyuntilyoureachyourbestperformingload(mostaccurate).Thompson/CenterArmsisnotresponsibleforloadinginformationprintedinsourcesotherthanthisbooklet.

NoTE:AllloadingdatacontainedinthisbookistheresultoftestingbyThompson/CenterArms.Testingwasdoneundercarefullycon-trolledconditionswiththecomponentsspecifiedinthetext.28-inchbarrelswereusedtoproducethedata(unlessotherwisespecified).

•SinceThompson/Centerhasnocontroloverthecomponentsorequipmentwhichmaybeusedwiththisinformation,noresponsibili-tyisimpliedorassumedfortheresultsobtained.

WARNING: ThE loAdING dATA FoUNd IN ThIS MANUAl WAS CoMPIlEd USING BlACk PoWdER oR GRANUlAR (looSE) PyRodEx® RS AS A PRoPEllANT

(No PEllETS). WITh ANy oThER APPRoVEd BlACk PoWdER SUBSTITUTE FolloW ThE INSTRUCTIoNS SUPPlIEd By ThE MANUFACTURER ANd hEEd All WARNINGS AS ThEy APPly To loAdING ANd USAGE oF ThAT PRodUCT.

58

ASSEMBly ANd loAdING T/C® MAG ExPRESS® ANd ShoCk WAVE® SABoTS

•T/C®sabotscomeinseveralvariations;Insertthecorrectdiameterbulletintothesabotandpressfirmly,makingsurethebulletisfullyseatedwithinthesabot-andthatthesabotisfirmlyseatedonthepowderchargewhenloading(FIGURE64).

WARNING: WhEN loAdING ThoMPSoN/CENTER™ SABoTS, MAkE SURE ThAT yoUR GUN IS UNPRIMEd, ANd ThAT yoUR SABoT hAS BEEN PRoPERly AS-

SEM BlEd. FAIl URE To ASSEMBlE ANd loAd yoUR SABoT CoR RECT ly CoUld RE SUlT IN ThE BUllET dISENGAGING FRoM ThE SABoT. ThIS CoUld RE SUlT IN AN AIR SPACE BETWEEN ThE CoM Po NENTS. UN dER SUCh A CoNdITIoN, oNE oR MoRE oF ThE CoM Po NENTS MAy ACT AS A BARREl oB STRUC TIoN ANd FIRING CoUld RESUlT IN INJURy ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooTER oR BySTANdERS ANd dAM AGE To PRoPERTy.

WARNING: USE oNly PRoJECTIlES oF ThE CoRRECT dIAMETER ThAT WERE dESIGNEd FoR ThE SABoTS yoU ARE USING. USING BUllETS oF lESSER dI AM E-

TER MAy CAUSE ThE BUl lET To SEP A RATE FRoM ThE SABoT RE SUlT ING IN A BARREl oBSTRUCTIoN. USING BUllETS oF lARGER dIAMETER CoUld RESUlT IN dIFFICUlT loAdING, oR A CoN dI TIoN WhERE ThE SAB oT IS NoT SEATEd All ThE WAy doWN oN ThE PoWdER ChARGE, RE SUlT ING IN A BAR-REl oBSTRUCTIoN. EIThER CASE CAN RESUlT IN A dAM-AGEd FIREARM ANd PoSSIBlE IN JU Ry ANd/oR dEATh To ThE ShooTER oR BySTANdERS ANd dAM AGE To PRoPERTy.

WARNING: ThE loAd dATA PRoVIdEd hERE IS FoR USE IN RIFlES oF ThoMPSoN/CENTER MANUFAC-TURE oNly. FoR loAd dATA FoR oThER BRANdS

REFER To ThEIR loAdING dATA.

The AssembledBullet and Sabot Must Be Seated Firmly Against The PowderCharge.

FIGURE 64

Assembled Sabot

Mag ExpressSabot

Bulletof the

CorrectDiameter

Seat Fully

59

For Use In .50 Caliber T/C® ENCORE® Muzzleloading Rifle OnlyUsing Bullet Weights Listed BelowUse a #209 Primer for Ignition

.50 Caliber RifleUsing 50 Grain Equivalent Pyrodex®

Pellets and Mag Express® Sabot Loads

Use With Bullets Weighing

(In Grains)

Powder Charge .50 cal/50gr.

Pyrodex® Pellets

Muzzle Velocity

(Feet Per Second)

Muzzle Energy

(Foot Pounds)

180 Gr. Bulletin T/C® Mag

Express® Sabot

2 Pellets 1937 F.P.S. 1500 Ft. Lbs.



Express® Sabot




Express® Sabot




Express® Sabot




Express® Sabot




Express® Sabot



Loads Shown in Red are Maximum

loAdS FoR ThoMPSoN/CENTER™ MAG ExPRESS® SABoTS

60


.50 Caliber RifleUsing FFG Black Powder andMag Express® Sabot Loads


(In Grains)

FFGBlack PowderCharge (Grains)

Muzzle Velocity

(Feet Per Second)

Muzzle Energy

(Foot Pounds)

180 GrainBullet

Like TheThompson/Center

XTP™in T/C® Mag

Express® Sabot

80 grs. FFG 1609 F.P.S. 1035 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1685 F.P.S. 1135 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1737 F.P.S. 1206 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1766 F.P.S. 1247 Ft. Lbs.

120 grs. FFG 1852 F.P.S. 1371 Ft. Lbs.

130 grs. FFG 1907 F.P.S. 1454 Ft. Lbs.

140 grs. FFG 2004 F.P.S. 1606 Ft. Lbs.

150 grs. FFG 2043 F.P.S. 1669 Ft. Lbs.

240 GrainBullet


XTP™in T/C® Mag

Express® Sabot

80 grs. FFG 1511 F.P.S. 1217 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1629 F.P.S. 1414 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1672 F.P.S. 1490 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1710 F.P.S. 1559 Ft. Lbs.

120 grs. FFG 1761 F.P.S. 1653 Ft. Lbs.

130 grs. FFG 1794 F.P.S. 1716 Ft. Lbs.

140 grs. FFG 1846 F.P.S. 1816 Ft. Lbs.

150 grs. FFG 1879 F.P.S. 1882 Ft. Lbs.

250 GrainBullet


PTX™in T/C® Mag

Express® Sabot

80 grs. FFG 1472 F.P.S. 1203 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1601 F.P.S. 1423 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1642 F.P.S. 1497 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1696 F.P.S. 1597 Ft. Lbs.

120 grs. FFG 1724 F.P.S. 1650 Ft. Lbs.

130 grs. FFG 1775 F.P.S. 1749 Ft. Lbs.

140 grs. FFG 1828 F.P.S. 1855 Ft. Lbs.

150 grs. FFG 1853 F.P.S. 1907 Ft. Lbs.

300 GrainBullet


XTP™in T/C® Mag

Express® Sabot

80 grs. FFG 1452 F.P.S. 1405 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1535 F.P.S. 1570 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1601 F.P.S. 1708 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1646 F.P.S. 1805 Ft. Lbs.

120 grs. FFG 1667 F.P.S. 1852 Ft. Lbs.

130 grs. FFG 1693 F.P.S. 1910 Ft. Lbs.

140 grs. FFG 1714 F.P.S. 1957 Ft. Lbs.

150 grs. FFG 1758 F.P.S. 2015 Ft. Lbs.

Loads Shown in Red are Maximum - Heavier Bullets continued next page...

loAdS FoR ThoMPSoN/CENTER™ MAG ExPRESS® SABoTS

61

T/C® Mag Express® Sabot Loads continued from the previous page.


.50 Caliber RifleUsing FFG Black Powder andMag Express® Sabot Loads


(In Grains)


Muzzle Velocity

(Feet Per Second)

Muzzle Energy

(Foot Pounds)

325 GrainBullet

in T/C® Mag Express® Sabot

100 grs. FFG 1451 F.P.S. 1520 Ft. Lbs.

120 grs. FFG 1555 F.P.S. 1745 Ft. Lbs.

150 grs. FFG 1710 F.P.S. 2110 Ft. Lbs.

400 GrainBullet


100 grs. FFG 1390 F.P.S. 1679 Ft. Lbs.

120 grs. FFG 1469 F.P.S. 1917 Ft. Lbs.

150 grs. FFG 1587 F.P.S. 2238 Ft. Lbs.


62


.50 Caliber RifleUsing 50 Grain Equivalent Pyrodex®

Pellets and Shock Wave® Bullets with T/C® Super Glide™ Sabots


(In Grains)


Pyrodex® Pellets

Muzzle Velocity

(Feet Per Second)

Muzzle Energy

(Foot Pounds)

250 Gr. BulletT/C® Shock Wave®

in theT/C® Super Glide™

Sabot



300 Gr. BulletT/C® Shock Wave®

in theT/C® Super Glide™

Sabot



Loads Shown in Red are Maximum - Do Not Exceed

For Use In .50 Caliber T/C® ENCORE® Muzzleloading Rifle OnlyUsing Bullet Weights ListedUse a #209 Primer for Ignition

.50 Caliber RifleUsing FFG Black Powder and

Shock Wave® Bullets withT/C® Super Glide™ Sabots


(In Grains)


Muzzle Velocity

(Feet Per Second)

Muzzle Energy

(Foot Pounds)

250 Gr. BulletShock Wave®

in the T/C® Super Glide™

Sabot

80 grs. FFG 1472 F.P.S. 1203 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1601 F.P.S. 1423 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1642 F.P.S. 1497 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1696 F.P.S. 1597 Ft. Lbs.

120 grs. FFG 1724 F.P.S. 1650 Ft. Lbs.

130 grs. FFG 1775 F.P.S. 1749 Ft. Lbs.

140 grs. FFG 1828 F.P.S. 1855 Ft. Lbs.

150 grs. FFG 1853 F.P.S. 1907 Ft. Lbs.

300 Gr. BulletShock Wave®

in the T/C® Super Glide™

Sabot

80 grs. FFG 1452 F.P.S. 1405 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1535 F.P.S. 1570 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1601 F.P.S. 1708 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1646 F.P.S. 1805 Ft. Lbs.

120 grs. FFG 1667 F.P.S. 1852 Ft. Lbs.

130 grs. FFG 1693 F.P.S. 1910 Ft. Lbs.

140 grs. FFG 1714 F.P.S. 1957 Ft. Lbs.

150 grs. FFG 1758 F.P.S. 2015 Ft. Lbs.


ShoCk WAVE® SABoT loAdS

63

For Use in .50 Caliber T/C® ENCORE® Muzzleloading Rifle OnlyBullets Lubricated with Natural Lube 1000 Plus™ Bore But ter. Use #209 Primer for Ignition

.50 Caliber RifleUsing Pyrodex® Pellets andMaxi-Ball™ or Maxi-Hunter®


(In Grains)


Pyrodex® Pellets

Muzzle Velocity

(Feet Per Second)

Muzzle Energy

(Foot Pounds)

275 Gr. Maxi-Hunter®

or 320 Gr. Maxi-Ball™

Lead Bullet



350 Gr. Maxi-Hunter®

or370 Gr. Maxi-Ball™

Lead Bullet



Loads Shown in Red are Maximum - Do Not Exceed

For Use in .50 Caliber T/C® ENCORE® Muzzleloading Rifle OnlyBullets Lubricated with Natural Lube 1000 Plus™ Bore But ter. Use #209 Primer for Ignition

.50 Caliber RifleUsing FFG Black Powder andMaxi-Ball™ or Maxi-Hunter®


(In Grains)


Muzzle Velocity

(Feet Per Second)

Muzzle Energy

(Foot Pounds)

275 GrainMaxi-Hunter®

or320 Grain

Maxi-Ball™Lead Bullet

80 grs. FFG 1408 F.P.S. 1409 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1462 F.P.S. 1519 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1511 F.P.S. 1623 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1588 F.P.S. 1792 Ft. Lbs.

120 grs. FFG 1632 F.P.S. 1893 Ft. Lbs.

130 grs. FFG 1675 F.P.S. 1994 Ft. Lbs.

140 grs. FFG 1697 F.P.S. 2020 Ft. Lbs.

150 grs. FFG 1742 F.P.S. 2157 Ft. Lbs.

350 GrainMaxi-Hunter®

or 370 Grain

Maxi-Ball™Lead Bullet

80 grs. FFG 1344 F.P.S. 1484 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1426 F.P.S. 1671 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1478 F.P.S. 1795 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1535 F.P.S. 1936 Ft. Lbs.

120 grs. FFG 1556 F.P.S. 1990 Ft. Lbs.

130 grs. FFG 1592 F.P.S. 2083 Ft. Lbs.

140 grs. FFG 1623 F.P.S. 2165 Ft. Lbs.

150 grs. FFG 1661 F.P.S. 2267 Ft. Lbs.


lUBRICATEd ThoMPSoN/CENTER™ CoNICAl MAxI-BUllET loAdS

64

For Use Only In .50 Caliber T/C® ENCORE® Muzzleloading Pistol OnlyBullets Lubricated with Natural Lube 1000 Plus™ Bore But ter Use a #209 Primer for Ignition

.50 Caliber PistolUsing FFG Black Powder andMaxi-Ball™ or Maxi-Hunter®


(In Grains)


Muzzle Velocity(Feet Per Second)

Muzzle Energy(Foot Pounds)

275 Gr.Maxi-Hunter®


Lead Bullet

80 grs. FFG 1235 F.P.S. 1084 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1269 F.P.S. 1145 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1336 F.P.S. 1269 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1387 F.P.S. 1367 Ft. Lbs.



Lead Bullet

80 grs. FFG 1187 F.P.S. 1484 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1240 F.P.S. 1671 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1275 F.P.S. 1795 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1303 F.P.S. 1936 Ft. Lbs.



Lead Bullet

80 grs. FFG 1080 F.P.S. 1192 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1130 F.P.S. 1305 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1160 F.P.S. 1375 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1186 F.P.S. 1437 Ft. Lbs.


ENCoRE® PISTol loAdSCoNICAl lEAd BUllETS

For Use Only In .50 Caliber T/C® ENCORE® Muzzleloading Pistol OnlyBullets Lubricated with Natural Lube 1000 Plus™ Bore But ter Use a #209 Primer for Ignition

.50 Caliber PistolUsing 50 Grain Equivalent

Pyrodex® Pellets andMaxi-Ball™ or Maxi-Hunter®


(In Grains)


Pyrodex® Pellets



275 Gr. Maxi-Hunter® or

320 Gr. Maxi-Ball™

Lead Bullet


350 Gr.Maxi-Hunter® or


Lead Bullet


470 Gr.Maxi-Hunter® or


Lead Bullet



ENCoRE® PISTol loAdSCoNICAl lEAd BUllETS

65

For Use Only In .50 Caliber T/C® ENCORE® Muzzleloading Pistol OnlyUsing a .429˝-.430˝ BulletUse a #209 Primer for Ignition

.50 Caliber PistolUsing 50 Grain Equivalent

Pyrodex® Pellets andMag Express® Sabot Loads

Use With Bullets Weighing (In Grains)


Pyrodex® Pellets



200 Gr Bulletin T/C® Mag

Express® Sabot2 Pellets 1760 F.P.S. 1376 Ft. Lbs.








For Use Only In .50 Caliber T/C® ENCORE® Muzzleloading Pistol OnlyUsing a .429˝-.430˝ BulletUse a #209 Primer for Ignition

.50 Caliber PistolUsing FFG Black Powder andMag Express® Sabot Loads


(In Grains)




200 GrainBullet


80 grs. FFG 1360 F.P.S. 829 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1420 F.P.S. 896 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1479 F.P.S. 972 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1530 F.P.S. 1039 Ft. Lbs.

240 GrainBullet


80 grs. FFG 1306 F.P.S. 909 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1379 F.P.S. 1014 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1416 F.P.S. 1069 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1454 F.P.S. 1124 Ft. Lbs.

275 GrainBullet


80 grs. FFG 1272 F.P.S. 988 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1335 F.P.S. 1089 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1391 F.P.S. 1182 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1447 F.P.S. 1270 Ft. Lbs.

300 GrainBullet


80 grs. FFG 1268 F.P.S. 1071 Ft. Lbs.

90 grs. FFG 1313 F.P.S. 1149 Ft. Lbs.

100 grs. FFG 1372 F.P.S. 1254 Ft. Lbs.

110 grs. FFG 1417 F.P.S. 1328 Ft. Lbs.


MAG ExPRESS® SABoTSENCoRE® PISTol loAdS

66

BATTERy WARNINGS WARNING: IF A BATTERy oPERATEd ACCESSoRy oR ATTAChMENT (I.E. lASER, oPTICAl SIGhT oR FlAShlIGhT, ETC.) IS SUPPlIEd oR USEd WITh ThIS

FIREARM, ThE FolloWING WARNINGS ANd INSTRUCTIoNS MUST BE AdhEREd To.

WARNING: kEEP BATTERIES AWAy FRoM ChIldREN. ThERE IS A ChEMICAl BURN hAzARd ASSoCIATEd WITh BATTERIES.

WARNING: IF A NEW oR USEd lIThIUM BUTToN/CoIN CEll BATTERy IS SWAlloWEd oR ENTERS ThE Body, IT CAN CAUSE SEVERE INTERNAl BURNS

ANd CAN lEAd To dEATh IN AS lITTlE AS 2 hoURS. AlWAyS CoMPlETEly SECURE ThE BATTERy CoMPARTMENT. IF ThE BATTERy CoMPARTMENT doES NoT CloSE SECUREly, SToP USING ThE PRodUCT, REMoVE ThE BATTERIES, ANd kEEP IT AWAy FRoM ChIldREN. IF yoU ThINk BATTERIES MIGhT hAVE BEEN SWAlloWEd oR PlACEd INSIdE ANy PART oF ThE Body, SEEk IMMEdIATE MEdICAl ATTENTIoN.

•Whenusedcorrectly,batteriesprovideasafeanddependablesourceofportablepower.However,misuseorabusemayresultinleakage,fire,orexplosion.

•Batteriescanexplodeorleakandcauseburnsifinstalledback-wards,disassembled,charged,orexposedtowater,fireorhightemperature.

•Alwaystakecaretoinstallyourbatteriescorrectlyobservingthe“+”and“-”marksonthebatteryandthedevice.

•Alwaysreplacethewholesetofbatteriesatonetime,takingcarenottomixoldandnewbatteries,orbatteriesofdifferenttypes.

•Storeunusedbatteriesintheiroriginalpackagingandawayfrommetalobjectsthatmayshort-circuitthem.

•Removedischargedbatteriesfromequipmentpromptlytoavoidpossibledamagefromleakage.

•Neverdisposeofbatteriesinfire.(Failuretoobservethisprecautionmayresultinanexplosion.)

•Thebatteriesaresuppliedinachargedstateandarenotdesignedforrecharging.Rechargingmaycauseleakage,fire,orexplosion.

•Thebatteriesshouldbedisposedofproperly,includingkeepingthemawayfromchildren.

•disposeofusedbatteriesimmediately.Evenusedbatteriesmaycauseinjury.

67

FoR yoUR RECoRdS ImportantNote:Forfire,theftandinsurancepurposes,retainthisrecordwithyourimportantpapersinasafeplace.

MyThompson/Center:________________________________________

WasPurchasedFrom:________________________________________

On(date):____________________20____________________________

SerialNumber:______________________Caliber:________________

Accessories:________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

OwnerRegistrationCardMailedon:____________________________

Notes: ______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Thisareaisprovidedforyourconvenience.Wesuggestthatyoumakea list of important information that pertains to your specific firearm(bestperforming load,etc.).Keepthisbookletwithyourfirearmandreviewyournotesbeforeeachhuntingseasonorwheneverthefirearmhasnotbeenusedforextendedperiodsoftime.

68

PATENT INFo•Thisproductmaybecoveredbyoneormorepatents. Visitwww.tcarms.comforvirtualpatentinformation.

T/C Mailing Address:(for questions and comments)

Thompson/Center Arms2100RooseveltAvenue•Springfield,MA01104

T/C Shipping Address:(for repairs or warranty work)

Thompson/Center ArmsATTN:Repairdepartment

2100RooseveltAvenue•Springfield,MA01104

Web Address:www.tcarms.com

Customer Service Phone:Toll Free: 1-866-730-1614

Customer Service email:[email protected]

p/n 00084012 REV:ENCoREMl_030520

Documents

Safety & Instruction Manual For Encore Muzzleloading Rifle ... · Springfield, MA 01104 Toll Free Phone: 1-866-730-1614 Customer Service E-mail: [email protected] NoTE: