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Post by muzzy123 on Nov 4, 2021 15:35:29 GMT -5
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Post by yoderjac on Nov 4, 2021 17:15:38 GMT -5
Well, I now don't know what to think. I just took a 100 yard shot at a doe. I set up bull bags on a desk. The does ran for about 150 yards before hitting open hardwoods. No sign of blood at the impact site or where she entered the woods. Worked the open hardwoods for another 150 yards with a FLIR. If the shot was good, I would have found her.
Maybe it is a scope issue or something else. I'm gonna have to get back to the range and play with it. Perhaps I should have done more preseason work with it.
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Post by lakeplainshunter on Nov 4, 2021 19:13:56 GMT -5
I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I would not be pulling the trigger on anymore deer until I figured out what is going on. I hope you figure out the issue(s) quickly.
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Post by yoderjac on Nov 4, 2021 19:30:10 GMT -5
I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I would not be pulling the trigger on anymore deer until I figured out what is going on. I hope you figure out the issue(s) quickly. No, you don't sound like a Jerk at all! I completely agree. It is back to the range before I hunt again.
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Post by hillbill on Nov 4, 2021 20:56:22 GMT -5
sounds like a scope issue to me, Have had many over the years on these guns. Remove the scope, check the base and install another scope, I would bet your scope is bad.
I have killed almost everything on these guns, including NightForce so yes they can and do eat scopes.
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Post by yoderjac on Nov 4, 2021 22:41:29 GMT -5
sounds like a scope issue to me, Have had many over the years on these guns. Remove the scope, check the base and install another scope, I would bet your scope is bad. I have killed almost everything on these guns, including NightForce so yes they can and do eat scopes. That is certainly possible. It could also be something weird I'm doing. The presence of game always had some level of impact. Perhaps I do something in the presence of game that affects this gun more than others. I'm hoping to get to the range tomorrow and take a few shots. If they spray, I'll blame the scope. If not, I'll scratch my head some more...
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Post by blackpowder72 on Nov 5, 2021 5:59:28 GMT -5
sounds like a scope issue to me, Have had many over the years on these guns. Remove the scope, check the base and install another scope, I would bet your scope is bad. I have killed almost everything on these guns,including NightForce so yes they can and do eat scopes. +1. I have also learned to check the torque on my scopes rings about every 10 shots .
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Post by dennis on Nov 5, 2021 7:23:04 GMT -5
Leupold scopes have failed over and over on sml's especially break actions. I know of one guy that has sent 7 of them in for repair after being on encore rifles.
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Post by smokelessk on Nov 5, 2021 7:42:47 GMT -5
Leupold scopes have failed over and over on sml's especially break actions. I know of one guy that has sent 7 of them in for repair after being on encore rifles. 7.... I think I would have switched brands maybe around scope #2? That is not a very good track record!
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Post by dennis on Nov 5, 2021 12:26:25 GMT -5
I have no love for their scopes. I have owned 1 and it was a pistol scope and it was defective out of the box. I have never had an issue from my Vortex with 2-3k shots from sml. Seems around here everyone loves the Leupy's.
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Post by smokelessk on Nov 5, 2021 13:14:26 GMT -5
I have no love for their scopes. I have owned 1 and it was a pistol scope and it was defective out of the box. I have never had an issue from my Vortex with 2-3k shots from sml. Seems around here everyone loves the Leupy's. My break action wears a 4-12 Viper.
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Post by yoderjac on Nov 5, 2021 21:25:06 GMT -5
Well, I went to the range today and I was not even on paper at 100 yards. My stomach sank thinking the scope may be bad. I check things over closely and found one of the leavers on the quick release rings had evidently been bumped and it was slightly loose. I locked it down and went to 25 yards. I was about 6" to the right at 25 yards. That would account for the deer where I aimed at the scapula and hit the neck not far from the head.
I don't know what happened the first time I went to the range and was only off an inch or two. It was off to the right. It could be that the ring was just beginning to work loose (which would not account for the first missed deer). Or, it could be the leaver was bumped after that trip to the range.
I burned up a bunch of supplies, but the gun is now sighted in at 100 yards and is consistent. I'll definitely keep my eye on those leavers. I'm really glad the scope is not damaged. It is an HD-6 4-24 x 52 and was not cheap. I'm sure they would fix it or replace it if necessary, but it would have killed my hunting season.
There may still be more range work to do after the season, but I'm feeling better now.
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Post by buckeye68 on Nov 6, 2021 0:08:16 GMT -5
Well, I went to the range today and I was not even on paper at 100 yards. My stomach sank thinking the scope may be bad. I check things over closely and found one of the leavers on the quick release rings had evidently been bumped and it was slightly loose. I locked it down and went to 25 yards. I was about 6" to the right at 25 yards. That would account for the deer where I aimed at the scapula and hit the neck not far from the head. I don't know what happened the first time I went to the range and was only off an inch or two. It was off to the right. It could be that the ring was just beginning to work loose (which would not account for the first missed deer). Or, it could be the leaver was bumped after that trip to the range. I burned up a bunch of supplies, but the gun is now sighted in at 100 yards and is consistent. I'll definitely keep my eye on those leavers. I'm really glad the scope is not damaged. It is an HD-6 4-24 x 52 and was not cheap. I'm sure they would fix it or replace it if necessary, but it would have killed my hunting season. There may still be more range work to do after the season, but I'm feeling better now. Do yourself a favor and buy a good set of rings and rail and loose quick release rings. There is no need for them on smokeless muzzleloader like you are using. Way to much recoil.
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Post by yoderjac on Nov 6, 2021 17:26:19 GMT -5
Well, I went to the range today and I was not even on paper at 100 yards. My stomach sank thinking the scope may be bad. I check things over closely and found one of the leavers on the quick release rings had evidently been bumped and it was slightly loose. I locked it down and went to 25 yards. I was about 6" to the right at 25 yards. That would account for the deer where I aimed at the scapula and hit the neck not far from the head. I don't know what happened the first time I went to the range and was only off an inch or two. It was off to the right. It could be that the ring was just beginning to work loose (which would not account for the first missed deer). Or, it could be the leaver was bumped after that trip to the range. I burned up a bunch of supplies, but the gun is now sighted in at 100 yards and is consistent. I'll definitely keep my eye on those leavers. I'm really glad the scope is not damaged. It is an HD-6 4-24 x 52 and was not cheap. I'm sure they would fix it or replace it if necessary, but it would have killed my hunting season. There may still be more range work to do after the season, but I'm feeling better now. Do yourself a favor and buy a good set of rings and rail and loose quick release rings. There is no need for them on smokeless muzzleloader like you are using. Way to much recoil. Well, the base came with the barrel. I started with a pair of PRW2 rings. I was not happy with them. The torx head on one of the screws stripped. Leupold, of course, sent me new parts for them, but I have QR rings on all my other guns and like them, so I order some QRW2 rings which is what i used. I'm not yet convinced that the recoil is what loosened the ring. The gun did have a small fall at one point. It is posible that the leaver itself got hit. I'll watch these closely. I don't want to make changes during our short season. I plan to do a lot more range work after the season (presuming LRPs become more available). If I notice any issues during that, I'll re-install the PRW2 rings.
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Post by yoderjac on Nov 6, 2021 18:12:32 GMT -5
Earlier in this thread, I asked about cleaning modules. Kyle suggested I don't use any mechanical cleaning. I can see why. they are an extremely tight fit in my encore. It is really hard to close the action with a module in place, but easy to close without one. I've already damaged a couple modules trying to load them. They are tight.
With all the shooting I've been doing lately between hunting and trying to figure out my issue, I've run low on ready supplies. So, today, I sized bullets, measured out powder, and primed modules.
I purchased a Hornady Lock-n-Load ultrasonic cleaner. I used their brass cleaning solution. I ran it for 20 minutes and 90% of the HIS modules came out looking like new. Several did not, so I ran them again for 5 minutes. A few still did not get clean. I'm presuming those that cleaned up well the first time had only been shot once. I kept running those that were still not clean for 5 minute increments until they all got clean.
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Post by buckeye68 on Nov 6, 2021 19:04:18 GMT -5
Earlier in this thread, I asked about cleaning modules. Kyle suggested I don't use any mechanical cleaning. I can see why. they are an extremely tight fit in my encore. It is really hard to close the action with a module in place, but easy to close without one. I've already damaged a couple modules trying to load them. They are tight. With all the shooting I've been doing lately between hunting and trying to figure out my issue, I've run low on ready supplies. So, today, I sized bullets, measured out powder, and primed modules. I purchased a Hornady Lock-n-Load ultrasonic cleaner. I used their brass cleaning solution. I ran it for 20 minutes and 90% of the HIS modules came out looking like new. Several did not, so I ran them again for 5 minutes. A few still did not get clean. I'm presuming those that cleaned up well the first time had only been shot once. I kept running those that were still not clean for 5 minute increments until they all got clean. I also use a ultrasonic to clean all my modules and plugs. Works every well.
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Post by ar91599 on Nov 6, 2021 19:50:19 GMT -5
Make sure your primers are seated flush if I get one that’s not in all the way makes mine hard to close sometimes
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Post by yoderjac on Nov 6, 2021 20:08:54 GMT -5
Make sure your primers are seated flush if I get one that’s not in all the way makes mine hard to close sometimes Yes, mine have all seated very well. That doesn't seem to be an issue for me.
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Post by damnyankee on Nov 7, 2021 8:24:03 GMT -5
I push firmly on the module with my thumb and it closes perfectly and that's after shimming the round block ahead to adjust headspace. I have an SIII 3.5-10x44 illuminated dot on my encore mounted with Seekins rings and my rail is epoxied and torqued on the barrel. I check rings every so often but nothing seems to loosen up. When I put my Encore together I must have read every break action post on this board twice looking for constant issues. Nock on wood haven't had any yet! Good luck.
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Post by Richard on Nov 7, 2021 9:40:13 GMT -5
So, I'm going to be the outlaw here............I always clean my modules, both the steel DI's and the HIS's. I use a primer pocket cleaner however, my tool (from Sinclair) only has cutters on the bottom..........the sides are smooth and do nothing to enlarge the diameter of the pocket. The carbide cutter is adjustable for depth with a small set screw. Cleaning HIS modules is no different than cleaning the pockets on your center fire cartridges??? I shoot competitive IBS benchrest in short range, 600 yard and 1,000 yards. I have used this tool for many years and never enlarged my primer pockets, just scraping the carbon crud from the inner base right out to the very edge.........that ensures that the primer fully seats to the 90* angle at the base. I actually had one set (50) of Lapua 6 ppc cases that had 93 reloads on them. When I sold the gun to a buddy, I gave him the cases along with the gun and he still uses them when he occasionally shoot the rifle in our club matches (he won twice with those cases). These cases were fitted so tight that there was only a total of .0006" neck clearance. They never had to be resized. Just remove the primer, clean the primer pocket, seat a new primer, charge and insert the bullet. I know this was long winded but cleaning the primer pockets will not enlarge them if done correctly and is good insurance that your primer is fully seated....JMHO................And, I also run an .080" drill bit thru my DI modules every time I prep them as they do build up carbon and become smaller.
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