mine is a 15" barreled 7-08 with a fixed power (4X) leupold, two things i would do different, no brake and either a 2X or a varible, it took alot of getting used to with the 4X, as for the traditional cal's, my first contender was a 30-30, my dad has it now, i have killed several deer with mine, but be for warned, people will really look at you funny when you tell them your going to hunt with your pistol and you pull out that 15" barreled hand cannon, as my best friend said "hek that ain't nuthin but the shortest rifle i ever seen in my life"

FYI, i am keeping my shots under 150, and the barrel lenght and powder burn deal, well in a nutshell your bullet has left the end of the barrel before all of the powder has ignited (very inefficent) but alot of fun none the less

keith