I think youve made a good choice. Ive hunted with Rugers all my life and Ive never had one to fell me yet. I own a .44Mag. super redhawk that is scoped, it also has about a 7in. barrel and I can shoot a 3in. group with it at 100yds. I had a little trigger work done on it, that helps. I killed a nice 10 point whitetail with it one time. It's not a high power rifle but it will do the job if you do your's. Enjoy your ruger. Oh yeah, did you know that Hank JR. got into a little trouble one time for plagerism useing sturm rugers trademark symbol? It's so cool he couldn't keep from it. crazy larry