RE: scopes
A friend of mine has a Thompson Encore 50 x 209 with a 3.5-10 X 40 scope, and we hit a 12" X 18" steel gong at 300 yds. all day. We make a contest of it and have a blast. Try it it' s alot of fun. We have cleanly killed coyotes at that distance.
I do think his scope is a little to big that' s why I want to go with a smaller scope. Good shooting!!