Honest Opinion? Helluva deal and isn't expensive, in walnut/blue, compared to any other gun, about $475. I never understood why some people say this gun is expensive when it's not unless you want only the stainless with synthetic camo. These are the same guys who can't lay out over $100 for a scope so I don't give them much salt for an opinion when they're really shooting low end guns and optics all the time. I'm always thinking that I want to enjoy a gun for a couple of decades so I'll save to get what I really want within reason. I have 7 modern brand name bolt guns and autos (including Brownings) and several scatterguns and none of my guns cost more than $600 except for a Benelli SBE. All were bought new.

Back to the Encore. Get the walnut stock. It's superior to and totally different than the synthetic and feels rock solid. Try them both out and you'll easily see why walnut is better. Now get a good trigger job. I sent my action to Mike Bellm and it's the best trigger of all my rifles and cost only $50.

Now the guy who said it's a pain on the bench to reset each time after loading is totally missing the point of a single shot mentality. After initially sighting in on the bench get off the chair and shoot this gun like you mean it in real hunting stances and positions and practice fast reloading with a wrist band double cartridge keeper. It's a one shot deal and you won't have a handy bench regardless so reloading isn't a problem because it's going to come off your shoulder anyway in real hunting. I don't know of a single hunter who cycles his bolt from the shoulder when hunting unless maybe if they're prone. Even then what's the big deal?