I hunt with Encores and Contenders and I've become addicted to them!! I have Encore pistol barrels in 22-250 and 308 and both will shoot sub MOA off sandbags with the right loads. As for the recoil of the 308, some might say its too much but it don't bother me any. I've got a 45/70 barrel for the Contender frame so the 308 is almost a ***** cat.lol With a lot of practice, the T/C is definately a 200+ yard deer gun. Like johnch said, get a good set of ear plugs. My 45/70 has the "muzzle-tamer"(brake) on it and it'll wake the dead!!!!

Carter