I have the 20 gauge rifled barrel for my Encore. I tried six different types of slugs. The two that shot best in my barrel were the Winchester Supreme Partition (260 grain at 1900 fps) and the Remington 1 oz. Buckhammer. At 50 yards, the Winchesters group 1 1/2 inches (three shots). The Remington Buckhammer load shot tight 1 inch groups. The Buckhammer recoils more, but also cuts a bigger hole in the target. If I were hunting tighter cover (shots less than 100 yards), I'd use the Buckhammer. For shots over 100, the Winchester can reach out there. You just have to invest some $ to find out what shoots best for you. The gun is sighted two inches high at 50 yards. My Encore has had a trigger job and oversized hinge pin. I have a 3 X 9 Nikon scope mounted on the gun. I also use a Shooter's Ridge rest with two 25 pound bags of shot resting on a plate that I mounted on the rest. This set up generates about zero recoil, and makes shooting slug loads actually fun. Wish I had bought this set up years ago. I've killed several deer with this barrel. I have also killed over 50 deer with 12 gauge slugs. The 20 gauge kills were with the Winchester Supreme load. Those 20 gauge slugs dropped both deer within 10 yards of where they were standing. Tissue destruction was very similar to that of a 12 gauge. I have since began the switch here in Illinois to hunting more with handguns and my Savage muzzleloader. I will probably be selling my Encore barrel set up in the near future, but not because it hasn't lived up to my expectations. I am looking for more of a challenge. I've been an avid bowhunter for over 35 years, but I still enjoy the firearm seasons. Hope this helps.
