Hello,
New to handgun hunting and in the process of buying an Encore.
Think I am going for the 15" 7mm.08 topped off with a Burris 3-12x32, but still open for suggestions on what caliber/scope would suit me best.
I am 5'7" 225# -the short and stocky type.
Ok some beer gut action too. LOL
I have some experience with handguns but not of this caliber or make of gun and only at the range not for hunting.
It will be primarily for hunting Vermont whitetials and maybe a black bear if I am lucky enough to see one.

I look forward to spending some time here soaking up all the great knowledge I know flows here.
Thanks.

Welcome aboard vtbowman, it sounds like a good choice of cartridge for the Encore. The scope seems a bit much. I've never hunted Vermont, but I picture forested hunting with shorter shots. If this the case, then I'd consider a lower power scope. A 2-7 or even the Burris 1.5-4 would do the trick and be easier to learn with given that this is your first scoped handgun for the field. You wouldn't be underscoped for most hunting situations with the 2-7 Burris. I use one on a 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser ( a comparable cartridge to the 7-08) and wouldn't think of changing away from it, their're a good fit together.

welcome,the cal is a good one but i thinf the scope is a little strong .i live in minn and hun in heavy woods ,i wound look at a 2x6 or 1.5x4 ... good luck...

Welcome vtbowman,
I would go with the 3x12 because you can turn it up for doing load developement and down to a lower power if you want for hunting.
I use rifle scopes on all my low kick calibers like my 17 Rem, 6tcu and Striker in 22-250. The Lupys work best because they have more eye relief.
I took a deer this year with my XP 100R in 260 Rem. with a 3x12 burris with BP. I think it was set around 8x-9x but it was only about 100+ yd shot down into a swamp.
I really love the Lupy 2.5x8 EER but I like more power and Burris is the only one to have something off the shelf.
I went out to CO this summer and did some long range shooting with my Striker in 7-08 and the Burris 3x12 really worked great, out to 700 yds. Past that I had trouble with the wind
I also use the 3x12 in handgun silhouette comp., every little bit of help I can get I use
I guess I'm like Tim Taylor, more power

Thanks for the welcomes.
Its been a long time since I was a newby on a forum so its sort of funny to me.
I inhabited 3 other hunting related forums for years now.
Just turned onto this one by a moderator friend over on RealTree forums. User name "AJ".

Anywho...
I am still wishy-washy over the 7mm.08 caliber, thinking I should be going to a 270 or 308, but some have advised its a bit much on the recoil. I have never shot either out of a rifle or handgun so I have no clue.
Infact I have never shot the 7mm.08 out of either type gun so I am floating here not knowing what to expect.
How does it compare to a .357 Mag out of a Ruger BlackHawk revolver with 158g hollow points? (currently my only handgun)

As for the scope, I am a maginifaction junky on my rifles and mainly use the higher mag for sighting in purpose or very long range shots.
The property I own has up to 500+ yard long shots but my box stands are set strategically to mainly around 250 or under. Most shots I have taken are around 100-120 yards during the hunting season from the 2 box stands I have.
I also hunt the timber where I have 100+ yard shooting lanes cut, but also 30 yard limits.
The beauty of the variable scope is that I can sight in at 12x and hunt at 3x if I need to.
IMHO its never to much. LOL

Again thanks...

the 7-08 would be a "perfect" top notch choice. recoil is VERY tolerable. maybe similar to a medium range 44mag load.

Welcome to HH VT......

hangunnr

With the type of shooter you are I would go with the 3-12 with Ballistic Plex Reticle and the 7mm-08. 260 Remington would be my other choice.
Welcome!

The recoil is easily handled. It does take much more practice to master scoped handguns than scoped rifles,IMO. Any of the cartridges you listed would be great and you'd learn to handle the recoil very quickly. Funny, recoil isn't nearly the issue here (handgun hunters) that one might think. I have a 300 Win Mag Encore that I love to shoot, KYODE does as well. There are several guys that shoot the big African stuff, 458 Win Mag, 416s Rigby and Taylor. Handgun recoil is something to become familiar with and master, not something to be fearfull of, it gets addictive!