I am thinking of another "hand gun" what caliber for 100-125 yds hog and deer shots. I don't what to get to large ie. 500 or 460. I what something in a Encore perhaps.

257,
There are so many cartridges that will work well in the Encore and accomplish the task you have outlined.
Are you wanting to use a straight-wall case or a bottleneck case?
I am assuming straight-wall from your post, but was not sure.
E

257, In an Encore, either the 7-08 or 308 would be close to perfect for hogs and deer from the ranges you listed. Good luck

If you are thinking traditional revolver cartridges, in an Encore the 480 Ruger would be easy shooting and easily capable to 150 yards. For more powder burnin' you could look at the .375 Winchester, and you can do that in a Contender. You don't need to run 2600 FPS to kill at 125 yards so why bother with the heavy recoil of the big bottlenecks, IMO.

In an Encore a 445 supermag or a 440 cor-bon would give all the range and knock down power you could want and still be just a 44 cal.

There's a lonnnnngggg list of goodens.
444, 45-70, 357 max, 35 Rem, ... along with the others already mentioned

What about 7-30 , or 270 ?
How would these Compare to a 45-70 in an Encore

Nothing wrong with the 454 Casull. I shoot 45 Colts, 454s, and 460 out of my 460 S&W barrel.

I have to give the vote to the 357 max, I love this round for dee and out to 150 with a good bullet they wont care what it was that hit them, because they wont ever know.

For the most economical shooting I would go with the 44mag. They can be loaded pretty hot out of the single shot, and out to 150 yrds should be fine. I feel comfortable at 150 with my 44mag revolver, and the velocity would be even better from a single shot with a longer barrel. You can even buy factory loads that match the 454casull in muzzle energy for a lot less $$ if the gun can handle them.
You said you don't want to go as big as the 460 or 500, and the 44 would definately be smaller! Remington UMC makes a 180grn bullet that has a velocity of over 1600fps for only $32 a box of 50. It's a jacketed soft point. I shot one through a 5 inch tree and the bullet lodged in the next tree behind it. It had expanded to just over 3/4 of an inch. Only downfall is very dirty ammo.
The load I shoot for hunting is a 300grn XTP at 1300fps and it only drops about 20 inches at 150yrds with a 75yrd zero.

308 win is hard to beat for most anything in North America. Can be loaded from 110gr-200gr+ bullet weight.

I root for the 375 win or the 357 max, I have both and both have taken deer and hogs!!! There good rounds in my book.

I've been hunting for years with a condender in 7 X 30 and love it. I've taken mule deer out to 220 yards with no problems. Several dozen coyotes have also been taken. Components are easy to find. I use fire formed 30-30 cases and nosler 120 and 140gr ballistic tips. What ever you choose ENJOY!!!

all comes down to what you want to hunt. for chipmonks to rabbits a 22 works fine. from 30 to 200lbs i like 357s. 200-400 i like the 460 smith and bigger is better for anything over 400 i use a 500 smith mag.

well just my 2 cents,357max.got a buddy who uses this caliber in 16" carbine and out to 200,his personal max,it's a hammer