If I had to start over in the hunting game, I would pick three Encores. Each with its own dedicated barrel .25/06, .30/06, and .35 Whelen Improved. With these three pistols, I am equipped to hunt anything in North America. These three calibers share the same parent brass (30/06) which minimizes the chance that I will ever become "brassless". The calibers have been around for a half-century so components and loading data are easy to come by. Even though the Improved Whelen is a wildcat, standard Whelen rounds can be fired in the improved chamber. The 30/06 is forever popular for its versatility, the 25/06 is enjoying a Renaissance of sorts, and the Whelen is more popular than ever. The best large game pistol hunting trio that I have found. Of course that does not include revolvers, or semi-autos etc.. Easy to see how one finds himself in these situations! What say you?