I got a 15 inch 308 Encore barrel last year and took a doe with it at about 80 yards. She was facing me and I hit her in the neck and exited between the shoulders. She dropped like a bag of rocks. I was using 125 gr. handloads. I posted a picture of her on the bragging board. The recoil isn't bad. I enjoy mine. A few weeks ago I shot a beaver swimming at about 75 yards.