I have been a handgun hunter over 40 years. I have Encores, Contenders , but mostly prefer revolvers.
My question to OP’ster. Have you compared an Encore to a Contender? Most cartridges, especially for N American game you can use a G2 Contender, and if you hold them both, you will see why I suggest this. You can comfortably swing a contender on a moving target MUCH easier than an Encore. I’ve hunted all over Africa and America with a contender in 375. It kills everything cleanly out to 300 yards. Yes you can get the same in an Encore, but they’re heavy and cumbersome. Just an idea to look at the platform.

“YOU CAN’T SHOOT A BIG ONE IF YOU SHOOT A LITTLE ONE FIRST”