I had a 20 gauge barrel for my encore several years ago. I couldn't hit anything with it. I shoot thousands of rounds of shotgun each summer at sporting clays. I did no like the encore as a shot gun because it didn't point like a shotgun or feel like a shotgun. If you already own the barrel give it a try. If you haven't bought it yet then I would save the $200 and invest it in a real shotgun. I think the encore is fine as a shotgun if you are turkey hunting and shooting a still target. I'm sure others will disagree.