Like mentioned earlier stay away from muzzlebrakes for hunting. One of my hunting partners has brakes on his guns, and is always wearing ear plugs, while hunting. I keep waiting for a Grizzly or Moose to sneak up behind him. My other friend has a brake on his rifle and two years ago he took a fast shot at a Moose, without putting his ear protection on first. Now he wears hearing aids, that one shot without hearing protection ruined his hearing.
I own an Encore. I bought it as the .50 cal muzzleloader, and added 30-06, and .375H&H, barrels. The 30-06 barrel is not ported or does not have a brake, and is very comfortable to shoot. Even with my heavy handloads. The .375 barrel came ported, I use a stainless steel clamp to cover the ports when hunting. The recoil with the .375 is not pleasant, but that is the price you pay for something that will stop a big animal.
First and most important is learning how to shoot a high powered rifle. 50% of the men that come out to the range to shoot hold their rifles like it were a .22RF. No wonder it kicks the heck out of them. These are men in their 40s and 50s, and don't try and give them advise. They will tell you they have been shooting all their lives and know a lot more than you do. When in reality they only shoot two rounds once a year just before hunting season, to make sure the gun still works. My teenage students can shoot rings around them, using bigger more powerful guns. Simply because the kids know how to hold a big gun properly to manage recoil. One of my 15 year old girls carries a .300 Win Mag. She only weighs 95lbs herself. She is going to back her Dad up when he goes for Grizzly with a bow. She does not use a brake either.
