The only 454 barrel I had for my Encores when I had them was a 12". I shot IMSHA with it and no problem with the silhouettes at 50, 100, 150 and 200 yards with it staying in the sweet spot of each type to topple the heavy targets. Never hunted with it, and never shot paper except when doing load development (which was not much because I pretty much went with the max loads that I already shot in my Freedom Arms revolver for IHMSA). I would say that my "hits" on the 200 yard rams using the same POA from ram to ram were pretty consistant on a good day shooting steel (ie, not too much coffee), and at least as good as his 50 yard group. So as stubshaft suggested, it's probably his shooting technique, a load inconsitency or that red dot more than a problem with the barrel. To hit small you have to aim small to the same POA consistently... I never considered red dot scopes the right tool for that job myself.
