Curious what your thoughts are as to this set up:

I am thinking of an Encore in .358 Winchester with a 13" tube.

Not with the Encore but I have owned the Magnum Research Lone Eagle in 358 win. 15" barrel. 2460 FPS with the 200 grain Barnes X bullet. Real nice combination for Moose and Caribou out to about 200 yards.

I have the 35 Whelen in a 15" Encore,which is useing a 30-06 case instead of a 308 case like the 358 Win. uses. I load a Hornady 250gr. round nose at 2100fps. Recoil is rather brisk,it is not ported. I get 5-shots in one ragged hole at 50yds. off the bench with a 2x scope. This is my elk gun up here in Washington state.

I shoot one in my 94 Winchester , it is easy to load , has hundreds of components available and in my carbine it shoots 1" groups all day long ! Go for it !