oh.....the 12 bore threw me off thinking you had a smooth bore...i think the ones i were looking at were 71 or 72cals...which your right...is close enough to a 12bore to call it one...and the weight...yes im sure that helps recoil ALOT....i couldnt imagine it NOT weighing that much....i know my 50cal tc hawken can knock you around a little with a 350gr bullet and a stiff load of powder behind it...when i get the cash in the future i want a smoothbore....like i said a flintlock for turkeys is what i want mainly...and if its anything accurate maybe try my hand at thumping a deer with it..i read smoothbores CAN be accurate...

did you shoot yours yet?? curious to as how it shot...looks like a mighty fine rifle