I own and have owned a number of smoothbore barrels. I never was too impressed with them. My first was a .62 caliber smoothbore. With shot it was a 25 yard gun. Lots of power mind you, but it did not pattern as well as I liked. I did grouse hunt with it, and because I had a very good dog, was able to score with it. BUT it was hard to do. As for shooting a roundball out of it. I shot the .610 ball and out to 35 yards, it was accurate. After that it was anyone's guess. For instance I put a brown shopping bag out at that distance and shot five times at it.. off bench. I managed to knock two holes in that giant bag. How some of these people shoot 75 yards with their smoothbores is beyond me. I tired every combination I could think of. 35 yard or 44 steps was the best it could do. The person I sold it to, seems to like it as they have never complained to me. Perhaps they are close hunters and like that large ball smashing game. It would plant large game with that 332 gain (I believe it was) ball.

I then went to a New Englander 12 gauge. This is my grouse shotgun. Works great. Again, with a good dog, it was deadly. Only because the dog warned me about what was going to happen. Since he died, I have missed a boat load of them little woods rockets. But for snowshoe rabbits it is a lot of fun.

I also picked up a Knight TK2000. This is a long range shot gun.

I personally would consider a .50 caliber smoothbore for my needs.. worthless. Yes it would be fun to shoot. Might make a good squirrel shotgun. Even rabbits. But I would rather have something of larger caliber that I could shoot.

I am not trying to discourage you. Just a .50 is not for me. And I have owned a lot of shotguns in my life. I just don't want something that small.