Tote it WHERE?....given its size, about anywhere I please. But mainly in car and on trips, easy to move without drawing attention such as a case draws, whether under a jacket/in a pack going to motel room, or whatever. Meanwhile, it goes everywhere the car goes, which is all over.

It is a CYL bore 20ga, which means a max range of circa 20yds to a 12ga 25yds, using shot. I have not owned a muzzleloading shotgun in about 10yrs, so, have not patterned this one, but expect no suprises. There are tricks to tightening patterns, and if the bores were not chromed, it could even be jug choked to get MOD, if one wanted. But 20yds is a long way out when kicking up bunnies, anyhow, so, would not bother, in any case.

It was bought mainly as a pirate pistol double barreled ball shooter, and has no problem keeping both barrels fairly centered on a target plenty good enough for close range hog or burglar, out to 20-25yds, but really needs a rear sight if one wants to "accurize".

It does admit the possibility of any barrel load combo such as buckshot in one, and ball in the other, or buck-n-ball, or even packed cornmeal rocksalt for a close range owie, but, am not gonna mess with such myself, except maybe bunnie bopping in hog turf. But, pretty much anything possible.

again, as for recoil, google "hickok45 howdah 20" and watch him shoot the thing with volumetric equiv 1oz loads...it is a fun gun to shoot, and can be loaded from mild to wild, while you are at the range...again, anything is possible with a muzzleloader. You are not restrained by a fixed ammo supply.

Guess i could tack on this admin detail in handling. Legally, a muzzleloader is unloaded when caps are removed, as for making the gun "safe" without shooting or pulling the load with a ball screw. If loaded and nipple kept sealed, it will not rust, or corrode, as unburnt powder does not have salt as does firing residue, IF the gun loaded with a clean/dry chamber and flash hole/nipple seat/nipple. I normally swab with lighter fluid to thoroughly degrease prior to a longer term load.