Given the horrendous cost o'any double rifle ammunition when purchased retail, one should basically buy whatever yer demnd well want. Yer goin' t'end up reloadin' in any event, what? Given that, th'old reliable .450 NE is hard t'beat and it won't beat yer up, don'tcherknow. Get one around 10.25-10.5 lbs with a good recoil pad then work yer way up t'where yer can put 5 aimed rounds downrange over the shootin' sticks. If yer ever need t'fire more than that, adrenaline'll solve yer recoil problems!