Funny the note about large bore guns being the common choice for beginners...

The first double rifle I purchaced was my Mahillon sixteen bore pinfire SxS double rifle.
That gun pushes a bullet measuring .666" in diameter -- and it was built to take medium sized four legged game with antlers.
It's really a sweet shooting gun.
I've been thinking a lot about either building or having built a centerfire boxlock double for a similar load, just to be able to hunt with it keeping the Mahillon safe from the times when field carry might be hard on it.

As for sweet light and slender, I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for my 8x60 BLE to arrive. It might show up late today!

--Tinker