Pleasure is mine, Tim. Like Bob Roller said, not totally unpleasant to shoot, even with the moose loads. The wide butt and overall shape along with the 9 1/2 pound weight handles recoil well. The bl. is 1 1/8" straight. I'd have preferred a 1 1/4" swamped to 1 1/16" I think. Another 1/2 pound would not have hurt at all. Maybe hurt less? LOL - just kidding, it doesn't hurt.