I'm jumping on the wagon here too. I have three .40's and love 'em all. I shoot 65 gr. FFFg GOEX and a .395" ball with .018" denim patch. The calibre is perfect if you are a little recoil shy...there isn't enough to register. The barrels on my rifles are Rice, Getz, and Rice, and thy are all great shooters. For trail walks, you'll love it. To cut a string or card, the ball must be centred on the target, no matter the calibre, so size doesn't matter in that case. I haven't hunted yet with my .40's but would call it a magnum for small game, and a triffle too small for big game. Good choice.