The round ball/collar button loads are fun to shoot. I was hunting with a friend one time between yellowstone and tetons, we were taking a break back at the truck, my dog was out, and a grouse walked into camp. It flushed into a small tree, I dropped a single round ball load in the chamber of the 1886 carbine took the shot on the grouse, the friend was rushing to cover his ears and didnt quite make it...pop! About as much noise as a 22. He asked what the heck that was.
They are mild enough they didnt spook my dogs that were semi gun-shy. They were sort of startled but not scared when grouse hunting and the bird dropped out of the tree while they were watching it. Malamutes actually make pretty fair grouse dogs. They just needed to stand looking at the bird while I come over see where it flushed to, Id often hear the flush but couldnt see it in the thick woods.