I had the same concerns when starting muzzleloading. The main concern I have with bolt rifles is that you give up about six to eight inches of barrel length for the same length of rifle. The second concern with bolts is that some are more difficult to disassemble and they must be disassembled and cleaned or they quit working. Most Bolts are less waterproof than most of the break action rifles. Needless to say I don'thave a bolt ML. I bought a T/C Scout then traded it for a T/C Omega (the Scout had a strange nipple), then bought a Traditions Pursuit LT (bad trigger), traded it for a NEF Huntsman (good trade), Then I bought a used T/C Hawken .54 (they don't make it anymore in .54), then I bought a Green Mountain barrel in .50 for the Hawken,then I bought a Lyman trade rifle in .50 flintlock. I hunt with the Omega which isa great gun but some (mine in particular) are difficult to find the correct combination of bullet and sabot that will load without maximum force on the ram rod and mine also hates Tripple Seven powder. WithBlack Mag'3 powder it is a joy to shoot.For limited expense I would recommend the Huntsman although I have not shot mine yet others claim that it is a real shooter. You can get one for the same cost as the Spanish imports and the construction is a lot more solid using american steel and a barrel that does not have the proofing questions that the Spanish imports have.