Chris,

I'm not fishing. Just sharing my Apex experience. I'm also not recommending it or any other rifle. If your only experience so far has been the NEF heritage rifle, you would be amazed with the APEX. Probably any of the other brands (TC, White, Knight) would give you as much satisfaction. The Apex fit my budget and is performingas well with conicals as my Sidekick so the APEX is completely freeing me from everything I disliked about the Sidekick.

If I were to explain why I am so satisfied, I would sum it up with:

Its like a centerfire rifle you load from the muzzle. Totally and completely clean in the breech. 209's slip in and pop out freely (like a cartridge does in an automatic) without handling them. Except for the swabbing, it is totally clean, shot after shot after shot. Just awesome. Anyone who would encourage the purchase of stainless sidekick over a stainless Apex selling for $60 less has either never owned both rifles or is foolish.

If you get one, great, but I will only let you blame me if it gets you out of trouble with your girlfriend . For your next rifle, get what you want, not what someone else wants you to get. You'll be alot happier.