The T/C New Englander is a meat and potatoes rifle. Its just a go to rifle when you want to hunt. Its not going to be the prettiest rifle in the stable, but when it comes down to just plain shooting and working in all kinds of weather, as said.. very little to go wrong with the rifle. I personally took a step up and got Renegades only because of the wood stock.

My friend shoots a New Englander in .50 caliber. He loads 70 grains of Pyrodex and a 370 grain Maxiball and will take out anything that comes within 75 yards of him. He said the longest shot he had to make was 75 yards and that was a buck that he blew such a big hole through, and made it bleed so bad, he could not believe the deer even ran 30 yards (he showed me pictures of the blood trail to the deer.. amazing for better words to use).

I would get the one with the black composite stock. They are an easy rifle to clean and maintain and will give you years of excellent service...