I picked up a NEF Survivor in Heavy Varmit Barreled .223 Rem for under $200. It has a synthetic thumbhole stock and forend. Sent it in this past spring and had the Ultra Slug 20 gauge barrel fitted for $95, that included return shipping charges and a new forend to fit the barrel. Topped it with an older, but never used camo rubber-armored Simmons 4x40 Tele-View scope. With Winchester BRI Sabots I can hold a 2" group at 100 yards off-hand. Wouldn' t try shots much over 140-150 yards as the groups begin opening up aroung 125-130 to 4-5" . Going to try Win' s Partition Gold Sabots this summer, along with Lightfield' s, just for comparison.

Took my first shotgun whitetail this past season with it, A 3.5 year old 7-point. I was really impressed at the gun/slug combo' s performance on this buck.

H&R was renamed New England Firearms, and NEF is now part of the Marlin family. Check out each companies website, there are links in both ways.

As far as comparison to muzzleloaders, that' s difficult. My Savage 10MLIISS sends a 300 gr., .452 cal Hornady XTP into 1.5" groups at 200 yards and still carries nearly a ton of KE at that point. I' ve target shot it out to 400 yards and from a solid rest it will consistently print 5" groups.

My Frontier Carbine hammerlock, I wouldn' t try a shot over 100 yards with it. But then again we' re sorta comparing apples and oranges here.