I paid $100 for my CVA Wolf and took my first deer with it this past Friday morning. I spent more on the Nikon Pro Staff scope for it. There is many muzzleloaders to be had for $400 or less. I bought mine as a impulse buy not knowing squat about them. If I was going out to look at one today I'd consider these. The CVA Wolf, the CVA Optima, TC Omega, and the TC Triumph. I'm sure the Knights and others have some just as good. Check out the black powder forum further down on this site and ask the same question. Get some feed back and then go to a sporting goods store and shoulder some and see how they feel. You might find that a $200 gunfeels better to you than a $400 gun. Be warned, black powder shooting is lots of fun and I kick myself all the time waiting so long before buying one. I'm actually going to keep an eye on the TC Omega and Triumph for a "after the season sales" and maybe pick me up another one.