The features of the New Englander for me is the way it shoulders. For the shotgun aspect I found that very critical this last grouse season. It shoulders fast and dead on for me. It is well balanced too. A little on the light side, but the recoil is not really noticed. The sights that came with mine were the old standard adjustable Thompson Center sights. I find them a little too thick for exact shooting, but for hunting, which this meat and potatoes rifle is, they work fine. The single trigger breaks very clean. I actually like the trigger of the New Englander. Even though it is a single trigger, I do not mind it in the least. As for whether it shoots sabots, well mine is a .54 caliber. I did not even know I had some .54 caliber sabots around until the other day when I was going through my bullet cabinet. So I have never tried sabots. With a 1-48 twist, to be honest I do not expect it to be too much in the sabot department. It does shoot roundball very well. Mine is a cap lock although I believe they did come in flintlock as well. I just happened on this one and got it for (If I remember)$150.00 NIB and could not pass it up Whether it could be converted, I would ask T/C that question. The difference between the two is the barrel length and it used to be the twist rate of the barrels. Its a good rifle, but if I were looking for a Non Hawkin line of rifle, I would look at the Renegade, PA Hunter, New Englander, White Mountain Carbine, or Seneca (I believe it was called).