I wouldn't sell mine for $500! I recently installed a set of Williams sights on it with the firesite on front and the peep site on the rear,an attempt at helping tired eyes; It worked!
I bought my rifle in the mid 1980's and have taken several deer with it. I prefer the soft point bullets to the hollow point in the rifles due to their increased volicity.
There's not arifle of any kind that I'm aware of that is as quick to the shoulder as the Ruger 44 carbine. This is the defination of brush gun.