Still own mine and absolutely love it. I don't hunt with it much anymore but when I did it is a shooter. I am setting it up next year for my daughter to hunt with.

90 grains loose 777, hph24 sabot, with 250 grain barnes expander or
300 grain gold dot and it would shoot a ragged hole at 75 yds. That was as far as I ever shot back then. Mine was the natural hardwood version.

Word of caution, do not buy the 209 conversion kit for it. Something about the extra punch will eventually file down the sear and your muzzleloader will have a hair trigger that is dangerous. Flip off the safety slap the stock and it would fire. I sent mine back and that is what they told me. Keep it cleaned and I never had trouble lighting 777 with a #11.

It don't even feel like a muzzleloader, easy to the shoulder and feels more like your favorite rifle. IMO.

This was my response a while back. Good little gun.

By the way, $450.00 is way out of line, even for a brand new one. I paid I think $250.00 for mine.

I think the reason that they never took off was because Ruger was so late getting into the black powder market. About the time that Ruger came out with this rifle the break open style muzzleloader was really becoming popular.

Hope this helps.