.50 caliber Huntsman that came with a 20 gauage shotgun barrel. I paid $175 new for it.

I took it out on Saturday. I haven't shot iron sights in YEARS, and was leary of how well I'd do. I have an elk hunt in 4 weeks. Yes, I know, a bit late for breaking in a muzzleloader, but I was/am confident !

Anyway, I chose 90 grains of powder and I believe Hornady sabots with 250 grain bullets. This takes the 209 primers and I loader her up. 45 yards to the target, using a 5 gallon bucks for a rest and the target was a 4" x 4" wood chip on a cardboard backdrop.

First shot - nearly dead centered it ! Next two shots ? Within 2" of the first. I backed up to about 85 yards and my shot was about 4" high and to the left - not bad at all. We shot a bit more and the consistancy held.

I was VERY impressed with the accuracy I got with this gun. Handles great. I like the breakdown action, and though the funny primer holders are odd they work well enough. Cleanup is pretty easy, much more so than the old cap locks.

Negatives ? Don't overtighten the breech plug. I had a boar of a time getting mine off the first time but not afterwords. Also, the ramrod is cheesy. If you push a patch too far down (where the barrel tapers into the nipple/fire area) it'll get stuck - not good. So to combat both problems I bought a $15 brass rod set, and marked the rod so as not to go that far down when field cleaning. I called NEF and asked about the flimsy looking fiber sights and they sent me a rear and front sight FREE in case I ever need it.

I'm tickled with this gun. Right price, shoots very accurate, light, handy ..... great gun with the option of a shotgun barrel to boot. The Handi-rifles are probably real darlings ! Get a better ramrod, backup sights just in case and thats about it.

To the range a few more times between now and my elk hunt too. yes, I know sabots are illegal in CO, but to sight a gun in they work well enough. I'll try some TC Maxi balls this weekend.