RE: Austin and Halleck vs knight any suggestions
jonesz2,
You really do need to handle an A&H before you buy it. It is several inches longer that it's counterparts - the barrel is 26" as are the others - there is no "QLA" but the action is a full stoke long type action with an adjustable "Bold" trigger. The sights are quality and they are inletted into the stock very well. It feels a bit barrel heavy, it feels a bit heavy....
All that said it really is a good gun. I own two of them and they shoot great, the weight makes them pretty steady on target and felt recoil is really dampened. They are a Spanish cold drawn barrel but they have been tested - they only come blued or plated nickel.
They are now made with a Universal hammer so you can shoot 209's - #11's - and musket caps. Randy Wakeman has also made a 32 H&R nipple for that really reduces the amount of blowback in the reciever. You can see them in the accessories at the A&H site.
I really believe they are a real good long range gun.
Good luck in your search...