I have one in percussion, my regret is that I did not buy the flintlock model. As a production ML, I think it's better than either the Great Plains Rifle or the T/C Hawken, and for the record, I have owned a GPR and a T/C Renegade. It's browned as opposed to blued like the GPR and it looks more like an actual Hawken than the T/C does. Is it perfect?, No but then it only cost me $400. The only real complaint I have with the A&H is that it's cutting the patches (.022 pillow ticking), it doesn't seem to affect the accuracy at 25 yards but until it stops cutting the patches, I will wait for sighting in at 50 yards. At 50 yards it rings the 8" steel plate we have set up with no problems. I consider either the A&H Mountain Rifle, the Lyman Great Plains Rifle or the T/C Hawken/Renegade as wonderful starting rifles for beginners. IMHO, you have made an excellent choice.