This might be a little off topic, but I got a giggle from it.......
I picked up both the Princess's youth SPORTSTER yesterday at my favorite gunsmith/gunshop. A couple of older gentlemen were in there drinking up the coffee, when Dan (gunsmith/shopowner) said here comes another singleshot lover. Well, that kept me in the store for about an hour telling my likes and whys and calibers. I told them I had the 500 S&W barrel and was going to send it off for the 45/70 BC barrel and have Dan cut it down a little for balance. And I said I wish IL would do what LA did, allow larger rifle calibers to used for deer. Both the older gentleman just busted out laughing! They said they have been using their Handis in 45/70 since IL allowed muzzleloading during the shotgun season! Both have been checked by the local and state Game Wardens, and they didn't even noticed it was a rifle! Seems that both men wear a blaze orange hunting vest and put in 20ga slugs in the outside shell holder. Their 45/70 shells are in the pockets. They said everyone assumes that they are using a 20ga TRACKER 2 or a HUNTSMAN during ML season!
They also said that since MARLIN took over NEF, the quality has went up three fold. And I have to agree. My 17M2/22lr SPORTSTER and the youth one I picked for the Princess's have great triggers. They aren't hair triggers, but I don't have any creep in either.
And a little note on 325gr bullets. The largest bullet I used to take a deer was a 295gr out of my 41 magnum! I'm glad that didn't require a second shot!
Lefty