Actually, I have and regularly use one of the original synthetic Remingtons when it was called a Viper but also known as the synthetic semiauto 597. I have never heard anything positive about this gun but mine is way more accurate than me. I've no problem with head shot squirrels as far as I care to shoot them and it has killed a lot of night time foxes and coons in among the chicken and horses. It has never misfired or jammed with cci mini mags but doesn't like the cheap fodder and will not consistently eject them. I love mine and wouldn't trade it for a "better" one. I bought it new shortly after I was married so it was sometime in the mid 90s, probably 1995 or 1996. It has a 4x scope and has seen who knows how many shots put through it. It is very uncomfortable to carry for very long. That mag sticks down in the way so it won't just lay in the cradle of your arms. I'd rather have a shorter, 5-round mag than the 10.