I got one of these in 22 WMR about 6 years ago; I really like it! The only negative thing about it was that darned creeping, 7.5# trigger. I've got the sear stoned down to 4.5 now but I think that I'll do bit more work on it to aliminate more creap. I've also ground out the inside of the barrel band with a Dremel tool so that it doesn't touch the barrel and free floated the barrel.
These rifles are made to be hunting firearms, not match rifles. Because I'm still gradually working on the trigger I'm still fooling around with types of ammo but I've been able to shoot 5 shot, 0.75 inch goups @ 75 yards; not bad for a hunting carbine.
I think a lot of people didn't like these guns because the weren't the traditional styled lever gun, with exposed hammer and tube magazine. The first thing that attracted me to this gun was that the receiver and bolt were designed after my favorite deer rifle, the Savage 99.
If I could aford it, and had an opportunity, I'd get one of these in 22 LR.