At this time it would have to be the T/C Encore. With availible aftermarket barrels and accessories it simply overwhelms the CVA's and this in not knocking the Optima series. If there is a down side to the T/C's it's that you can put alot of money into them.
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Life is good, Give God the Glory....doubleA
cva elite next month will have a 222, 45-70 and the first ever, 300 winchester magnum. TC cant make a magnum due to their frames not being able to handle the loads. Barrels run between 150- $175.
Frontier gander,
Maybeyou confused the Contender with the Encore? Perhaps its justthe Bias against T/C you bring up as often as you can?Thompson Center may notoffer a barrel in 222 for an Encore. They dooffer Encore barrels in 300Win mag, 338Win mag, 375Ruger, 416Rigby, and 45/70arent those magnums???
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well if you like getting ripped off go with the t/c or check out new england arms they have been doing it a lot longer than the rest and have more barrel choices. all t/c is is a gun that has a lot of stuff you don't need. anyone who spends $900 on a single shot has too much money or is tring to prove something
T/C makes a great rifle and the finish work is better on the T/C but, shooting wise, my optima mz shoots just as well as my buddies encore. He actually got a little PO'd about the whole thing for a little bit, seeing how he spent well over double on his rig. Now, only time will tell about durability and such but, for now, things are holding up well. I'm actually contemplating buying an Optima Elite in the near future.
T/C does offer magnum calibers for their frames. I didn't see any listing for the short magnums though.
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