Wal Mart and the large chains store are able to offer their products at much lower prices because of volume buying power. It is hard for a little sporting goods store to get the same price when asking for three rifles and Wal Mart asks for three semi loads of them. Of course a manufacturer is able to cut a better deal to the large chains. They in turn can work off volume sales and a smaller profit margin to then make a better profit margin, and a better deal actually for the consumer.

I was told by someone that used to work in thepurchasing department for a large chain store,some of these large chain stores play some real cut throat purchasing habits. They will purchase and have products delivered then claim the original asking price was too high and demand a discount from the first deal or that factory can at their own expense mind you, ship all that product back out of their store. The also suggest that if they do not get a good price they will take a competitors similar product and sell it for much less, just to dry the market up in a certain area or at a certain time of the year.

Many of the smaller business work on trying to sell volume at certain times of the year. When the large chain stores under sell them, ordrive the markets in other directions, it can cause some of the small companies to actually go out of business.

But quality wise, I believe they are the same rifle. A manufacturer like CVA or Thompson Center or anyone for that matter would not dare structurallycheapen a product to make a sale. They may change a product by name, or by features for a major chain. Bass Pro Shop sold a rifle called the Mountain Stalker made by CVA. It is a Bobcat for all intent and purpose. I can not tell the difference between the two. Also you might see differences in such things as stock material, sights, and colors, but the quality is still what the buyer should expect anywhere else.