bowhunterjohn

I have really tried to figure out how best to answer this question, and not cause a lot of controversy - yet try to be truly accurate.

It is obvious the biggest difference is the price between the two compainies. The other difference you should notice is that BPI also spends a lot of time trying to clone the accepted ML's that TC makes. Also remember BPI/CVA is not a gun maker company the are a marketing company. If you are a marketing company you need to market something the public really likes - well a lot of the public really likes the ML's that TC makes. Hence they will market a gun that looks like a TC but costs a lot less in most cases. Why, how are they able to make this big of a price difference?

I think are a couple of very obvious reason again...
a) When you purchase a TC you are also buying a warranty that really is a substantial thing. TC knows what this program cost them, actuaries have computed the costand this is included within the purchase price. I believe it is worth the extra for the coverage.
b) Labor costs in Spain are significantly less than labor cost here in the US where TC chooses to build their guns.
c) Environmental laws in Spain are not as much of a concern as they are here in the US again reducing costs.
d) Material costs are significantly less in Spain than they are here, again making a significant difference. Are the material an inferior quality to the ones that TC use, they certainly could be. TC has had to reduce some of their quality also to be able to compete with foriegn goods.

Are the barrels (the major component) and the concernbetter than the Spainish barrels - maybe - probably... Unfortunately we will never really know unless somebody poinies up and have the barrels tested by an independent testing facility. Which you would think that somebody would do - especially an American Company that is getting bit by the foriegn import or a safety advocate like RW and his personal mission to destroy BPI/CVA.

I once asked Doc White about his pressure testing, which was done in Utah, he did not give me pressure numbers either, just load numbers, but I believe UC found a copy of the testing report and posted it one time - it was impressive.

Cayugad, mentions, the pressure stamp on BPI/CVA barrels. The pressure stamp is placed on the barrels by a Spanish Company - The House of Elbar. By Spanish law no barrels can be shippedoutside Spain with out being testedby the House of Elbar, a good way to keep your government sponsoredproofing house in business. The fact is there is only two proofing house in the world, Spain and London, England. I have been told there is onein Honk Kong also but I have not been able to find it. It costs money to have a barrel tested - the higher the test the greater the cost. Spain has set the minimum standard by law - so what do you think BPI/CVA is going to test to - correct the minimum. Rifles shipped from the US or in the US do not have this requirement. There are testing facilities in the US but they are not government proofing house.

Your CVA product shooting tighter groups than brothers Encore might be possible, but I would think if you got your brothers Encore and worked up your load you would should the same group with his gun. Yet then again not all barrels are created equally even amoung the same manufacturer.

I would not have a problem purchasing a BPI/CVA product but as with my centerfire rifles - I have tried to purchase upscale rifles and when it comes to ML's I have progessed to the same point. You are only as good as your tools and the confidence you have in those tools - I have confidence in the TC products that own. On the same thought would I buy a TC Black Diamond or a CVA product like a Kodiac/Apex/ even a X-150 -> then any of the 3 CVA's would be a better purchase for me because of the personal perception that I have, and conversly I would purchase a Black Diamond before I would purchase the low end of the BPI/CVA line.

This has already gotten to wordy - I quit....