I agree about the clerks your talking about. I think some of that comes from bean counters making the management decisions, most of those clerks don't get any kind of commission...but that is whole nuther can of worms. I think me and cayugad were getting at the same thing. I think it will really come down to making some close personal inspections of some of the different models your interested in and going with the one that your happy with both with fit and finish of the gun and how it fits you and feels in your hands. I don't have much experience with the CVA,Traditions, etc. other than handling them in the store and one Traditions of a friend I shot a few times. I don't think you could go wrong with a Triumph, Omega or KRB.