I have read they are shooting it out of both rifles. Whether they had to change breech plugs I can not say.
I was looking at a black/blue Impact the other day for $249.00. It shouldered well but my concern was, if you mounted a scope on it, would it be hard to grab those two side release things to pull back, to open the action. Especially in Wisconsin in the winter with gloves on and twenty blow zero? Although I do like Thompson Center products.
I also looked at a Optima with a beginners kit at the Rothchild Gander Mountain for $289.00. Of course it was sealed in plastic so I could not play with it. And it did not have a fluted barrel. But it looked like a nice over all rifle.
Lone Wolf just picked up a nice Optima for a great price (I was tempted myself.. and he said he could order me one). That was the Bergra barrel and fluted, with a thumbhole stock.