Guys, thanks for all the help so far.

However after reading around and checking up on things I'm back to money issues.

My low dollar options of the CVA Optima, OP, and Kodiak all scare me a little to much to pluck down cash on. A lot of bad things have been said and I haven't heard one person stand up for the company and say buy an Optima Pro or anything. That leaves me with the NEF Sidekick. Robert, purchased one, recommended one, but then his links turned me away from this rifle. I just dont see why you should have any problems with your rod in the field hunting. Not to mention only coming with a 1 year warranty. At least CVA gives you a lifetime warranty. I would love to get a Disc Elite or a TC Omega but it aint happenin'!

So anyway I decided to check out some of the mid range Knights and TC's. I've heard alot of good things about the Wolverine 209 and it seems like a nice rifle. So I went and checked out a Wolverine and a TC Black Diamond. They both seemed very nice but the shop only had the 22" barrels. Also I was worried since it appeared that the breach is exposed on both of these when ready to fire. Is this a problem? Am I wrong on this? What do you guys think of the Wolverine 209 and the BlackDiamond/ BD XR? Is it important to go with the 26" barrel on these guns and stay away from the 22".

So here I am. ML season starts Saturday. I havent completely ruled out NEF or CVA. However I dont want to spend between $200-300 on a "entry level gun". Even at that money I expect a rifle, that with care, I can pass on to my son. CVA's do not bring up those kind of thoughts after reading around these forums and NEF comes with a 1 year warranty and other issues. I'm basically looking at the Knight Wolverine, T/C BD and BDXR, and possibly a Disc Extreme if on sale. Although I'm hesitant on that as the Elite seems to have been made just address issued with the Extreme. Maybe I'm way off on my assesment of the CVA's.The Kodiak and Optima do seem nice. I really would hate to pass up the closed breach CVA's and pay the same money for the open to the element Knight or TC. If that is even a big issue.

OK, enough rambling. I hate to be an immediate pest on here but the only dealers close are superstores with outrageous prices and less than helpful clerks. If I say what else after Omega or Revolution you could hear a pin drop. Really, they are mostly young, get the most commercialized gun types, or they dont even ML and could care less. So again, thank you very much for your help. It is greatly appreciated and definitely needed.

Dave