T/C don't have a clue what it takes to shoot a big heavy lead conical.
But when 90% of the guys want to shoot saboted bullets, from a business standpoint they (T/C) probably aren't even going to listen or care.
It sure would be easy for them to make a model that didn't have a QLA, but then they might have to eat a little crow.
That 1:48 twist is not going to get it done, and with a QLA to hinder acuracy as well.
I say, if you want a T/C to shoot a conical, lop-off that QLA and recrown it, it (QLA) does NOTHING but add unusable barrel length to a rifle IMO. ANYTHING past the crown of a rifle can only HINDER accuracy, unless you can dial it in like a BOSS or similar, and not practical in a muzzleloader.
I really think they would be surprised how many sabot shooters would buy a new rifle without a QLA as well. That (QLA) is the ONLY thing that has prevented me from buying a post QLA T/C rifle.
While we are dreaming, make that new closed breech rifle without a QLA a 1:24 twist in both .45 and .50 caliber! The first company that does will sell a ton IMO.
I currently do not own any CVA rifles, but I have checked them out quite close over the last year or so. The OLD CVA rifles have never caught my eye, although servicable, were never the quality of the NEW CVA's. The APEX would be my first choice, but the Accura and the NEW Optima are very nice rifles as well. The barrels and triggers on these rifles are superb, and that is what makes a muzzleloader accurate. I personally don't care for the Encore/Accura/OLD Optima style stocks, but the new APEX and new Optima stocks feel like a rifle shoud IMO.
My prediction is that CVA will be eating T/C's lunch in less than 2 years, if T/C don't get it figured out. And if Knight doesn't introduce something that is truely innovative, like closed breech rifles with a faster twist (1:24) to better handle the new longer saboted, as well as sabotless bullets such as the FPB/THOR/LEHIGH, and other long for caliber monolithic bullets (copper/brass) that some states require, I doubt they will ever be able to regain any market share other than loyal Knight owners.
CVA has gotten it together, Knight and T/C better take note, or they will be left in the smoke.
T/C seems to be more worried about their advertising campaign (Shockey/Waddel) than they are about listening to their customers or reducing the price on their rifles, bet that will change over the next 2 years.
The ONLY thing that has prevented me from buying a CVA rifle (APEX) is my deep-rooted BUY AMERICAN bias, it surely isn't the quality of the rifle, as I prefer it over the Knight KP1 and the T/C Encore. If they came out with a stainless steel / brown laminate stocked model, it would surely push me over the edge!