CVA Muzzle loaders

Need some more clarification on your comment about CVA’s being looked down on. Is that in regards to quality or are you referencing historical accuracy as far as their older Hawken percussion/flintlock models? Or is it in-lines vs. sidelocks ie. modern vs primitive?

I seem to remember (too lazy to google-fu it right now) CVA had an inline model(s) that had problems with the breach plug blowing out under stout loads. Also seem to remember it was related to the threading being inadequate (not deeply cut, enough of it or possibly both). Supposedly that was for a short period and the issue was resolved. Related to switching barrel manufacturers is what I recall.

Current inline CVA Scouts appear to have a dedicated group of adherents. Haven’t heard anything bad about them.

I’ve never heard of their original sidelock black powder offerings receiving a bad rap. Sure, comparing them to TC you could gripe about wood quality, final fit and finish but that I remember they weren’t in the same price category when they were both on the market.

I started into BP hunting with a used CVA ‘Hawken’ in the mid 80’s. Bought the rifle, buffalo leather possibles bag and gun sleeve as well as powder horn and all needed accouterments for $250. Gun never failed me and supported could hit a white paper plate at a hundred yards consistently.

Currently own 6 TC’s in various calibers and a CVA .50 cal Kentucky that was probably a kit gun (I had to fix a couple of things that would never have left the factory the way it was). Very pleased with it. Still looking for a .45 cal version to keep it company.

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I built a couple CVA cap rifles and pistols from kits. My main Hawken had an improperly drilled bolster (the weird interlocking system they used where the final passageway was drilled through from the front). It misfired and then when I had a local hack gunsmith try to fix it he did it improperly and the bolster snapped off soon thereafter. It sat for about 20 years until I found replacement parts and the desire to repair it. Works okay now, but I'm not much of a mountain man anymore and I don't know anything about deer hunting. I shoot it every few years but mostly keep it as an example of my ignorant youth... I sanded all the sharp edges around the lock smooth and made a bunch of other mistakes in fitting and finishing. It's a keepsake more than anything else.

And yes, I was HEAVILY influenced by the movie Jeremiah Johnson, perhaps moreso since the Sundance area and Timpanogos is just up the road from me and I know all those areas well. When I was 14 being a mountain man seemed like a pretty damn good idea. I had a full buckskin outfit, shot a coyote and wore the hide, shot my felt tophat with my .50 Hawken, etc. Went to rendezvous with my dad a couple times. Good memories.

CVA inlines had an early reputation for being pretty low quality but that changed from what I can tell. I don't have any personal interest in inline frontstuffers but I have no ill will toward anyone who likes them or uses them.
 
red rick said:
And what is wrong with that , if you follow the game regulations ?
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Not a thing. Maybe it's just me but I feel inlines were not what the Gaming Commissions had in mind when they created early or primitive gaming seasons.
 
I have a .50 CVA "Hawken" my ex's mom gave me. It was loaded with Pyrodex when I got it and I've only shot it once to get it unloaded. That's mainly because it's a .50 and I gave away all my .50 molds after I sold my Investarms I used for 30 years and moved up to .54. I tend to look down on .50 cal. more than CVA. 😁
 
Own a ,.50 caliber bobcat. Long out of production. Like a modern hawken with a black polymer stock. By using sabots and extra patches I can load it for deer and such down to.36 caliber for woodchucks, rabbits and squirrel 🐿️
 
Howdy

I built a CVA Flintlock rifle from a kit a bazillion years ago. 45 Caliber. I still have it somewhere, but have not fired it for probably well over 40 years. I don't know what CVA is selling these days, but I was never crazy about this kit. My main complaint was the stock was in two pieces, and a cheap piece of brass sheet metal held them together. I did a little bit of embellishment, I made up a brass patch box, and carved some fluer de lis at the rear of the lock plate, but it was still a very inexpensive rifle. I'll see if I can take a photo of it to post here.
 
Driftwood Johnson said:
Howdy

I built a CVA Flintlock rifle from a kit a bazillion years ago. 45 Caliber. I still have it somewhere, but have not fired it for probably well over 40 years. I don't know what CVA is selling these days, but I was never crazy about this kit. My main complaint was the stock was in two pieces, and a cheap piece of brass sheet metal held them together. I did a little bit of embellishment, I made up a brass patch box, and carved some fluer de lis at the rear of the lock plate, but it was still a very inexpensive rifle. I'll see if I can take a photo of it to post here.
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Yeah that two piece stock ruins it. I've seen people replace the brass spacer with wood. It looks better but still doesn't look right.
 
I'm sure many CVA kits were "customized" with the owners personal tastes and embellishments.Like that rifle back on post # 27. That trigger guard makes it look different from the other 1,000s out there.Or that derringer on post #14. I misplaced the plates for the side so I improvised and made some out of a silver belt buckle. One of a kind!
 
If I haven't put a deer in the freezer, I use an inline. Otherwise it's a T/C Hawken I built from a kit 45 years ago, mlm or a custom built flintlock that I nearly stole from a local gun shop that took it in on trade and wanted it gone.
 
CVA is not singled out here, but yes, there are many, even here on THR that look down thier noses at any in-line. I've called them out on it a couple times because they don't help thier own hobby much with some of thier responses to inline owners in the BP forum. I think in-lines are a good way to test your interest in BP shooting and could be a great Segway into traditional BP shooting if weren' t for some of bashing. It would be great if in-lines had thier own sub forum.
 
Hugger-4641 said:
CVA is not singled out here, but yes, there are many, even here on THR that look down thier noses at any in-line. I've called them out on it a couple times because they don't help thier own hobby much with some of thier responses to inline owners in the BP forum. I think in-lines are a good way to test your interest in BP shooting and could be a great Segway into traditional BP shooting if weren' t for some of bashing. It would be great if in-lines had thier own sub forum.
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I don't have an issue with in-lines as a firearm, if that's someone's gig, fine. Where the issue comes to play is when you give equal hunting opportunity to a PRB Flintlock rifle and a SS synthetic stocked rifle with pellets, shotgun primers and belted polymer tipped copper sabot projectiles topped with a scope. Not exactly "equal opportunity" in my book. And no different IMHO from a single shot cartridge rifle.
But that's JMHO and I'm sure there are many who would disagree.
 
I have never gotten around to it but I wanted to see what the .50 caliber CVA would do to a large hog as far as stopping power. But then who wants a large hog, the young ones taste better.
 
Captain*kirk said:
I don't have an issue with in-lines as a firearm, if that's someone's gig, fine. Where the issue comes to play is when you give equal hunting opportunity to a PRB Flintlock rifle and a SS synthetic stocked rifle with pellets, shotgun primers and belted polymer tipped copper sabot projectiles topped with a scope. Not exactly "equal opportunity" in my book. And no different IMHO from a single shot cartridge rifle.
But that's JMHO and I'm sure there are many who would disagree.
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I do feel that users of inlines are taking advantage of the early season.
 
Eutycus said:
I do feel that users of inlines are taking advantage of the early season.
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Exactly, that's the only reason I bought an inline. I don't see any difference except your flintlock might not have the range my CVA has. O,ther than that its just sour grapes
 
Captain*kirk said:
I don't have an issue with in-lines as a firearm, if that's someone's gig, fine. Where the issue comes to play is when you give equal hunting opportunity to a PRB Flintlock rifle and a SS synthetic stocked rifle with pellets, shotgun primers and belted polymer tipped copper sabot projectiles topped with a scope. Not exactly "equal opportunity" in my book. And no different IMHO from a single shot cartridge rifle.
But that's JMHO and I'm sure there are many who would disagree.
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You should have a beef with the game department that make the game laws in your state . Some states have different laws and don’t allow scopes and sabots . IMO hunting is on a decline and we shouldn’t discourage people more . I don’t see that much difference between someone who uses a percussion rifle using conicals or an inline using a 209 primer and a sabot , just the furniture is more traditional .
 
red rick said:
You should have a beef with the game department that make the game laws in your state . Some states have different laws and don’t allow scopes and sabots . IMO hunting is on a decline and we shouldn’t discourage people more . I don’t see that much difference between someone who uses a percussion rifle using conicals or an inline using a 209 primer and a sabot , just the furniture is more traditional .
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We don't have to worry about inlines anymore. Not even Walmart sells them. The downside is we can use cartridge breechloaders with hammers and smokeless powder and scopes as long as they're .35 caliber or bigger. The H&R Handi Rifle is king here. That's just for the first primitive weapons season tho. On private lands for the rest of the PW seasons it's your weapon of choice as long as it's legal for regular gun season. So you can actually use a scoped AR15 with 30 round mags during PW season.
 
Here are some photos of my old CVA Flintlock Rifle. You can see where I tried to fancy it up a bit. For the life of me I don't recall why the ramrod is so long.

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CVA, like so many companies got bought out.
BPI now owns the CVA brand and it is not that same company it was at all back in the 20th century.
no comparison to the two really.
 
hawg said:
We don't have to worry about inlines anymore. Not even Walmart sells them. The downside is we can use cartridge breechloaders with hammers and smokeless powder and scopes as long as they're .35 caliber or bigger. The H&R Handi Rifle is king here. That's just for the first primitive weapons season tho. On private lands for the rest of the PW seasons it's your weapon of choice as long as it's legal for regular gun season. So you can actually use a scoped AR15 with 30 round mags during PW season.
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I like those game laws . I would definitely give up my in-line .
 
red rick said:
I like those game laws . I would definitely give up my in-line .
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I don't hunt anymore but when I did more often than not I was out during regular gun season with my .54 Hawken. There's more to hunting than putting crosshairs on a deer at 150 yards.
 
hawg said:
I don't hunt anymore but when I did more often than not I was out during regular gun season with my .54 Hawken. There's more to hunting than putting crosshairs on a deer at 150 yards.
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I have lived in a shotgun only county for deer all my life . I have never shot a deer over 60 yards away with any type of gun .
 
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