cva hawkens

[corey012778]

Went to a pawn shop, took my savage 30-06 with me, they had an cva hawkens 50cal, got an even trade for it.
the gun looks like it is great shape. bore looks great too. only thing that was missing was a nipple.

so it takes a 6x1?
1in48 twist?

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/corey012778/savage3006011.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/corey012778/savage3006012.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/corey012778/savage3006015.jpg

[MT Gianni]

I hope the bore was shot out and the gun had 30% bluing left cause I think you traded down. CVA never impressed me much as a shooter but I hope for your sake this one does well. Gianni

[fishhawk]

probley more like 1-66 twist, don't remember the nipple thread. one problem to watch is that the nipple does not sit down in the drum to far for powder to get under can be a real puzzler trying to figur out why it doesn't go BANG in cold weather with that problem. steve k

[corey012778]

1 in 66? I will find out more here in an hour or 2. know someone that has one and he will get back to me on it once he gets back from shooting.

found my Muzzy borelight, the bore has no pitting.


on my 30-06, bore was not shot out, but the blue not in that bad shape, was banged up on the out side. biggest reason, I was not shooting it anymore. I gave it up so someone would take it out more then I have. since I owned it, I only put an 100rnds in it.

I have a muzzleloader that is close to an 1000, and I only owned a year

[osage]

My CVA Hawken is 1-48. I picked it up used and had a few problems with caps not firing. Got new main spring from Dixie Gun Works and that fixed the problem.

[corey012778]

thanks for the info on the spring. if I have problems, I know where to start.

[mooman76]

CVAs take the standard size nipple, I don't remember the thread size off hand. They were making their twists mostly 1-66 but as the MLs got more popular for the BP hunting and using conicals they started making the 1-48 twist which works out real good for round balls and conicals. Should be a good shooter. If you are unsure of the twist rate you can figure it out by inserting the rod in with the cleaning jag and a good tight patch on it. Mark the rod and push it in 2' and note how far the rod turns.

[corey012778]

may just do that. I normally clean a gun when I get them home. have not done it yet. kill 2 birds with one stone.

[madcaster]

Sir,send me your mailing adress in a PM and I will send you a nipple to fit it.No charge.

[frontier gander]

its 1:48 twist. Excellent shooters

[corey012778]

i found a site that gives twist rate. and did the patch trick. i want to know what type of oil he used on it.

patches where coming pee yellow.

[frontier gander]

Could be bore butter. There are those who squeeze out an entire tube of that stuff down there bore it seems.

[waksupi]

Since the nipple was missing, examine the threads closely. It may have been blown out with an overload using maxi balls or some such. You want a good fit.

[Maven]

"Since the nipple was missing, examine the threads closely. It may have been blown out with an overload using maxi balls or some such. You want a good fit."

If what Waksupi suggested above is the case, it isn't difficult to recut the threads for the 1/4" x 28tpi nipple. 1/4 x 28 taps are available from a variety of sources, e.g., Brownell's, Track of the Wolf, Dixie, etc.

[mooman76]

Or you could buy a new drum. They are only a few dollars. That's what I love about MLs.

[corey012778]

that may be an idea, too. easier the better right now.

[old06]

If you like thats all that matters I hope it shoots like a house on fire............. enjoy it

Good luck with the new shooting Iron

[Potsy]

I got one of those for Christmas when I was 16 ('89). I think the older ones like mine are 1 in 66" and about 15/16" accross the flats. A buddy of mine bought one on the cheap around '97 or so and it was 1 in 48" and an inch accross the flats. It was heavier than mine and didn't point as well but shot good enough for him.
Mine is a tack driver. A Speer .490 ball, Ox-Yoke patch, 85 grn of FFFg, and a german cap will put two through one ragged hole and drop the third a 1/2" below the first two at fifty yards every time. It's accounted for 2 small bucks, a few groundhogs, and a few squirrels in its lifetime. Even at 40 grains of FFF, it's pretty hard on squirrels.
Haven't hunted it in years. I think I might get it out of the cabinet this fall (not for squirrels).

[corey012778]

I have 2 new drums coming.

I started thinking of what was said about the missing nipple.

i am hoping it will shoot well. It shoulders like it was made for me.

[frontier gander]

it will Corey. Matter of fact, if you send me the barrel for Browning, i'll mount it in my brothers cva hawken stock and find some powerbelt and patched round ball loads for you.

[corey012778]

may not be until after hunting season. depends how pissy I get. if I can't get my tc going. I wanna sidelock deer this year.

as for loads. I have an idea of what I am going to use. just wanna shot some round balls with 60grs just to see where the sites are. just gotta get to the store to get some bullets.

I have a inline that needs to see the range too. FG, I think you know which one that is. ;)

[frontier gander]

Yeah get to it already! Better be cleaning it good to after you shoot it! I sold my favorite .45 to ya and you better be nice to her! LOL.

[corey012778]

I will, need some new brushes and some 45cal bullets. then I'll be set. have not seen what I work this week. so I have not planned an range session.

wanting an second range rod. I have to hit to go shopping something. [smilie=1:

[waksupi]

The first ML long gun I ever owned, was one of the old two piece stock Kentucky rifles, made by CVA. May not have been the prettiest gal on the line, but was one of the most accurate rifles I ever owned. I'll bet yours will be the same.

[corey012778]

I hope this one is. my luck with sidelock has not been too good.

[reivertom]

I want to warn you about the drum removal. They can really be a bit** to remove. It's like CVA didn't want folks to take them out. Sometimes the drum will twist into two pieces before the threads release, then your facing drilling them out and re-tapping for an oversized drum. If I were you I'd just find a company that sells oversized nipples and get one that is a couple hundreths bigger than the factory threads and with alot of oil and some TLC, screw in the new nipple. the "thread count" is the same, but the diameter is larger to take up the slack from wear and rust loosening. You might have to use the "trial and error" method, but nipples are rather cheap. When you find the right one, get a few spares. When you do this, it will clean up and straighten the old threads and actually swage then out a bit. then you're you're ready to shoot. I've even done this on antiques before. The steel in the CVA drums is relatively soft compared to smokeless powder steel.

[corey012778]

thanks for heads up.

i could tell the steel was soft on the drum.

[Bret4207]

FWIW I have a CVA Big Bore Mtn rifle I "built" from a kit when I was about 18. 54 cal, but about the same layout. I stuck a Williams peep on mine and with 90 gr FFG I had groups at 100 yards with 3 of 5 touching and the other 2 darn close. They can be shooters if you find the load for them.

[corey012778]

little update


I finally got a chance to get a really close look at the drum. first thought it was stripped and/or cross thread. until a grabbed an 1/4x28 nipple I had. it fit. but a little loose. the inside of the drum does not look to good.

I have 2 new drums coming from track of the wolf. 2.50 a per. why not buy an extra.

now all I got to do is get the old drum off.

[mooman76]

While you are waiting I'd be soaking the old drum down with a good penetrating fluid like Liquid Wrench.

[corey012778]

that was one of things I was thinking about just now. I have to get to a store that carries it. could not find it at wally world last time I picked up some dog training pads.

[725]

Try Kroil, PB Blaster, even WD-40 to get that stuck part ready to move. Soak it for a long time. Although I don't own any CVA's, I use them at a boys & girls camp to teach muzzleloading. Those kids have put the hard use to the one's we have and they work as good today as the day we bought them. I think it's been 7 years and I haven't even bought a new nipple yet. Of course, after each range day I break them down, pull the nipples & drum screw, and wash them completely. Oil and anti-seaze and put it all back together. Lately I use PB Blaster to oil and treat the bore. Does a great job.

[mooman76]

What 725 said. Any lightweight oil will help. I removed the drum off a CVA I had a few years back so I could convert it to flintlock. Seems like there was some kind of pin holding it in or the breach plug or something holding it in place besides just the threads. Not a big deal, just took a little extra force to get it out and it cleaned up fine.

[corey012778]

got break free in it now. maybe that will work. if not. I am going to get liquid wrench.

[725]

Try some of that PB Blaster

[corey012778]

I have some liquid wrench working on it.

not going to touch it until I get the new parts come. maybe time to time check it.

overall plan is to pull everything after everytime I shoot it

[waksupi]

I have some liquid wrench working on it.

not going to touch it until I get the new parts come. maybe time to time check it.

overall plan is to pull everything after everytime I shoot it

Corey, I would suggest not doing a complete tear down each time. Puts wear on the threads.

[mooman76]

What Waksupi said. Just a good clean up each time is good enough and occationally remove the nipple to clean good and the screw that is in the end of you powder drum if it comes with one(usually does). It's there to make cleaning the drum and breach area easier. Also it helps to put a little light oil or better yet the breakfree on the nipple threads and drum screw so when you do want to remove it, it comes out easier without damaging anything.

[corey012778]

thanks for the advise.

all I need to do is get the old drum out