My New CVA Mountain Rifle

[pietro]

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I ran across this NIB/un-fired .50cal CVA Mountain Rifle that was online for very reasonable (if not cheap) price.

Despite the low BIN (buy it now) price, there were a couple of even lower bidders trying for the steal - so I eliminated them via using the EASY button (BIN).

It was delivered today, and I must say that in over 40 years of receiveing firearms shipped to me, this was the best-wrapped/secure parcel I ever received.

Curiously, it was made w/o a patchbox like most CVA Mountain Rifles I've seen have - So when I bought it, I also ordered a German silver patchbox from Track that is close to the same finish/color of the factory furniture.

Now, I gotta get some .50cal RB's or conicals (I just have to measure the rifling twist rate before ordering)

I haven't weighed it, but with the 32" (typo edit) x 15/16" bbl, it feels about 8-9lbs - heavy, but not too heavy (unlike my .50cal A&H 32" x 1" flinter).

The brass front sight is easy to see, but I'm going the have to do something about the rear sight's visibility (it's color blends in with the blued barrel), like a white paint outline on the notch.

The lock is surprisingly petite.

I'm also thinking of stripping & browning the barrel...……….


https://i.imgur.com/pD0TGlom.jpg https://i.imgur.com/nWHuochm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/iypMKolm.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Eh25Qlrm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/q61G6OKm.jpg

[BigAlofPa.]

Nice fund. I have a CVA wolf and a CVA 44 mag rifle. Both are very accurate.

[pietro]

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T y :)

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[frogleg]

Pietro I have had three of these 2 45s and one 50 and they all were good shooters with Roundball they have 1/66 twist. And they are a Nice length for off hand shooting.

[pietro]

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T y ! :)

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello pietro,

Now that's an oddball, it looks to have a Frontier Rifle Trigger Guard.
I can't tell from pictures, are the Wedge Plates Brass?
I thought the Mountain Rifle's had a 32" Barrel.
I know the Big Bore's didn't have the Patch Box, but they had 1" Barrels.
And I also thought all Mountain Rifles had the brown barrels with German Silver Hardware.
Still, it looks very nice. Hopefully it's a 1:66 twist.

AntiqueSledMan.

[pietro]

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There's no brass furniture on the gun, ASM - except for the front sight and the RR tips

I didn't actually measure the bbl length, but the seller indicated 32".

IDK what material the furniture's made from, German Silver or pewter - but it looks like unfinished steel (I didn't do a magnet test)

The pics the seller put on the auction site are much better than the ones I posted:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/890751280#carousel-modal-view-item

[Good Cheer]

pietro,
Got a favor to ask of you. Could you tell what the bore on that CVA measures?
The reason for asking is that I've got one of Walt Melander's maxi molds that was stamped by him as a .51.
Looking back through my catalog info I see that he had a separate listing for CVA maxis that includes both .50 and .51. And for .51 it was a .508" diameter base and .520" diameter front.

My eye has apparently been passing right over that bit of data for decades. Had no idea that some CVA's were .51's! And I'd like to find out what the .51's were.

[pietro]

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My rifle's bore diameter is .495"; the groove diameter is .500"; rifling twist is 1:66".

AFAIK, there is no such thing as a .51cal CVA - the .51 mold is most likely a slightly oversize conical boolit, normal for shooting in the .50cal

Cast a few boolits and shoot them as a test.

Conicals may not do very well in a slow twist barrel; so measure the twist rate in your rifl's bbl - it may have a compromise 1:48" twist.

[megasupermagnum]

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My rifle's bore diameter is .495"; the groove diameter is .500"; rifling twist is 1:66".

AFAIK, there is no such thing as a .51cal CVA - the .51 mold is most likely a slightly oversize conical boolit, normal for shooting in the .50cal

Cast a few boolits and shoot them as a test.

Conicals may not do very well in a slow twist barrel; so measure the twist rate in your rifl's bbl - it's may have a compromise 1:48" twist.

Are you sure? .0025" deep rifling is barely scratched.

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello pietro,

Well it's definitely a late model, but still a good find.
I see Traditions is now importing a Mountain Rifle (I believe from same manufacturer),
but it's rifled at 1:48 and shows a patch box.

https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/brands/traditions-mountain-rifle-percussion-50-cal.html

I'm sure it's going to shoot a round ball just fine.
The nose cap should be the only pewter on it,
the old ones had aluminum rod tips and a German Silver Front Sight.

AntiqueSledMan.

[pietro]

Are you sure? .0025" deep rifling is barely scratched.

That's what the thin pins of my inside caliper says, with the measurement taken at the muzzle.

[DaveM]

Very nice. If you want to brown the barrel (it looks blued in the pics) you can just apply the browning solution on top of the blueing.

[725]

pietro & Good Cheer,
I think I remember a "White" ML that had a notoriously large .50 cal bore. Been too many years to be clear.

[pietro]

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Yep - The White was an inline muzzleloader very similar to the Gonic.

They both had extremely tight .50 cal bores, requiring sized-down boolits from the likes of No Excuses Made Bullets

[indian joe]

Hello pietro,

Now that's an oddball, it looks to have a Frontier Rifle Trigger Guard.
I can't tell from pictures, are the Wedge Plates Brass?
I thought the Mountain Rifle's had a 32" Barrel.
I know the Big Bore's didn't have the Patch Box, but they had 1" Barrels.
And I also thought all Mountain Rifles had the brown barrels with German Silver Hardware.
Still, it looks very nice. Hopefully it's a 1:66 twist.

AntiqueSledMan.

Sled Man
I think you is on the ball! - earlier Mountain rifles had a finger rest on the bottom rear of the (polished steel) trigger guard loop. This looks like the grey pot metal guard off a frontier - some CVA's (missouri rifle I think - I have one out there in the rack) had that same thing covered in black paint (powder coat?)

32" barrel is correct - thisn has the (correct) german silver wedge plates. Pewter ? nose cap - nicer wood on some of the earlier ones too.

It was a long review article in an aussie gun mag that got me into muzzleloaders late 1980's - "The big bore 54 CVA Mountain Rifle" - I got hooked, couldnt find one for love nor money - ended up with a little 45cal Kentucky rifle kit - Cheap guns but I never had a CVA (had quite a few) that wouldnt shoot rings around most other guns on the range - they nailed the barrel and rifling geometry at the start.

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello Joe,

I once built a CVA .45 cal. Kentucky, that thing would really shoot.
I was a little embarrassed to take it to a shoot, they were the bottom line of rifles.
I ended up trading it for a Big Bore Mountain Rifle in .58 cal.
It never was very reliable, I changed out hammer spring but it didn't always snap cap.
Messed with it for a couple years, but now it mostly just sits in the safe.
Most of those old CVA's did shoot quite well.

AntiqueSledMan.

[pietro]

Very nice. If you want to brown the barrel (it looks blued in the pics) you can just apply the browning solution on top of the blueing.


Thank you for the tip, as I was going to strip/brown the barrel. :smile:

[indian joe]

Hello Joe,

I once built a CVA .45 cal. Kentucky, that thing would really shoot.
I was a little embarrassed to take it to a shoot, they were the bottom line of rifles.
I ended up trading it for a Big Bore Mountain Rifle in .58 cal.
It never was very reliable, I changed out hammer spring but it didn't always snap cap.
Messed with it for a couple years, but now it mostly just sits in the safe.
Most of those old CVA's did shoot quite well.

AntiqueSledMan.

Yup they would shoot alright ! First time I shot in competition in my life I shot a countback second to one of the top shots on the east coast - was never embarrassed shooting a CVA ! I graduated up to a 42" barreled CVA Pensyllvania rifle in 50 cal - flintlock - that was about the best gun i ever owned but I traded it away (dumb!!!)

[BFJ]

I bought my CVA mountain rifle in 1976. The first year CVA made them. These rifles were advertised with 1 in 66 twist, I have shot nothing but patched round balls. It was my main muzzle loading hunting rifle for many years. I have owned T/C and custom rifles, but never felt undergun with the CVA. Pietro, you have a great looking rifle there.

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello BFJ,

I have 1975 listed as first year of the Mountain Rifles, Flinter's introduced in 1978.
I never said the CVA's were embarrassing,
just the cheap looking two piece stock on the Kentucky Rifle (but it did shoot).
I had a Thompson Center Hawken and a CVA Frontier Rifle back in the day,
I could always shoot better targets with the Frontier Rifle.
I wish I would have kept that old Rifle,
currently I still have three CVA long guns.

AntiqueSledMan.

[indian joe]

Hello BFJ,

I have 1975 listed as first year of the Mountain Rifles, Flinter's introduced in 1978.
I never said the CVA's were embarrassing,
just the cheap looking two piece stock on the Kentucky Rifle (but it did shoot).
I had a Thompson Center Hawken and a CVA Frontier Rifle back in the day,
I could always shoot better targets with the Frontier Rifle.
I wish I would have kept that old Rifle,
currently I still have three CVA long guns.

AntiqueSledMan.

I knew what ya meant (sorta) ---- plenty of blokes tried to embarras me though - why dont ya buy a decent gun? that kind of stuff - one of em has that pennslyvania flinter I traded away - will not sell it back - we got to "name your price" one time - he says nope all that does is tell me how good it is I'll learn to shoot it one day - he is a heckuva good shot with percussion rifle and shotgun but has yet to master a flintlock. I never mastered anything but I did ok at times.

[sharps4590]

I built one from a kit, had to be about '79 or '80. As has been frequently said, it was accurate all out of proportion to its cost. I won a few matches with it and I think I took my first muzzleloading deer with it, maybe not, though. My oldest son owns it now but I don't think he's fired it since I gave it to him. He prefers his Lyman GPR he built....which is ubderstandable.

[pietro]

Hello pietro,

Now that's an oddball, it looks to have a Frontier Rifle Trigger Guard.
I can't tell from pictures, are the Wedge Plates Brass?
I thought the Mountain Rifle's had a 32" Barrel.
I know the Big Bore's didn't have the Patch Box, but they had 1" Barrels.
And I also thought all Mountain Rifles had the brown barrels with German Silver Hardware.
Still, it looks very nice. Hopefully it's a 1:66 twist.

AntiqueSledMan.


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With my everlasting thanks to board member elsewhere, I found this MR to be a ca. 1990 CVA Premier Grade Mountain Rifle.

Unlike almost all other CVA MRs, this edition had a chrome lined bore.

Also described as having a Walnut stock, full length cheek, pewter furniture and a Frontier Rifle trigger guard, also in pewter.

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[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello pietro,

I don't have the 1990 catalog, but here is a clip from the 1989.

AntiqueSledMan.

[pietro]

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Thank you very much for posting that clip ! ")

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[BPJONES]

A 54 caliber mountain rifle was listed 2 days ago on a Canadian forum. Looks unused. No takers yet but the guy has it listed as a Hawken---that and $500.00!

[pietro]

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EVERY half-stock muzzleloading rifle is:

1) Rare

2) A genuine HAWKEN

3) Never used

:roll:

I was fortunate in my acquisition.......

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[Eddie2002]

Here's a Mountain Rifle on Gunbroker listed as a Hawken. Not sure what year it was built, maybe a second series and it looks like the patch box was plated not solid German Silver. Still it looks like a good deal. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/892864331

[indian joe]

A 54 caliber mountain rifle was listed 2 days ago on a Canadian forum. Looks unused. No takers yet but the guy has it listed as a Hawken---that and $500.00!

that would be less in US money?? - worth it if you want one - to much if you want to resell it - (not a bargain)

[Eddie2002]

I peruse Gunbroker occasionally just to keep track of prices and see what's out there. I'm surprised at how high some of the prices have gotten and what people are wiling to bid for just a basic Hawken or similar base line rifle. Guess I'm a little spoiled from pawn shop purchases and good deals found on rendezvous blankets.
Did spot a first series CVA Mountain Rifle flinter in .45 caliber "Never Fired" (yeah right) but it was more than I would spend without checking the bore first.

[NEKVT]

Just came across this thread so guess I'm a bit late to this CVA Mountain Rifle party. Seems to be a bit of interest in these. I bought a 54 caliber flinter kit back in 1988 and the store owner said he had had it for awhile. SN# is 0000011 and based on the model's introduction date the kit was already about ten yrs old at that point. After picking up a Renegade 54 percussion I had retired the CVA to my cabin wall and gave away flints and pan charger and remaining 4F so it hasn't been shot for quite awhile. Now that the T/C is gone may be time to take it down, dust it off, pick up some rocks and BP and get it firing again.

281432

[pietro]

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Go to it, pard ! !

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[Hanshi]

Shouldn't ever sell those CVA rifles short or take them for granted. They look pretty nice and shoot even nicer!