Author Topic: CVA Optima unsafe ?  (Read 2194 times)

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Offline brudford

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CVA Optima unsafe ?
« on: September 29, 2005, 01:54:05 PM »
Recently purchased a CVA  Optima in .50 cal. Have been reading and
researching the safety of their muzzleloaders,I'am wondering now if
I should of paid the extra 300 $ and bought the T/C. Apparently CVA
was forced into receivership a while back from the many lawsuits from
injuries from their barrels blowing-up ! It is a new CVA that were dealing with.Experts in the Muzzleloading community as much as I can gather
say that the 150 gr. load that CVA states their guns will handle will
produce around 20,000 psi,and the barrel is only proofed for around
10,000 psi. I'am also reading that these Spanish made barrels are made
by way of an extrusion process through a die,Would not the steel have
to be very soft. I only plan to use between 80-100 grs. powder charges.
As I'am no expert in pressures and metalurlgy any comments welcome.
If I'am not confident with this muzzleloader I have no problem selling
it and buying a T/C which I know is made in America and uses
rifle grade steel.

Offline Encore28

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Re: CVA Optima unsafe ?
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2005, 02:31:29 PM »
Quote from: brudford
I have no problem selling
it and buying a T/C which I know is made in America and uses
rifle grade steel.




My advice to you is do it............If you have any doudts about the safety of the gun I would dump it. You will always be questioning its abilities which is no way to shoot any gun.
I am not bashing CVA products BUT I only buy T/C(although Knight is ok also)products. I own two Encore frames and a few barrels, one is the 209x50 which happens to be my favorite.
Just my 2 cents
Encore28
T/C---One Perfect Shot

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Offline NEW222

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CVA Optima unsafe ?
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2005, 03:43:21 PM »
Hi there.  If you want some reading, you may want to try these.  I am not bashing CVA, but I too am a T/C guy, but your concerns were brought up rather well here.
http://canadiangunnutz.com/viewtopic.php?t=41038

This is about a previous CVA recall, and the next one is about the pressures you talked about earlier.

  [url]http://canadiangunnutz.com/viewtopic.php?t=17351&highlight=magnum+black+powder+loads

Hope this helps.  I am also not trying to discourage you from your gun, but merely answering your questions


Sorry for the links not going directly to the website.  I just tried it and all I did was copy and paste the url in my search bar.

Offline NONYA

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CVA Optima unsafe ?
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2005, 05:10:35 PM »
I have a CVA Hunter mag and i shoot 150grs every time I shoot it,no exsplosions so far..
If it aint fair chase its FOUL,and illegal in my state!
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Offline Wolfhound

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CVA Optima unsafe ?
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2005, 01:18:02 AM »
Your probably ok. In any case, I think your 80-100 gr. self limit is pretty responsible thinking. The issue is that there are guns blowing, not many, but enough to create some concern. In any case I've not heard of any Optima's going up. The one's I've heard about are the old Eclipses and Hunterbolts. I've also heard of one Winchester X-150 blowing. The X-150 is made by the same company.

Offline Redhawk1

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Re: CVA Optima unsafe ?
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2005, 01:57:32 AM »
Quote from: brudford
Recently purchased a CVA  Optima in .50 cal. Have been reading and
researching the safety of their muzzleloaders,I'am wondering now if
I should of paid the extra 300 $ and bought the T/C. Apparently CVA
was forced into receivership a while back from the many lawsuits from
injuries from their barrels blowing-up ! It is a new CVA that were dealing with.Experts in the Muzzleloading community as much as I can gather
say that the 150 gr. load that CVA states their guns will handle will
produce around 20,000 psi,and the barrel is only proofed for around
10,000 psi. I'am also reading that these Spanish made barrels are made
by way of an extrusion process through a die,Would not the steel have
to be very soft. I only plan to use between 80-100 grs. powder charges.
As I'am no expert in pressures and metalurlgy any comments welcome.
If I'am not confident with this muzzleloader I have no problem selling
it and buying a T/C which I know is made in America and uses
rifle grade steel.


You would be happy with the T/C. I don't shoot 150 gr. of powder in mine. 100 gr. works just fine for me. I will never own any other Muzzleloader other than a T/C.  :D
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Offline Keith Lewis

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CVA Optima unsafe ?
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2005, 06:23:57 AM »
I own a T/C Omega and a T/C Hawken and as stated they are great guns. T/C is really super for customer support. They stand behind the gun regardless of who bought it; New, used or whatever. I also have a Traditions Pursuit LT which is similar to any of the newer CVA stuff relative to barrel manufacture. I do not shoot maximum loads in any of my rifles although I would feel a little more comfortable with max loads in the American barrels. The Spanish barrels should be OK with the loads that they recommend and personally I would not exceed 100gr. loads in my Pursuit and if using 777 or Black Mag'3 or other synthetics that develop higher pressures I would stay a little below that. That is just my opinion but that way I feel very comfortable.

Offline JEV

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Re: CVA Optima unsafe ?
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2005, 06:48:21 AM »
Quote from: brudford
Recently purchased a CVA  Optima in .50 cal. Have been reading and
researching the safety of their muzzleloaders,I'am wondering now if
I should of paid the extra 300 $ and bought the T/C. Apparently CVA
was forced into receivership a while back from the many lawsuits from
injuries from their barrels blowing-up ! It is a new CVA that were dealing with.Experts in the Muzzleloading community as much as I can gather
say that the 150 gr. load that CVA states their guns will handle will
produce around 20,000 psi,and the barrel is only proofed for around
10,000 psi. I'am also reading that these Spanish made barrels are made
by way of an extrusion process through a die,Would not the steel have
to be very soft. I only plan to use between 80-100 grs. powder charges.
As I'am no expert in pressures and metalurlgy any comments welcome.
If I'am not confident with this muzzleloader I have no problem selling
it and buying a T/C which I know is made in America and uses
rifle grade steel.

 
Do you honestly believe a company nowdays can afford to put a product on the market that is really that unsafe? In all reality, they wouldn't be around very long with all the lawsuits. They just can't afford to take such risks. That being said, I bought an Optima Pro last year and have shot several hundred rounds through it without a problem....
JEV

Offline slayer

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CVA Optima unsafe ?
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2005, 09:09:06 AM »
I have never owned a CVA, but I can tell you, all of my T/C muzzleloaders have been very reliable and very accurate. Jack.

Offline Lane

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Way Unsafe Optima!
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2005, 10:44:50 AM »
Yes

That Optima is VERY unsafe, yes sir! :shock:

In fact you should dump it for less than half of what ya bought it for ASAP   :eek:

I am the Official keeper of all unsafe muzzleloaders, so just PM me and I'll send you the shipping/disposition instructions! :wink:

Ya can't be too safe, no sir!  Ya need ta buy one of those high falluting-very expensive ultra safe brand names quick like! :roll:

Offline brudford

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CVA pressures
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2005, 12:03:40 PM »
I e-mailed CVA Techical Dept. for a straight answer, Dear CVA,I just
recently purchased your inline Optima 209 Muzzleloader and I noticed
that your barrels are only proofed for around 10,000 psi a 150 gr.charge
is around 20,000 psi,and even a light charge of 100grs. is around 13000-
14000 psi.I'am afraid to shoot your muzzleloader ! Will it blow-up and cause serious injury ? Are your Spanish Barrels made of rifle grade steel ?

CVA: response; Bruce,There has been a " campaign" of sorts on the internet spreadin misinformation such as this. I assure you that if these allegations were true,we would have never become the largest manufacturer of muzzlrloading rifles in the world.

A simple yes that barrel is proofed to only 10,000 psi or that barrel is proofed to 20,000 psi because we state ( CVA that a 150 GR. charge is safe.) Is this to much to ask ? And the reason you,CVA are the
largest in the world is because BPI purchased CVA after the last round
of law suits which put the old company in receivership.

Offline Lane

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Optima
« Reply #11 on: September 30, 2005, 06:19:18 PM »
Still waiting for that PM......

Got a Hundred dollar bill burning a hole in my pocket :-)

Offline brudford

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CVA pressures
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2005, 06:41:58 PM »
Lane, If I were you I would not stick my finger up my butt while waiting
 to get my Optima for 100$ bucks, because your going to have a long
 period of constipation !

Offline Lane

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Unsafe???
« Reply #13 on: October 01, 2005, 03:38:14 AM »
Ok, ok

$105.00,  but thats my final offer!  After all it is unsafe and I'd be risking my life every time I shot the thing :shock:  

Guess I could work up some 50grain loads for rabbits and squirrels 8)  Ya know, keep the stress levels low :lol:

Offline daddywpb

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CVA Optima unsafe ?
« Reply #14 on: October 02, 2005, 05:01:43 AM »
I used to shoot 150 grain loads in my Omega, but I just got tired of the beating, and the resulting flinch. Ballistically, there's just not that much difference at reasonable ranges. I went back to using two Pyrodex pellets, and that's plenty for me. I don't think you have to worry about a CVA rifle blowing a barrel. If it's like the two CVA's that I bought, it's not going to fire anyway, and it should handle the pressure from the primer.