I have to agree with bigblock on the ACCURA's trigger.
I have shot a 45cal Optima just lately. Thinking about getting it just because its dirty cheap, blue on black. But I like stainless rifles. It was a track driver out at 100 yards off a bench. Used POWER BELTS and 777, 75-78grs I think.
As far as if CVA rifles are good guns, I will say yes. I'm not getting one to put back for a family heirloom, but the latest ones are very capable of taking any game in NA. I wouldn't stop hunting if I had to use one.
I personally think CVA is going to get more stiff competition from T/C and Knight. Both companies are producing inexpensive rifles, bringing them within just a few dollars of CVAs rifles. With the accidents being blown out of proportion (sorry about that, no pun intended) from older CVA barrels and breechplugs from over charging them still lurking out there, this could hurt CVA. When I first read about the explosions, the first thing I thought when I heard they put 150 grs of propellent in one is that its rated for 100 grs! And folks need to learn that 100grs of one propellent or sub may not be the same as another. But yet more stupid folks and lawyers almost ruin a good company.
As far as certain models that I think CVA gets kudos on, the ACCURA, OPTIMA and OPTIMA PRO are great rifles. The ELKHORN is a cool rifle and has a real string feel to it also. But, like I said earlier, with Knight putting out the SHADOW and ROLLING BLOCK for the same price or T/C producing Z5 versions of their OMEGA its hard not to choice the one of the later. In fact, I can get a stainless steel ROLLING BLOCK with camo polymer stock cheaper that the same setup ACCURA.
About the only CVA rifle I won't hunt with is the KODIAK. It feels VERY cheap, like the action is made by Mattel. The KODIAK PRO is beefier and feels allot better, but not as strong as the OMEGA. I would like to get a KODIAK PRO and try out the 25ACP adapter plug on it. I've shot an OPTIMA with a conversion plug and think the world of it.
Jerry