Shot an Optima Ramrod

[simonkenton]

My neighbor bought a CVA Optima. This is his first muzzleloader.
On his third shot, he forgot to remove the ramrod. He said it had quite a kick.
He is shooting Powerbelts, and two Pyrodex pellets, 100 gr.
What is the chance that he damaged the barrel? He has fired it about 20 times since, he said it shoots fine.
I could not see or feel any bulge in the barrel.

[DavidKansas]

For sure he is not the first OR the last to do the ram rod shooting trick. I dought that he hurt the barrel any , the only thing to do is give it a very close look over inside and out and try not to do it again.

[Wolfhound]

My neighbor bought a CVA Optima. This is his first muzzleloader.
On his third shot, he forgot to remove the ramrod. He said it had quite a kick.
He is shooting Powerbelts, and two Pyrodex pellets, 100 gr.
What is the chance that he damaged the barrel? He has fired it about 20 times since, he said it shoots fine.
I could not see or feel any bulge in the barrel.

You won't see or feel any bulge in the barrel. You might feel a loose spot by loading a snug fitting saboted bullet but even if you don't, the owner needs to contact CVA and at the minimum send it back for inspection.

[Redhawk1]

I second Wolfhound. I would talk to CVA.

[manofthe45]

Ok truth time I had the optima pro and shot the ramrod50 yds downrange.  I took it to a local muzzleloader gunshop to be checked. barrel was fine.  He told me it happens to about 1 in 3 at somepart in their shooting life and not to worry.  Unless your optima has the newer removable firing pin sell the piece of garbage and buy a Trustworthy ML.  An unsafe gun is like a woman with constant PMS. 

[Two Bears]

My neighbor bought a CVA Optima. This is his first muzzleloader.
On his third shot, he forgot to remove the ramrod. He said it had quite a kick.
He is shooting Powerbelts, and two Pyrodex pellets, 100 gr.
What is the chance that he damaged the barrel? He has fired it about 20 times since, he said it shoots fine.
I could not see or feel any bulge in the barrel.

The barrel wil be fine and yes you could see/feel a buldge on the outside of the barrel and a ring on the inside of the barrel.
have him clean the barrel and look down the bore against a light and if there is a buldge in there you would see the ring inside the barrel. feel

[Wolfhound]

The barrel wil be fine and yes you could see/feel a buldge on the outside of the barrel and a ring on the inside of the barrel.
have him clean the barrel and look down the bore against a light and if there is a buldge in there you would see the ring inside the barrel. feel

Even if there's no bulge it still needs to go back. A ramrod on top of a normal load is allowed in no manual I know of. Savage shooters have ringed/bulged barrels doing this. You cannot see it on the outside and on the inside it is just a loose area where the powder/bullet was. It needs checked out and since most gunsmiths don't have any experince with muzzleloaders shipping it to the manufacturer is best. If it's not checked out and it blows up it will be 100% user error. If it's sent back and CVA says that it's fine then no money is wasted since they have ok'd the barrel. If it then blows then the manufacturer is liable. Just have them keep the note sent back with the gun.

Someone said to sell it above, this is for their info:

If the owner sells it without having it checked and it blows then the owner is laiable for selling a potentially dangerous gun.