SAFETY ALERT: Anyone else having CVA Bolt Gun PROBLEMS!

[Adam Helmer]

Today, until I mailed off my CVA Fire Bolt Ultra Mag .45 caliber rifle, I had a very serious SAFETY issue with CVA bolt Inlines. On December 16, 2006, I bought a CVA .45 caliber inline in our local Agway store on my way to church. The rifle was a "vault queen" until yesterday. I was firing a 50 grain charge of Triple 7 and patched roundball to ZERO the scope. My group was only +2 inches and 1"+ Right until round #5. As I closed the bolt, THE RIFLE FIRED! Ok, it is my "Remington" CVA.

I called CVA and a Customer Service guy told me to CLEAN the trigger Group to regain positive bolt hold back. I told him on page 17 of my CVA booklet, paragraph 11 says:" Do not attempt to disassemble the trigger assembly. Clean as a one-piece unit." The sentence ENDED there, so I asked, "How do I clean this gizmo." He said to use a spray cleaner, yadda, yadda. I asked why the booklet did not ELABORATE. The Customer Service guy said, "I can send you a new trigger group as mine seemed to have a broken part." I then told him my .45 caliber T/C Maxis did not group and I was shooting .457" Hornady Roundball and a .010" patch. Do the math and see this is a .47 caliber, or more.

This is my SECOND GO ROUND with a CVA Bolt INLINE! In October 2007 I received a Cabela's Special offer mailing for lots of stuff. One item was a $99.00 CVA Buckhorn Hunter Bolt Magnum .50 caliber inline bolt gun with black synthetic stock. I placed the order and got the bolt gun. I whistled up old dog and we went to the backyard range. On firing #7, the rifle FIRED on bolt closure on the CCI #209 shotgun primer. Happily the rifle was pointed down range, as usual here on the farm.

I called CVA and asked the Customer Service guy, "What is wrong with the trigger group and safety lever on my rifle." He asked me to tell him the make, model and serial number on the barrel. I did. He said, "No you do not have that rifle as it was a proto-type never put out for retail sale." I told him I would send him the gun, which I did. A week later I received a very serious UPGRADE Rifle with an expensive sling. That .50 inline has worked reliably since. Yesterday my .45 scared the #$%^ out of me on the firing line.

If you have a CVA bolt INLINE, ALWAYS WATCH the Muzzle, ESPECIALLY when you CLOSE the bolt on a loaded rifle. Been there and experienced that! Be ADVISED!

Adam

[powell&hyde]

Thanks for the heads up Adam, my Son bought one of these 3 years ago for deer muzzle season, I will call cva tomorrow am.

[Adam Helmer]

poiwell & hyde,

I suggest one ALWAYS watch the muzzle with CVA arms! I was at my picnic-table backyard bench when I closed the bolt and my .45 caliber CVA Rifle fired! Fortunately, I am 110% Muzzle AWARE, so that Ball is still flying, eh, wot?

This is my Second CVA Trigger/SAFETY issue as documented with correspondence with the company. I am angry this is my SECOND CVA INCIDENT! My ONLY reason for this post is to make DOUBLY AWARE all CVA INLINE owners that their SAFETY and BOLT CLOSINGS are DANGEROUS Times! WATCH THE MUZZLE at all times, or face dire consequences. Fortunately two days ago, my Lori dog was at her assigned spot under the nearby pear tree when my accidential (?) discharge occured on my backyard range-may others be as lucky.

Adam

[Adam Helmer]

CVA Update:

I sent my .45 Inline back to CVA on November 3, 2011 and CONFIRMED it was delivered to CVA at 1:50 p.m. on November 16 per USPS Tracking Number. I called CVA several times and FINALLY on November 29, CVA advised, "Your gun is in the shop."

On December 27, 2011, the UPS truck returned my CVA .45 caliber inline with a letter inside which said:
-"bore gauged .045197."
-"Corrected Trigger." (No comment on what was WRONG BEFORE the "Correction.")
-"Note: trigger's front screw needs to go all the way down before rear screw." (Wot the Hell does that mean?)

I dropped a .450 swaged ball DOWN the barrel from the muzzle to the bolt face and tipped the rifle muzzle down and OUT came the ball! So much for the .045197 Bore measurement by CVA! What a crock! I went to the CVA website, but could not leave an email message. I did obtain the name of the CEO and his snail mail address. I sent him a letter and copies of correspondence sent to CVA with my rifle.

I used a dial caliper and gauged the bore at .481". My neighbor is a retired engineer and his caliper says my CVA rifle is .479". That is FAR from .045197 per the anonymous CVA butthole that sent the return letter with my rifle. My .45 CVA WILL NOT accurately shoot my .45 Caliber 245-grain Minies BECAUSE the Bore IS 48 CALIBER!

I am at my wits end dealing with CVA. I sent my letter with all exhibits today to Mr. Dudley McGarity, CEO; CVA, 1685 Boggs Road, Suite 300; Duluth, GA 30096. It will remain to be seen IF the CEO has a clue about HIS Customer Service. At least I told him of my disappointments. I will not buy another CVA. If you buy a bolt action CVA Arm, regardless how CHEAP, WATCH THE MUZZLE! My only TWO CVA Bolt Inlines FIRED when I CLOSED the Bolt!
Adam

[powell&hyde]

Uh OH, my son shipped his cva back to the factory on nov 11th and he received a tracking that it was received by the factory 1 1/2 weeks later. After reading your horror story I'm beginning to wonder if you got the same gun back???

[Adam Helmer]

powell&hyde,

I got the same rifle back from CVA. What was the ailment affecting your son's CVA arm? I hope you get a satisfactory response from CVA.

Adam

[Joe Boleo]

Fortunately, I do not own an inline and probably never will. I guess I will stick with my flintlock smokepoles. Take care...
Joe

[powell&hyde]

Adam

My son was having problems with the trigger, at the end of October we took it to the range to get a few shots in and 2 times when the trigger was pulled, nothing happened!!!! We then took it to a gunsmith who advised us to contact cva as they were having problems with the gun going off without the trigger pulled.

[Adam Helmer]

powell&hyde,

Thanks for the input. I own two CVA Inlines BECAUSE the local Agway had a "Christmas Madnesss" sale a week before Christmas two years ago. I looked at the inlines and a $219.00 .45 rifle was priced $119.00 and the .50 was $269.00 for $125.00. In retrospect: I MUST say the prices WERE NOT CHEAP ENOUGH!

The .50 "DIED" First. I called CVA and chatted about it FIRING on bolt closure. The nice customer service guy asked me for the gun's serial number, which I provided. He said, "Check again, that serial number range is for prototype rifles never put out for retail sale." I said, "I am an Armorer and, with glasses, can read a serial number. " He said to send in the rifle, which I did. Two weeks later they sent me a .50 caliber Inline upgrade that is a "vault queen."

The .45 caliber has NOT been shot enough to use up a 100 count 209 primer tray BEFORE she FIRED on bolt closure! The rifle has been Down and Back to CVA and, as I posted in a prior post, the OVERSIZE bore was "Specked" at .0451 Yadda, yadda. Ok, CVA says it is .451, SO how do I put a .454 Speer swaged Ball and a .015" patch down the bore, EASILY? My math says that is .469", but since I only resize 37 bullets for handguns and rifles, I do not know squat. Whatever.

I sent a letter to the CEO of CVA that went out yesterday. I bought two CVA Arms at the Christmas Madness sale to help out the local Agway Store. I will NOT buy another CVA Arm. The two I own will do this Summer when the grand kids take the canoe out on the pond. When they need an ANCHOR, they will have the .45 Fore and the .50 CVA Aft!

If anyone has a bolt action CVA Inline, I again warn you to WATCH the muzzle as both of mine FIRED on bolt closure! We always should Watch the Muzzle, but ESPECIALLY with a CVA bolt inline. Fore warned is fore armed. BE SAFE, even when the guns ARE NOT! Nuff said.

Adam

[powell&hyde]

Well my son finally got his cva back on Friday, we will be heading out to a buddies farm to do some shooting on Tuesday with the 50. Will let you know how it goes.

[powell&hyde]

We headed out to the buddies farm Tuesday afternoon and the cva operated flawlessly, trigger operated fine and it appears the factory repaired the gun right.

Adam, did you ever hear back from cva after the letter you sent?

[Adam Helmer]

powell,

I am glad you are satisfied with the CVA repair to your son's arm. I got a response from a Vice President at CVA. We chatted on the phone and I realized that after the prior month of my rifle in CVA custody, NOT much would be improved.

I have $137.00 invested in my oversized bore CVA Inline. It was not cheap enough and I am through with dealing with CVA. My Initial letter with the rifle was very clear and still they screwed it up. I now have a CVA canoe Boat Anchor as I told the CVA VP!

Adam

[FrontierGander]

Why are you trying to shoot balls in a modern 1:28 twist inline?

[Adam Helmer]

Frontier Gander,

Welcome to the Forum.

I get great accuracy with patched roundballs in my .45 and .50 caliber inlines by using a 50 grain 2F powder charge. Heavier charges degrade accuracy due to the 1:28 twist. In my sidelock Hawkens that are 1:48 twist, judicious adjustment of powder charges render fine accuracy with patched roundballs and Maxis.

Again, welcome to the Forum.

Adam

[skeeter@ccia.com]

Great Adam you and others are awary of where the muzzle points at all times. My cousins friend at a range, fired CVA and not go off..his friend, waited and for some stupid reason spun it around to work on it when murphy was at it again with his laws. Cousin nice 50cal hole in shoulder. Survived. Now those with the problems you guys have had with fire when closing bolt are probably lucky they did so then. I see it as a time bomb reaty to go off any second during the day..maybe only holding by a hair. Maybe it is in the bolt itself and not in trigger as they seem to be looking at? The only cva I hunted with is long ago when a friend wanted me try his out. Results, not fire ..spring junk..my brother found out hard way NEVER hold lighter to pan (flintlock) to ignite. He died years later with specks of powder still in his hand. This another safety alert to bp shooters. Just as much pressure out the touch hole as end of pipe. Anyhow, my honest opinion on cva and their spin-off the traditions is as stated, only good for boating... Prices good but not a good idea to own something that does not work. Just be safe out there and I suggest you guys do as I did and got rid of the thing. I still swear by T/C. Be safe.

[FrontierGander]

even tc wont keep the foolish safe

[Adam Helmer]

FrontierGander,

The foolish are NEVER safe regardless of which gun they are handling!

Adam