I looking at a CVA Hunterbolt 209 Magnum. Are they any good? would you recommend one?

Mark as I remember some of the early ones where recalled for some reasons, they seem to be okay,as shoot about as well as other 209 primer guns, If cost is a big thing I would look at the newer H&R Huntsman as well, For the 3 pellet loaders I prefer either the TC or Knight products.

I would stay away from CVA period. They have cheap Spanish barrels and probably have blown up more than any. The best is Savage, you just can't beat'em and once you get used to smokeless powder your spoiled. Next TC Encore or Omega are good choices and Knight builds a good muzleloader. But stay away from Cva, Traditions and Winchester all dangerous.

Sadly, Winchester is no longer the name of an American gun company.
"Winchester" is a name that is stamped on a muzzleloader made in Spain.
A really nice entry level gun is the NEF Sidekick. You can get it from Cabelas for $160.
Accurate, easy to clean, and made in America.
If you want to shell out more money, Omega, Knight Disc Extreme, or Savage.
Knight Revolution, no way Jose.

T/Cs, NEFs and Knight MLs are a better choice.

That will work very nicely. I have two CVAs, one Staghorn mag and the newer Kodiak and they shoot very well, especially for the money.

I love the folks that slam the Spanish barrels with unfounded comments like "Probably" have blown up more, when there are no cases they know about first hand or can point to.

Read the recommendations and follow them, both from propellant makers and in the manuals. I use 110G of Pyrodex pellets and 300G .429 bullets w/sabot for outstanding accuracy in both of mine. It worked for two of the three deer I took this year.

(CLICK HERE)Spanish Barrel Ruptures

Larry

How many more of these would you like me to post?

Do a little research and you'll find that those Spanish barrels aren't pressure tested to any standards. I would shoot one.

Well , I don't see where the blow-up thread posted by 777 proves much of anything. It seems , if you read thru it , the blow up was consistent with an obstruction in the bore , and the shooter maybe thinks it was a possibilty . The guy was also using a load well in excess of that recommended by both the powder manufacturer and the firearm's importer .

I have a hard time believing these Spanish barrels blow up nearly as often as some of these guys make out. Reputable companies like Cabelas and Sportsmans Warehouse continue to sell the BPI products , and you'd think if the guns were blowing up right and left they would have lawsuits coming out of their ears forthwith .

Then there is A&H , which also build their guns with Spanish barrels , yet they get a free pass from the CVA haters.

A fairly famous muzzleloading hunter blew up a Savage last year , does that mean the guns are weak ? Fact is , there are no proof standards for any muzzleloader in the USA , and the Spanish proof marks are pretty much meaningless one way or the other ........

Triple 7, post as many as you like. Post 26 clearly says the shooter was most probably at fault, and he was the only guy to actually talk to the shooter. Little substance, lots of "it could" and "it might". And yes, I have read Wakeman's diatribe on the Spanish minimum stampings that he chooses to ignore the answers from the manufacturer on. He doesn't like it, so it can't be true.

Like I said above, read and follow all manufacturer warnings (oh wait, that would mean that guy loaded more than Hodgdon recommended as well) and you should be fine.

Larry

There was no barrel obstruction or short-seat. When the manufacturer or the store (by direction of the manufacturer) replaces your rifle, that's self-admitance that rifle was faulty.

It's very typical of such ML folks to reverse the blame on the shooter once the rifle has left the owners hands for the last time. Besides, I have never trusted the advice of anyone behind the counter of a gun counter for anything related to my purchases. 80% of em' know very little about intricate details involving parts or actual shooting. ML manufacturers will do anything feaseable to clear their name of possible guilt.... including lying thru their teeth & sometimes under oath in court.

Buy all the Spanish barrel guns you want... it's your choice. I'm only here to offer other options & include proof that CVAs are blowing up.

(CLICK HERE) Another CVA Comes Unglued

Yeah , well here's a link to a blown up Savage , complete with photos and documentation from a well known muzzleloading expert .

Savage destroyed


Does this prove Savage makes a blow-up prone rifle ?

I would ask again , why would a reputable firm like Cabelas continue to sell CVA type products by the truckload ,if they are really so dangerous to their customers ? Why does Hodgdon not have a warning on their website 777 data page : NOT FOR USE IN SPANISH BARRELS ??

I wouldn't bring the Savage to the Table, that is the only ONE Savage Muzzleloader that has blown. That rifle had well over 5000 rounds down the tube, most of which were hot.

I own a CVA myself but, after seeing several pictures of many blown CVAs, I would hesitate in shooting stout loads.

Reloader

quote:

Does this prove Savage makes a blow-up prone rifle ?

I would ask again , why would a reputable firm like Cabelas continue to sell CVA type products by the truckload ,if they are really so dangerous to their customers ? Why does not Hodgdon not have a warning on website 777 data page : NOT FOR USE IN SPANISH BARRELS ??

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The only Savage that blew was a result of a motive-oriented disgruntled technician/employee that had already accumulated thousands of shots doing testing with it.

Also... as long as the retail purchase was conducted correctly, a company like Cabelas has no liability when a faulty gun ruptures.

quote:

Also... as long as the retail purchase was conducted correctly, a company like Cabelas has no liability when a faulty gun ruptures

I highly doubt that Cabelas(or other retailer) would have no liabilty if it could be shown that they are knowingly selling blow up prone rifles. And if the BPI s are blow up prone , you can bet that Cabelas WOULD know. Furthermore , Cabelas being the good company it is , I really don't think they would sell something that could endanger their customers.

Due to recent changes in hunting regulations , there are alot more muzzleloaders floating around than a few years ago . Many thousands in Minnesota alone , I'd guess . And a very high percentage of these new sales , due to pricing, has been BPI or spanish barrel products. If so many of these guns blow up , where are the headlines from the mainstream media announcing all the maimed and killed hunters ? It's pretty hard to believe the anti-gun media is missing such an oppurtunity .

Then there is a local dealer near here in Minnesota that has probably sold hundreds of CVA s all by himself . Yet no local talk of blown up guns and I am sure this guy would not still be dealing the CVA s if customers were coming back with their rifles in pieces . The reality of these gun's track record just does not match up with the percieved danger some of you chicken littles think exists .

And so Bridges being supposedly disgruntled made his Savage blow up , eh ? Five thousand rounds is nothing for a Savage action ; it should hold up long enough to wear out half a dozen barrels with high pressure centerfire loads , let alone the comparatively mild smokless muzzleloader rounds. IF they are nearly as strong as some of their proponents have made them out to be....

CVA uses cheap barrels,,,this is a fact,,,

Mr Bridges had a Savage blow up that he had used as a test bed and "racecar" for years with non approved loads after he was no longer employeed with savage,,,,,,the only savage ML2 to ever blow up,,,,people have shot their ramrods and bullets with no harmful effects from the savage. It's an old trashed topic.

quote:

And so Bridges being supposedly disgruntled made his Savage blow up , eh ? Five thousand rounds is nothing for a Savage action ; it should hold up long enough to wear out half a dozen barrels with high pressure centerfire loads , let alone the comparatively mild smokless muzzleloader rounds. IF they are nearly as strong as some of their proponents have made them out to be....

The action didn't blow. The barrel blew and yes the Savage actions will handle many thousands of rounds.

Reloader

quote:

I highly doubt that Cabelas(or other retailer) would have no liabilty if it could be shown that they are knowingly selling blow up prone rifles. And if the BPI s are blow up prone , you can bet that Cabelas WOULD know. Furthermore , Cabelas being the good company it is , I really don't think they would sell something that could endanger their customers.

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There are no present recalls on ruptured rifles. You are free to purchase any CVA or Traditions rifle. Your odds for a dangerous situation with either one are much greater than with a Knight or T/C. All manufacturers have problems from time-to-time.... Spanish ones encounter more problems than the rest... especially when loading mistakes are made. T/Cs and Knights give the shooter more error-leeway... much like a well constructed automobile versus a cheaper model

Enjoy your Spanish barrel purchases. Just inspect the barrel, action and breechplug thoroughly every time you clean it. Change your breechplug every 500 shots for safety protection. If the bore starts becoming difficult to bullet-load in the middle of a range session for no apparent reason (or) goes in reverse & loads the bullet too easily, stop your range work with it. Let the barrel cool for an extended period... better yet - call it a day & bring it home.