CVA or Knight for hunting elk in western Washington

[hunter_sean08]

I actually just received my Ultra-Lite yesterday and am excited to get out and shoot it this weekend. I first got to hold one out in the field elk hunting last year when I ran into another hunter who was carrying one. When I asked him how he liked his, he said in all his years hunting elk with a muzzleloader, no other gun he had used could compare. I was super impressed with not just the gun’s weight, but its overall balance and feel. I could also tell that it was made with high quality components. After taking my own gun out of the box almost a year later, I’m happy to report I still feel the quality workmanship and balance in this gun. The “Made in USA” stamp on the barrel makes you proud to own one as well. And with the full plastic jacket 209 primer system, I know I’m getting something relatively failsafe for rainy conditions in Western Washington.

As for Knight’s track record, my hunting partners both carry Knight Bighorns and neither one of them have had any issues since they bought them nearly 10 years ago. Knight makes a great muzzleloader, period.

[ctwiggs1]

I have a Traditions Prusuit G4.

It goes bang and cleans up nice.

So far I can get a 12" group at 30 yards.

I'm  stoked!!!!!

 

[Cougartail]

I have a Traditions Prusuit G4.

It goes bang and cleans up nice.

So far I can get a 12" group at 30 yards.

I'm  stoked!!!!!

 

Yes, it's  quite a group!

[HntnFsh]

Try a rest. Might be able to get those groups down to 10"

[Karl Blanchard]

I own two CVA’s….the first one shoots great!!!   The other, I will update in a week or so as I just got it put together.   I imagine it will shoot equally as good.   

Curious what problems people have had with their CVA’s and if the problems were befor they went to Berara barrels.  Ming go bang and are as accurate as any other open site rifle I own.   

Here is the new one.

Like I said before, I just bought mine so it had a Bergara barrel, as well as the ones they attempted to replace it with. I can't speak to the one's they tested for my replacement but they stated they didn't pass accuracy standards.

Mine had an INCREDIBLY loose bore. I still gave it an honest try though. I burned a pound of blackhorn209 and 5 different bullets.  Even with the NXS on there best group I got was a 4" 5 shot group that was not repeatable. Most groups were 5"+.

Another major issue was blow back out of the breechplug. 2 different breech plugs actually as I bought a second to try and rectify the issue. Primers were extremely loose in both resulting in tons of blowback into the receiver as well as out into the scope tube and my face. There was actually so much blowback that it was fouling the trigger assembly to the point where after 3 or so shots the hammer wouldn't cock or would only partially engage resulting in an unsafe trigger that took mere ounces to fire or a simple tap on the gun to slam fire.

CVA customer service was top notch and great to work with but at the end of the day I was left with no new muzzy and out a lot of components.

[jrebel]

I own two CVA’s….the first one shoots great!!!   The other, I will update in a week or so as I just got it put together.   I imagine it will shoot equally as good.   

Curious what problems people have had with their CVA’s and if the problems were befor they went to Berara barrels.  Ming go bang and are as accurate as any other open site rifle I own.   

Here is the new one.

Like I said before, I just bought mine so it had a Bergara barrel, as well as the ones they attempted to replace it with. I can't speak to the one's they tested for my replacement but they stated they didn't pass accuracy standards.

Mine had an INCREDIBLY loose bore. I still gave it an honest try though. I burned a pound of blackhorn209 and 5 different bullets.  Even with the NXS on there best group I got was a 4" 5 shot group that was not repeatable. Most groups were 5"+.

Another major issue was blow back out of the breechplug. 2 different breech plugs actually as I bought a second to try and rectify the issue. Primers were extremely loose in both resulting in tons of blowback into the receiver as well as out into the scope tube and my face. There was actually so much blowback that it was fouling the trigger assembly to the point where after 3 or so shots the hammer wouldn't cock or wouldn't only partially engage resulting in an unsafe trigger that took mere ounces to fire or a simple tap on the gun to slam fire.

CVA customer service was top notch and great to work with but at the end of the day I was left with no new muzzy and out a lot of components.

Fingers crossed my new one does not have this issue.  I will report back after I get to the range. 

[Karl Blanchard]

Yeah hope yours is trouble free. I forgot to mention this was a .45 cal not a 50 cal. My nephew has a 50 he got for Christmas and it shoots fine. If you have good accuracy but getting blowback this is supposed to be the best fix and since you're a reloader and I assume you've got a decent supply of rifle primers, this is a great option. I was gonna get one but accuracy was so bad I didn't want to dump more money into it.

https://arrowheadrifles.com/product/cva_qrbp/

[Threewolves]

I hunted with the CVA optima V2 I borrowed last year the thing shot fantastic. I was hitting dead on at 150 yds. I ran across a guy that said I should get the CVA acura because he said it was better. If I was buying I would just get the optima and put the peep site towards the back like my the one that I borrowed. 5cents

[jrebel]

I don't get any blow back in my optima....and it uses the same breach plug, so I can't imagine it will be an issue.  Were you shooting the blackhorn breach plug or the original / standard?  I bought two extra blackhorn breach plugs for the two muzzy's so I hope it works.  Worst case scenario, I could always shoot the original breach plug with pyrodex.  Both of mine are 50 cal so fingers crossed. 

[Cougartail]

Try a rest. Might be able to get those groups down to 10"

That was bench rested! 

I'm not the only one with issues with the G4.

I'm  going to do some more work this weekend.

[Karl Blanchard]

I don't get any blow back in my optima....and it uses the same breach plug, so I can't imagine it will be an issue.  Were you shooting the blackhorn breach plug or the original / standard?  I bought two extra blackhorn breach plugs for the two muzzy's so I hope it works.  Worst case scenario, I could always shoot the original breach plug with pyrodex.  Both of mine are 50 cal so fingers crossed.

yes Blackhorn breech plug.  You shouldn't be getting any blowback.

[Tenkara]

I have two bighorns, one I've been using for ten plus years and is accurate and reliable. The second one is new and unfired, and I only bought it because knight was selling them super cheap, but I have no reason to try anything else. I'm using 100gr of 777 fff and 300gr sst's with a musket cap and it shoots really well.

[BigVinn]

I started with an mk85, then a disc extreme and now an ultralight. They have all shot fantastic. The ultralite is spendy but the older I get the more I like the light weight when I’m in the woods lol 

[jrebel]

Well, so far so good.  I will start another post so I am not muddying this one, but the Acura LR-X 50 cal shot good today. 

[jamese]

100% what lazy drifter said -" get the "Knight .52.. on sale".