Post by: Mike171 on August 21, 2023, 09:20:59 PM
Post by: duckmen1 on August 21, 2023, 09:30:32 PM
Post by: 10thmountainarcher on August 21, 2023, 09:42:42 PM
I'm looking to buy my first muzzleloader for hunting elk in western Washington and hoping to get some recommendations on which one to get based off the experience of others. A friend recommended I purchase a Knight Ultra-Lite online. I went to a local muzzleloader shop in hopes of getting to put my hands on one only to find out they don't carry them. The shop owner there said that Knights are pretty much obsolete and that they haven't produced anything new in about 4 years. He showed me the CVA's he carries and said that they were cutting edge, very accurate, easy to clean, and just very user friendly overall. As a long time muzzleloader, he says that is what he uses and recommends. He seemed sincere but I also have to wonder if he is just trying to make a sale. I am trying to decide between the Paramount, Accura MRX, and the Ultra-Lite. I really like how easily the MRX breaks down but I'm not sure about having to carry the collapsible ramrod as opposed to it stowing away in the stock. And I would need to purchase a separate one for cleaning. Any input from others who have experience with these would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
The paramount can be hard to find due to not being produced at the moment. Black Horn 209 availability is why CVA put a freeze on em.
Post by: JakeLand on August 21, 2023, 10:25:57 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 21, 2023, 11:42:39 PM
Been a knight guy for years but the slick lrx was too tempting. Lesson learned, back to knight I will go.
Post by: Gettin Birdie on August 22, 2023, 04:23:09 AM
Post by: mossback91 on August 22, 2023, 07:06:39 AM
Post by: raydog on August 22, 2023, 07:36:35 AM
Post by: high_hunter on August 22, 2023, 08:23:23 AM
Post by: lazydrifter on August 22, 2023, 08:38:49 AM
Post by: jrebel on August 22, 2023, 10:31:29 AM
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. :dunno: :dunno:
Here is the new one.
Post by: Cougartail on August 22, 2023, 11:42:43 AM
It goes bang and cleans up nice.
So far I can get a 12" group at 30 yards.
I'm stoked!!!!!
Post by: PsoasHunter on August 22, 2023, 11:49:29 AM
Post by: ctwiggs1 on August 22, 2023, 11:57:15 AM
Great company and great product.
I can’t speak to CVA but I’ve heard good things.
Post by: knighttime25 on August 22, 2023, 12:03:52 PM
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!!!!!
12" group at 30 yards!??! :o
Post by: hunter_sean08 on August 22, 2023, 12:24:46 PM
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.
Post by: ctwiggs1 on August 22, 2023, 01:22:19 PM
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!!!!!
:yike:
Post by: Cougartail on August 22, 2023, 04:58:07 PM
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!!!!!
:yike:
Yes, it's quite a group!
Post by: HntnFsh on August 22, 2023, 07:04:13 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 23, 2023, 09:00:56 AM
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.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.
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. :dunno: :dunno:
Here is the new one.
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.
Post by: jrebel on August 23, 2023, 09:12:41 AM
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.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.
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. :dunno: :dunno:
Here is the new one.
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.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 23, 2023, 09:37:57 AM
https://arrowheadrifles.com/product/cva_qrbp/
Post by: Threewolves on August 23, 2023, 09:58:16 AM
Post by: jrebel on August 23, 2023, 04:45:43 PM
Post by: Cougartail on August 23, 2023, 04:54:52 PM
Try a rest. Might be able to get those groups down to 10" :chuckle:
That was bench rested! :chuckle:
I'm not the only one with issues with the G4.
I'm going to do some more work this weekend.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 23, 2023, 06:48:59 PM
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.
Post by: Tenkara on August 23, 2023, 07:51:58 PM
Post by: BigVinn on August 23, 2023, 09:02:02 PM
Post by: jrebel on August 24, 2023, 05:14:38 PM
Post by: jamese on September 06, 2023, 01:14:06 PM
Post by: Buster Brown on November 05, 2023, 08:18:43 PM
Knight Ultralight Feels like a much higher quality gun. But it’s not twice as good, for being more than twice the price than the Optima. Breech plug is much harder to remove than CVA (you need to pull out a very small spring plunger while rotating the breech unloading rod/tool. The Knight is extremely watertight, using number 11 caps. Cleaning one vs the other is difficult in different ways. Once you’ve fully disassembled the Knight, it cleans easily. The CVA breech comes out easy, but getting the firing pin and trigger assembly clean is, at least for me, sluice it out, spray out moisture with compressed air, spray some lube in, and hope no rust develops.
Both are equally accurate for me with iron sights; never scoped either.
That’s been my experience.
To sum up: Knight Ultralight is much nicer, but CVA Optima is more than good enough, and a much better value.
Post by: JakeLand on November 06, 2023, 04:36:14 AM
Have both.if taking the bolt out ( 2 seconds) and putting a breach plug wrench in and loosening the breech plug (15 seconds total ) is totally disassembling the knight to clean then ok
Knight Ultralight Feels like a much higher quality gun. But it’s not twice as good, for being more than twice the price than the Optima. Breech plug is much harder to remove than CVA (you need to pull out a very small spring plunger while rotating the breech unloading rod/tool. The Knight is extremely watertight, using number 11 caps. Cleaning one vs the other is difficult in different ways. Once you’ve fully disassembled the Knight, it cleans easily. The CVA breech comes out easy, but getting the firing pin and trigger assembly clean is, at least for me, sluice it out, spray out moisture with compressed air, spray some lube in, and hope no rust develops.
Both are equally accurate for me with iron sights; never scoped either.
That’s been my experience.
To sum up: Knight Ultralight is much nicer, but CVA Optima is more than good enough, and a much better value.
Post by: riverrun on November 08, 2023, 08:16:24 PM
Post by: M_ray on November 09, 2023, 06:41:28 AM
A couple buddies had problems with CVA and customer service didn’t seem much into sorting them out. I personally shoot TC but everyone I know that shoot knight never have issues and they are great. I’ve shot them at the range they are accurate.
Post by: WSU on November 09, 2023, 08:14:41 AM