about CVA and Traditions long rifles

[howdydoit]

Im looking to buy one in a kit soon and want to know what everyone here thinks of each one of them. Im looking at the CVA and Traditions Kentucky.

Are they quality arms?
How long are the barrels?
Are the locks any good?

Thanks guys.

 

[Legionair]

Haven't built a kit, but I do have a Traditions Hawken Woodsman in flint (.50). It's been an excellent rifle (after I started looking around here and learnin).

Some folks don't care for CVA or Traditions, considering them "bargain" rifles. But the quality seems decent to me.

Legion

 

[Twisted_1in66]

On the Traditions, get a good look at the vent in relation to the top of the pan. The vent should be level with or very slightly above the top of the pan, and in the middle of it as opposed to up against the right or left edge.

Mine is just about even with the top (maybe a hair low) and in the middle. I've seen them buried down in the bottom of the pan before, and that is NOT a gun you'd like to have. It will cause lot's of flash in the pans and the old fuse effect even if it does go off.

My Traditions Longrifle is a very fast and reliable shooter, and it has a gorgeous highly figured walnut stock. Some of the stocks are pretty plain, but all are walnut.

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:

 

[ski76]

I bought a Traditions percussion Kentucky rifle kit 11 years ago and still shoots well for hunting. I even won 2nd place in a turkey shoot with it :applause: The stock on it though is plain birch but it's a useful rifle.

The barrel is about 33" and the lock is decent quality case hardened

 

[cowpoke1955]

If you check the CVA web site it looks like they are not making traditional muzzle loaders anymore. They are making those other things. If you needed a part for something, you'd be hard pressed getting one from CVA. Traditions may be your best bet. You may want to look around a little more before buying. Usually, for a few more dollars you get alot more satisfaction in a long run. Just my thoughts.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

The only attraction to these guns is their low price and there is no way around the fact that lower price reflects lower quality. Sometimes they work OK and some folks are happy with them but I also know people who have replaced the locks, then replaced the barrels, put a lot of money into them and ended up with a gun that shoots fine but still looks cheap.
I think the Lyman trade rifle is about the least expensive rifle that will prove satisfactory out of the box. If you like the long rifle I'd recommend the Cabelas Blue Ridge as the least expensive and reasonably good rifle. More money for sure but worth it in the long run.

 

[Runner]

The two piece stock is a pain. The lock has no fly on the CVA, so you if you adjust it to about where you want it, it will catch the halfcock notch on the way down. The tradition's lock has no bridle. The barrels are very good, but the crown may have to be touched up after you get it for maximum accuracy. The breech design is not the most reliable, but it is workable once you learn how to make it work all the time.
They are perfectly servicable guns, and a great many of us started with them. Better to save another couple of months and buy a gun with set triggers, a lock with a fly and bridle, a full length one piece stock, and hopefully a better ignition system if you can. Not a snob opinion. I have owned the CVA version and I hunt with almost all CVA products. My flinter is a Tradition's Deerhunter. If a luxury car was 200$ more than an Escort class car, no one would drive escorts! In this case, the better gun is 200$ more.

 

[cowpoke1955]

I agree with Coyote's choices. Seems like most us us agree for the reason. If you buy a budget rifle, you'll either end up buying a better rifle later (costing more in a long run) or giving it up all together. Save a little longer and buy a better quality rifle the first time. You'll be happier, shoot more and have a life long partner. :hatsoff:

 

[howdydoit]

thanx guys just kicking around ideas

 

[Toomuch_36]

The two piece stock is a pain. The lock has no fly on the CVA, so you if you adjust it to about where you want it, it will catch the halfcock notch on the way down. The tradition's lock has no bridle. The barrels are very good, but the crown may have to be touched up after you get it for maximum accuracy. The breech design is not the most reliable, but it is workable once you learn how to make it work all the time.
They are perfectly servicable guns, and a great many of us started with them. Better to save another couple of months and buy a gun with set triggers, a lock with a fly and bridle, a full length one piece stock, and hopefully a better ignition system if you can. Not a snob opinion. I have owned the CVA version and I hunt with almost all CVA products. My flinter is a Tradition's Deerhunter. If a luxury car was 200$ more than an Escort class car, no one would drive escorts! In this case, the better gun is 200$ more.

The reason for the Kentucky models not having a fly is because they have only a standard single trigger, The Traditions Shennandoah is essentially the same rifle with a one piece full stock and double set triggers with a fly type lock.

Toomuch
..........
Shoot Flint

 

[renovato]

I've only built one CVA but I've built several Traditions kits. For low dollar kits, they both make good shooters. Traditions seems to be a goodly step up in quality from CVA, at least in the ones I've encountered. All the Traditions guns I have shot are quite accurate and of good quality, though not up to the standards of the Lyman, T/C and Investarms guns. My biggest complaint about Traditions and CVA both is the plain white wood. It just doesn't seem to take as nice of a stain as walnut. The kits are nicely done though, with the edge going to Traditions in inletting and fit.

Some low dollar guns are very good shooters. I guess many of them aren't, also. I know the Traditions Trapper pistol is superb and easily shoots with my T/C Patriot, plus it has a better trigger.

If you have a few more bucks to spend, Lyman, T/C and Investarms make really great kits.

 

[PreglerD]

I agree with you about Investarm and Traditions. In GE Traditions is named Ardesa, Spain. They make good and priceworth ML's and have good accurate barrels. About the others like T/C or CVA and can't say anything.

 

[howdydoit]

thanks everyone.