CVA Frontier

[4deer]

My Father just bought a CVA Frontier Carbine Flintlock off gunbroker in a sold-as-is auction. When we first got it we ran a patch down the barrel and did not feel any bumps and even shot it some. The barrel under a light looked un-pitted and shiny.

We had trouble with the jag hanging up just above the breach plug so I polished it up some today with some 0000 steel wool it seems to be better down now. The problem is I felt a ring towards the muzzle--just about in the right spot for a short started ball. I looked more closely at the spot with a flashlight and can just barely make it out. When we shot cleaned it between shots we never felt the bump so it must be very slight.

The gun shot fairly accurately at 50 yards. Do you think the ring is a safety issue? I think we will probably be able to live the the accuracy since it will just be a hunting gun.

One more question I have a later CVA flintlock that I think was made in 2001. I have done a lot of shooting with it and when I shot the Frontier offhand the other day the trigger pull seemed very heavy so heavy it distracted me when I shot. All the lock springs on the Frontier seem heavier than my guns springs. Is there a easy fix to make the trigger pull lighter?

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Does your fronier have the adjustable double set triggers? There is a screw adjust. If not, you are stuck trieing to adjust the sear and perhaps tuning the lock.

I have two older Frontier rifles that I reserve for trainin newbies.

A slight ring is not a danger. May affect accuracy, but black powder and soft lead are pretty forgiving. Just keep the loads moderate.

 

[paulvallandigham]

You can still find replacement CVA barrels fairly cheap, if the gun has you worried.

A shallow bulge, that far up the bore should not pose any safety hazard. If the gun is shooting, I would not concern myself with the bulge any further.

These were not expensive guns when new. A lot of people got started in BP shooting with them. They are reliable, and accurate enough to have taken lots of game.

 

[Zonie]

IMO, a very small, barely noticed ring just behind the muzzle should not be a safety concern.

Usually a ringed barrel shoots rather poorly but that happens when the ring is down the bore a ways and is easily noticed by the ease a patched jag passes thru the ring.

If the ring is down the bore, as the patched ball reaches it, the oversize bore allows hot powder gas to burn the patch, weakening it. As the ball/patch reaches the tighter area of the bore it often shreds and looses grip on the rifling.

If your dads gun is shooting accurately enough to make you happy then go ahead and have fun with it.

Playing with powder loads and patch thicknesses may even make it shoot better than you ever imagined.

 

[R.M.]

What kind of powder were you using? 777 is noted for creating a "Crud Ring". Is it possible that the ring you're see/feeling, is a deposit of uncleaned powder residue?

 

[Muskeg Stomper]

I have a Frontier Carbine that my kids shoot. Trigger pull with that single-trigger is definately heavier than guns with double, set triggers. If yours has a set trigger, it needs to be adjusted and you can find CVA Sidelock Manuals free online that explain how to adjust.

If yours has single trigger, you may just want to hone and polish those trigger surfaces and see if that does the trick. You may not even have to mess with anything inside the lock but you can do that too. CVA locks are readily available (new, old stock) in online auctions. You can also contact Deer Creek for a replacement lock.

They are fun little shooters for just plinking.

Good luck.

 

[4deer]

What kind of powder were you using? 777 is noted for creating a "Crud Ring". Is it possible that the ring you're see/feeling, is a deposit of uncleaned powder residue?

We were using black powder.

Does your fronier have the adjustable double set triggers? There is a screw adjust. If not, you are stuck trieing to adjust the sear and perhaps tuning the lock.

It is a single trigger. I did notice the lock seems to have a place for the fly and bridle. Did CVA leave those off since they were not needed or did someone lose them over the years?

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Zonie]

Boy, this takes me back over 35 years but as I recall, the Frontier model CVA sold didn't have a bridle or a fly.

The "Hawken" model they sold at the time had a set trigger so it needed a fly for the trigger and a bridle to hold it in place.

I'm betting it was the same lock with the "extra" pieces left out to save them a few cents.