CVA Missouri project find

[dragnetbill]

I just picked up a CVA Missouri as a re-work project.
It has painted pot metal nose cap and trigger guard; anybody have experience with making these look more appropriate?
As an aside, it has the dishonor of being the first gun I have purchased (from a gun shop) that was loaded; RB/pillow tick over some type of solidified black gunk... Barrel marking of 87 and discoloration of the aftermarket super rod have me guessing that it has been loaded since before 1990.

 

[mooman76]

Way to make a new fellow feel welcome guys. Sorry I can't help you other than just strip it down and turn it into what you want. It is your gun after all. Make it to your liking.

 

[Cowboy]

I too had bought that same rifle in a kit form some years back. I too wanted to make it look a little more old timey and less modern looking. I changed the both front and rear sight's. I also hated that rubber butt plate! I ended up trying to fit a steel Hawken type on it. Through the process I totally screwed up the stock. The end result was that it looked like crap and had way to short of LOP. Ended up throwing the stock away and kept the barrel/lock and furniture as spare parts. If I could do it over again I'd would have just left well enough alone. That was my experience which didn't turn out good for me. It was a learning experience back when I started messing with these things.

What ever you decide to do to yours,I wish you good luck and hope it comes out the way you want my friend!

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[dragnetbill]

Well Cowboy, I'm quite certain that back a few too many years ago I would have followed right along with you; and with the bouts of lost focus I suffer these days I may still yet.
Thank you for the positive response.

 

[hanshi]

I was given an old, cheap, CVA kit assembled rifle once. I fiddled with it until it was reliable, then I put a different finish on the stock and brass tacks on the stock. But my how that cheapo did shoot! I went on to take many deer with it. I still have the tacky (no pun intended) stock but traded that wonderful barrel to a builder. Still, I owned and hunted with it for years.

 

[nhmoose]

The crappy CVA kit Kentucky rifle I built in the early 70's cost me $60.00 at the shop. 2 piece stock that I believed was warped [turned out for the good as it gave an 1 1/2" RH offset] Barrel was rough inside but smoothed out with 1/0 steel wool.

I finished it with Birchwood Casey finish kit for metal and wood. It was but ugly but did not know so at that time.

Shooting with round balls was good for 4-5 inch at 50 yards. I and my nephews killed many deer and small game with it. In fact the three nephews fought who got to use it.

The gun got stolen from the truck at a diner and if I could get it back would spend $500 bucks for it as bad of condition it was in.

Later two of the nephews and I became competition shooters in BP and both of them still work in the barrel making industry.

None of us will ever forget that crappy rifle that led us into much better made items.

 

[slumlord44]

I still have the CVA Kentucky that I built from a Kit in the '70's. My wife bouught it for me for Christmas from JC Penny for $75 as I recall. My first muzzleloader and it turned out nice. Good shooter but a little light for deer. I have a CVA .50 double, .54 Hawken, and a .58 Mountain rifle that I hunt deer with now. They are all more than accurate enough for me.

 

[Copper116]

I too had bought that same rifle in a kit form some years back. I too wanted to make it look a little more old timey and less modern looking. I changed the both front and rear sight's. I also hated that rubber butt plate! I ended up trying to fit a steel Hawken type on it. Through the process I totally screwed up the stock. The end result was that it looked like manure and had way to short of LOP. Ended up throwing the stock away and kept the barrel/lock and furniture as spare parts. If I could do it over again I'd would have just left well enough alone. That was my experience which didn't turn out good for me. It was a learning experience back when I started messing with these things.

What ever you decide to do to yours,I wish you good luck and hope it comes out the way you want my friend!

Respectfully, Cowboy

Does any of your folks have the assembly diagram for the Missouri model... I have a basket project and want the reassembly to go smoothlyl and making it safe to fire. Thanks.

 

[toddd870]

Does any of your folks have the assembly diagram for the Missouri model... I have a basket project and want the reassembly to go smoothlyl and making it safe to fire. Thanks.

I would like to see one too if anyone has one. Cant find much on it. Its a .50 cal missouri. There is a 90 with a space before the serial number so im assuming 1990? Idk the rifling twist rate? And like what 80gr of ff or fff powder? Idk a lot about this. I'm hoping it's even safe to shoot.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Does any of your folks have the assembly diagram for the Missouri model... I have a basket project and want the reassembly to go smoothlyl and making it safe to fire. Thanks.

Deer Creek has the assembly drawings of many of the CVA rifles. The CVA Hawken is fairly close to the Missouri with the major differences being in the putt plate and perhaps the twist rate in the barrel. The assembly drawing will be close enough for you to put it together.

https://www.deercreekproducts.net/uploads/3/7/5/3/37535295/hawken.pdf