CVA Mountain Rifle

[LME]

I’d have to say that the gun is not styled after any historical period firearm. It looks traditional without actually being a copy of a traditional gun. In my opinion, the gun is reminiscent of a mid-period plains rifle, early percussion half stock type.

My very 1st muzzleloader was a CVA .50 calibre Mountain Rifle. I saved my allowance for 6 or 7 months and bought it from a pawnshop, when I was 13 years old. I’ve used that gun to hunt everything from squirrels and rabbits, up through antelope, deer, and elk. I’ve fired thousands of rounds, and burned 100’s of pounds of powder out the muzzle of that gun. In the 12 years that the gun was my primary/only muzzleloader, it never failed me, either on the range…or when Makin Meat.

CVA did not produce the best made kit guns, I would say that honor went to Thompson Center; and today, it would go to Kibler; but once the kit is completed properly, you will have a very reliably shooting firearm. I have yet to handle and shoot one of those old CVA Mountain Rifles, Big Bore Mountain Rifles included, that was not spot on accurate.

The breech design on some guns can give you fits, CVA failed miserably with this design. I sold a beautiful Big Bore due to the countless misfires while hunting, it was one of the most accurate rifles I ever owned, it just refused to shoot on multiple occasions when I needed it to go boom. That being said, a competent gunsmith, familiar with CVAs and their quirks can easily fix most issues, this one included…

I’ve gotten a lot of my gun projects completed this summer. I’ve two left to complete. I’m now to the point where I’m ready to go back to my old 1st muzzleloader and give it another facelift, I’m thinking of making it into a 15/16ths, .54 calibre rifle, from its original .50 calibre. 20 years ago I bought a CVA Mountain Rifle kit…it’s one of the early low serial number kits, with a mildly curly maple stock. I’ll be finishing that project this fall and winter.

I guess what I’m implying, is that these old CVA kit guns get into your blood, and it’s hard to let them go. They have their issues, but they are still an amazing quality product. If you find one that was loved and cared for, it will serve you well.

The mountain rifle that I had in the seventies never gave me a problem? It was as you stated a very accurate rifle.

 

[LME]

Awesome … just picked one up at a ‘modern’ gunshop for only $100! I can’t even tell if it may have been fired - SCORE!

Has the 4 screw patchbox, hex ramrod pipes & is marked USA … features I’m told that place it as an early 70s model, without a ding or mark on it anywhere and a mint bore, woo hoo!

You are lucky you didn't get arrested for stealing that rifle! LOL!

 

[Hawk54]

Awesome … just picked one up at a ‘modern’ gunshop for only $100! I can’t even tell if it may have been fired - SCORE!

Has the 4 screw patchbox, hex ramrod pipes & is marked USA … features I’m told that place it as an early 70s model, without a ding or mark on it anywhere and a mint bore, woo hoo!

That is almost free. Great find and with those features it is definitely a 76 or 77 rifle. I believe 76 was the first year for the mountain rifle.

 

[TDM]

Outstanding deal you made @Flint62Smoothie!

 

[1:66 twisted]

I maybe selling a L&R percussion lock. Not sure how much trouble I create removing the drun and breech plug on my CVA mt rifle.

 

[user 53846]

Awesome … just picked one up at a ‘modern’ gunshop for only $100! I can’t even tell if it may have been fired - SCORE!

Has the 4 screw patchbox, hex ramrod pipes & is marked USA … features I’m told that place it as an early 70s model, without a ding or mark on it anywhere and a mint bore, woo hoo!

You did very, very Well. Congratulations!!

 

[Urban Coyote]

Awesome buy, good job!

 

[Grenadier1758]

I maybe selling a L&R percussion lock. Not sure how much trouble I create removing the drun and breech plug on my CVA mt rifle.

In my opinion, a lot of trouble.

 

[rkg1]

I have a 50 cal from 1978. Great shooter 1 hole at 25 yards. I did restock it broke the stock in a fall and changed the lock to a large Siler. These are good guns.