Ignition Woes

[JimKim]

I bought a CVA Hawken. I got it CHEAP. It took a good bit of tinkering to get it to shoot. At first the hammer was slow. That was easy to fix. It just took cleaning and oiling. Next the barrel had a very rough patch of rust about halfway down. I tried every remedy I could find online, until finally using distilled vinegar to "eat it". I can now load it and it gets perfect ignition from the caps, but unless I put a pinch(I'm talking just a few kernels) of powder in the drum, it doesn't set the powder(tried Grafs, Goex, and Swiss) off. I'm using CCI No. 11 caps. I've never had trouble(always had revolvers) with them before. Did they go cheap or do you think it is another issue. I have noticed the priming compound in these seems to be very thin. Oh, the nipple and drum are clear. I can pull the screw and shine a light through it and it lights up the whole bore. Thanks for any help.

Also, I ordered some paper caps and I will be augmenting the CCI caps with the paper caps this week.

 

[Antelope Pete]

I'm not familiar with the CVA system but with traditional systems there should be powder under the nipple after loading. Pull the nipple and check for that. Also, RWS caps are quite a bit stronger than CCI.

 

[ETipp]

Did you check to ascertain the hole in the nipple is clear and of the proper size? If the nipple is not the proper size and/or application it can make a difference. I went through this with my CVA Hawkin.

What patch lube are you using?

No petroleum products in the system anywhere?

Also, It sounds as if there could still be a little restriction in the flash channel.

 

[springfield art]

Did you check to ascertain the hole in the nipple is clear and of the proper size? If the nipple is not the proper size and/or application it can make a difference. I went through this with my CVA Hawkin.

What patch lube are you using?

No petroleum products in the system anywhere?

Also, It sounds as if there could still be a little restriction in the flash channel.

I believe many neglect to get the flash channel truly clean each time; "out of sight, out of mind" kind of thing. I've been guilty as well.

 

[n.h.schmidt]

You should not have this problem. I have many CVA rifles and shoot them regular. Almost always with pyrodex and can shoot a whole match without any failures . With GOEX bp I have to clean out the drum after five to six shots. Yes , I use the clean-out screw or I would have to pull out the nipple instead. Even then breaking out the BP crud would be harder to do.. Maybe your CCI caps are too weak. If you fire one off pointing the gun at some grass,,you should see the grass move. I do use Spitfire nipples for my guns. For several years I have been using my own caps and priming. I have used paper caps and they will likely not do much for you.

 

[JimKim]

Did you check to ascertain the hole in the nipple is clear and of the proper size? If the nipple is not the proper size and/or application it can make a difference. I went through this with my CVA Hawkin.

What patch lube are you using?

No petroleum products in the system anywhere?

Also, It sounds as if there could still be a little restriction in the flash channel.

A 1/32" drill slides through it. When I clean, I use boiling water(I use a trough heater to boil it) and Dawn. I pull the access screw. I use a swab and pump until clear water coms out. Then I switch to clean water and pump several times. I clean the nipple with a pick, and use the 1/32 drill as a scraper. Before I go to shoot it, I pull the access screw and check it again. I also shine a light through the drum and look down the barrel to make sure I can see the flame path. I used Crisco at first. Now I'm trying lanolin. I was thinking of impregnating the patches with graphite powder or molybdenum disulfide next, but I haven't made up my mind yet. I'm waiting on a shipment of beeswax now. I was thinking of trying beeswax olive oil and a little molyB. I think I covered everything. Please excuse any grammatical or spelling errors.