CVA has announced the availability of a video on its www.CVA.com website that explains the dangers of improperly loading a muzzleloader.  The 7 minute video can be accessed directly at http://www.cva.com/dangerous-loading-practices.php.

“Unfortunately, we see way too many instances of serious injury due to shooters making these loading mistakes,” said Dudley McGarity, CEO of Blackpowder Products, Inc., the owner of the CVA brand.  “If we can prevent just one accident by publicizing the tragic results that are possible when a muzzleloader is improperly loaded, it will be well worth the effort and expense of making this video.”

McGarity said that catastrophic barrel failures are almost always the result of two issues, 1.) The loading of modern smokeless powder into a muzzleloader, and 2.) Barrel obstructions.  Either one, he said, can turn an otherwise safe muzzleloader into a pipe bomb.

“Unbelievably, some shooters actually intentionally load smokeless powder, in an attempt to achieve some sort of super-hot load.  Or, they heard about the Savage Muzzleloader (now discontinued), that was supposedly designed for use with modern smokeless, and decide to try smokeless in whatever muzzleloader they happen to own,” McGarity continued.

As for barrel obstructions, McGarity said that these are the most common unintentional errors, usually the result of the shooter loading the gun twice by mistake or by a bullet being partially started down the barrel, but not properly seated.  “Sometimes,” he said, “people leave their guns loaded from one hunt to the next or even from year to year, and they end up loading a second charge on top of the one already in the barrel.”

“This video,” McGarity concluded, “dramatically illustrates what can happen when these loading mistakes occur.  It should be a very memorable warning to all who watch it.”

By Dudley McGarity

If you found this article while surfing the web or in a Google Search, you may have also noticed some other articles that present an extremely negative picture of both Blackpowder Products, Inc. and our CVA muzzleloading brand.  Unfortunately, this is nothing new to us, as most of it relates to Connecticut Valley Arms, Inc.’s Voluntary Recall — which was initiated way back in 1997.  Most of these negative “articles” are actually several years old, but it seems that every so often they resurface and cause a rash of new internet chatter.  As the CEO of BPI, I’d like to provide you with a little background information that will give you some insight as to why these persons would practice this “internet terrorism” against our company.

 You’ll notice that all of these “hit pieces” originate from one of two individuals.   One of them has been engaged in an internet smear campaign against BPI and our CVA brand for several years now.  Interestingly, the last time we checked, he works part-time for one of our competitors, Savage Arms Company.  As for the other, he is a private investigator employed by a law firm that specializes in product liability lawsuits. Over the past several years, both of these men have essentially been working together for this law firm, apparently in the pursuit of clients for whom the firm can potentially file gun accident lawsuits against BPI.   As a part of this effort, the private investigator has recently set up a website on which he publishes, for the most part, information from the various court filings that were made in relation to accidents that occurred during the use of these recalled CVA guns – guns that were made in 1995 and 1996.  Needless to say, neither of these “gentlemen” could be considered unbiased commentators on CVA products.  To the contrary, both have a financial interest in publicizing only the information — be it selected, partial, distorted, and/or blatantly false — that would provide some sort of advantage to their law firm and/or publicly damage the reputation and business of BPI/CVA.    

 As for the recall, it is certainly no secret that, way back in 1997, Connecticut Valley Arms, Inc. did in fact initiate a voluntary recall of one design of an in-line gun that was made in 1995 and 1996.  And, it is also no secret that a number of people were injured with these guns.  However, Connecticut Valley Arms, Inc. took responsibility at that time by issuing the recall, and BPI (the current owner of the CVA brand) is continuing the recall effort in an attempt to find all of these guns.  So far, about 96% of the approximately 55,000 recalled guns have been accounted for.  The CVA Voluntary Recall is still in effect, and BPI continues to mention this in our CVA catalogs and on our CVA web page, and will be until every recall gun is found.  Other than the voluntary recall of these 1995 and 1996 guns, no other CVA gun model has ever been recalled for any reason.   

 Now, in regard to the present rather than the past, the guns that are marketed under the CVA brand today bear little if any design similarity to those that were recalled in 1997.  In fact, none of the barrels we use today are sourced from outside vendors.  Rather, they are all made in the Bergara Barrels factory, a facility that is wholly owned by our parent company.  In addition to building the barrels for all CVA guns, Bergara Barrels also makes some of the most respected after market barrels available today, as well as providing barrels to many other highly reputed gun manufacturers throughout the world.  Because of our direct control over the barrel making processes, today’s CVA guns, when used as instructed, are as safe as any muzzleloader on the market.  Also, in terms of materials and construction, they are of equal, if not superior, quality to those of any of our competitors.  This fact has been illustrated by the success that the CVA brand has enjoyed for the better part of a decade now – as the # 1 selling muzzleloader brand in the world.   

 As a potential or present CVA owner, it is essential that you are able to use our guns with total confidence.  And, certainly, reading the ramblings of characters like those I mention above can understandably shake that confidence.  While there is nothing we can ever do that will erase the history of a product recall from 15 years ago, I do hope that I have provided you with a balancing perspective that will counter the misinformation that you may read about our company on the internet.

If you’d like to learn more about today’s CVA guns, and why they are now taking the market by storm, please check out our website at www.cva.com.

Safety is extremely important with muzzleloading rifles. Because of the nature of their design, hunters must take additional precautions with muzzleloading rifles than with standard firearms. Hunting and shooting with a muzzleloading rifle is a rewarding and fun experience. In order to fully enjoy your CVA muzzleloader, safety is the first priority. Implementing the following safety precautions will ensure that you and your friends stay safe and enjoy your muzzleloader to the fullest.

20 Safety Rules for CVA Muzzleloaders

Never smoke when loading your CVA muzzleloading rifle

Ashes or loose sparks from a lit tobacco product could cause the powder or caps to ignite.

Always wear eye protection

Debris can fly due to the firing of a muzzleloader. Eye protection will ensure that your eyes are not injured while firing your rifle.

Never pour powder into a muzzleloader from any type of large container

Any hot embers in the barrel could cause the gunpowder to ignite and then cause the container to blow up

Always keep powder storage containers and caps away from the general shooting area

Incidental sparks from your CVA muzzeloading rifle could cause a cap or gunpowder container to ignite.

Only use black powder or an approved black powder substitute for you CVA muzzleloader

Using any amount of modern smokeless gunpowder will cause extreme pressure during ignition and can cause serious injury or death.

Make sure that your CVA muzzleloader is in good condition before use

Always check the hammer, trigger, and breaching lever before loading your rifle.

Always use the loading date for the exact rifle model you are going to use

Muzzleloaders are all different, and using the improper amount of gunpowder can be dangerous.

Never prime or cap a firearm until you are ready to use it

Always remove the primer cap whenever you are moving or the rifle is unattended. Unpredictable events can occur causing the cap to ignite.

Don’t lean your gun on anything

If your CVA muzzleloading rifle falls while leaning on a car or building, it could accidentally discharge. An accidental discharge could cause you or someone else to be seriously injured.

Do not transport a loaded CVA muzzleloader in any vehicle

A muzzleloading rifle is considered unloaded only after the powder, bullet, and percussion cap are removed.

Never exchange a loaded rifle with another person

Only the person who loaded the rifle should be the one who fires it. This practice helps to prevent double loading and increases general safety.

Never store a loaded rifle

Do not load a rifle without double checking to ensure that it is unloaded

Be sure to use extreme caution with hunting with a CVA muzzleloader from a tree stand

Dropping a rifle from a tree stand could cause an accidental discharge resulting in the injury or death of you and your hunting partners.

Never allow the hammer or bolt to rest against the cap

Any impact to the hammer could cause the rifle to fire accidentally. Leave the hammer in the cocked position.

Do not rely solely on the mechanical safety

Always keep your CVA muzzleloader unloaded until you are ready to use it

Proper cleaning procedures help to prevent mechanical failures

Mechanical problems with your rifle could cause injury when firing.

Ensure that the projectile is firmly seated against the gun powder charge

If there is a space between the powder and projectile in your CVA muzzleloading rifle, the rifle could blow up upon firing.

Always point your rifle in a safe direction while loading

Be sure not to have the barrel pointing at yourself or anyone else.