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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.
Saturday, 17. April 2010
Dudley,
I can completely understand your concern and never ending fight against these two individuals who keep trying to smear a name that can not be smeared.
As a shooter and hunter for the past twenty years I stand by CVA and it’s owner BPI. Now some my say I am biased well I would be the first to say Yes I am. I am a tester for CVA as you know and have been shooting CVA products for at least the past fifteen years without one single problem
It is a shame that because of two individual with nothing better to do than think about the monetary balance of their pockets would keep saying what they are saying really puts a black eye on the whole blackpowder and muzzleloading industry.
If they want to keep talking trash about CVA products than let them put their wallets 100 yards out and I would be happy to show them what my CVA muzzleloader can do.
Thursday, 22. April 2010
Dudley,
I haven’t done much lately just been real busy at the store and going out to the range testing the Apex, Optima Elite, and the Accura at 200 yrds but I have been keeping up with what is going on in the muzzle loader world especially with CVA since my sales keep going up.
I have got into it with Randy Wakeman a couple of times since we pick up the CVA line and I have done and still doing all this testing and in my opinion it was a waste of my time. The man is totally ignorant as to what is going on and does not have a clue about what he is talking about. Like Rick said in his response to you if any body has nay doubts in their minds about any of your products and how they preform tell them to bring whatever muzzle loader they have to the range and put their money where their mouth is and I will show them what the Apex, Optima Elite or the Accura will do not only a 100 yrds but at 200 yrds.
carlos
Friday, 23. April 2010
Carlos: Thanks for the comments. You are correct that CVA Muzzleloaders today are better than anything on the market — both in accuracy and in value — as is evidenced by our money back accuracy guarantee on the CVA ACCURA. It really makes me feel good to hear from someone like you — someone who actually shoots guns before forming opinions, and through such testing has strong positive feelings about our CVA guns. However, CVA still does have a lot of consumers to educate, and we understand that. The first step in this process is just continuing to build better guns than our competition. By doing this, our reputation will spread, and shooters who buy based on factual knowledge will buy our guns. While the internet can be a great source of information, some bad apples with a hidden agenda are abusing the forum that it provides — something editors and fact checkers are able to filter in the established firearms print media. For example, I can assure that none of the writers at NRA, Field and Stream, Outdoor Life, and other leading publications, all of whom have awarded recent CVA guns their highest awards, are working either directly or indirectly for law firms that make their living by suing gun companies, as do both of the men who were the subject of my article. Dudley
Friday, 23. April 2010
I am having problems finding out just how old my 32in 50 cal CVA Mountain is. serial # 0004700 Made in U.S.A. Can you help?
Friday, 23. April 2010
Definately an old one. Based on the serial number, I’d say that it was made in the early ’80s.
Friday, 23. April 2010
I purchased my first black powder rifle in Feb. this year a CVA Accura 50 cal. I have not hunted with it yet, but am anxiously waiting for this years deer season. I shoot Browning’s and Weatherby’s only, and I can say this is THE WEATHERBY of black powder rifles. I did my home work read the reviews and yes the two negative ones. When it was time to choose it was very clear , there really is no competition CVA is tops in all categories. Thanks CVA keep up the good work it shows in a fine product.
Saturday, 24. April 2010
James: I think you’ll really be impressed with the CVA ACCURA. It’s incredible accuracy is due to the fact that we use BERGARA BARRELS on the ACCURA model. For sure, these barrels are, on average, the most accurate production muzzleloader barrels available today. Thanks for your comments on the blog. Good luck with your CVA muzzleloader this season. Dudley
Tuesday, 25. May 2010
Thank you for this info. I’ll admit, I bought the disinformation hook, line, and sinker. I purchased my first black powder gun, a beat up .50cal Plainsman, at a gun show for next to nothing, and after I cleaned it up real nice, I researched your company. I was very concerned about the things I was reading, and was unwilling to purchase a CVA kit for my next gun, or even fire the one I have, until someone set me straight on your company. I’m just glad that I continued to dig until I got to the truth. Thank you for taking the time to put this out.
Wednesday, 26. May 2010
Ryan: Thanks for your comments. I am glad that you found this post. We have no idea how many people see Mr. Wakeman’s “articles” when researching muzzleloaders on the internet, but it is probably quite a few. Of course, most probably do not “continue to dig” in order to find out our side of this old story. It is also unfortunate that the Chuck Hawks website continues to leave this misinformation up on their website — which is the reason that it appears so prominantly in Google searches. As stated in our “The Truth About CVA” article, BPI, the CVA brand’s current owner, has never hidden the fact that there was a recall 15 years ago of certain in-line CVA muzzleloaders. That Chuck Hawks would effectively support this “trial lawyer hit job” on our company by allowing one of their “editors” to continue spreading this defamatory trash is perplexing to us, and certainly reflects poorly on the reputation of the Chuck Hawks site. Too bad, as such a site could certainly do better than allow itself to be used by product liablilty lawyers seeking to either harass or extort money from gun companies. Our industry has enough problems with lawyers already, we don’t need to give them any help from within our own ranks. Best regards, Dudley
Wednesday, 26. May 2010
Well I found out more about my CVA. After more research I have been told by various folks in the know that my gun was made in the 60’s before CVA went all out to Spain for parts.The barrel was produced by Douglas barrel in W.Virgina.
I wish CVA would start reproducing this type of replica again?
Wednesday, 26. May 2010
Russ: Yes, so do I. One of my favorite muzzleloading guns is a CVA Mountian Rifle in flintlock. It was a special gun that CVA built to commemorate its 25th anniversary back in 1996. It is a beauty with maple stock and a browned barrel and hardware. We built 500 of them and priced them very aggressively (as we had gotten a great deal on the maple stocks) at just $500. Unfortunately, it took us over 5 years to sell all of them. The reason: the mass market had gone almost totally to modern in-line style guns. Because of this, the remaining customers for traditional guns were what we call “enthusiasts” rather than just common hunters looking for an opportunity at a longer season. These enthusiasts tend to buy more expensive and truly authentic design traditional guns — which was never our specialty, other than the Mountain Rifle mentioned above. Therefore, from a business rather than emotional standpoint, we realized that the bulk of market had moved on into modern style guns and we moved with them — which turned out to be a wise business decison for us. Fortunately, there are still a good many specialty houses that do provide excellent choices in traditional muzzleloaders, and they are doing a great job in fulfilling the demand for these guns. Best regards, Dudley
Wednesday, 26. May 2010
Years ago my first muzzleloader was a Hawken and that extra primitiveness is how I originally got hooked on blackpowder shooting.
I would love the chance to own another one of those.
Wednesday, 26. May 2010
Know how you feel, Rick. I am still hooked on the whole primitive thing — muzzleloaders and bows.
Wednesday, 26. May 2010
So far the cheapest hawken style gun made in the U.S.A. that I have found would be by Lyman,the green mountain barrel is made in Conway,NH.
A new one of these may be as close as I could get to my 40+ yr old CVA?
I know CVA made a 25 th anniversary run with the name “Mountain” on the barrel.But Mine does not say that,It says black powder only 50 cal. CVA MADE IN U.S.A. I have confirmed the age with a man from Douglas barrel,and a man at CVA,and a man at Dixie gun works,who I’ve been told has alot of CVA’s older stuff.
Wednesday, 26. May 2010
The Lyman is an excellet rifle. I would highly recommend it.
Monday, 31. May 2010
I am new to muzzleloader hunting. Last fall, my colleague let me use his TC. This year I wanted to use my own muzzleloader. I knew that I did not want to spend a great sum of money on a muzzleloader, but I did want to get something that I considered to be nice. I purchased the Optima two days ago, but I almost canceled the order after I read an article on a publishers website about CVA muzzleloaders and saw some of the victims injuries. Realizing that I am a novice to using a muzzleloader, I was and I am concerned. Nevertheless, I did not cancel my order. I think because I considered the source, because they are not big fans of S&W either. Second, I researched reviews from guys that actually used the CVA muzzleloaders in the field and what comments they had to say about the weapon. The more sources that I gathered, helped my draw my own conclusion about the product.
I strongly feel that if I follow the instructions properly and take care of the weapon (the same as I do all of my Mark V’s), then things well be fine. I honestly think that the user has to be responsible and as we say in the military, “pay attention to detail”.
Tuesday, 1. June 2010
J: You should be very pleased with the Optima. Did you get one of the new 2010 models with the Quick Release Breech Plug? It is good that you took the time to research the internet opinions well before making a rash decision, as I am sure many people do not. For sure, the internet in general, and ChuckHawks.com in particular, allow persons with their own agendas to spread whatever biased and/or paid for garbage they want — in this case distortions about CVA Muzzleloaders from a lacky of some product liability lawyers. Unlike the “real” print media — meaning the more established gun and hunting magazines — their are (apparently) no fact checkers at Chuck Hawks. A real shame, as such a site could be a real plus for our sport if they would only clean out the bad apples. Thanks, Dudley
Wednesday, 14. July 2010
I have a 1979 CVA mountain rifle which is extremely accurate. I bought it new. The serial # is 017709. It is a 50 cal. It will put a ball thru a pop can opening leaving only a hole in the bottom at 25 yds. It will hit a ground hog in the head at 100 yds. I am thinking of selling it with all accessories.
Tuesday, 10. August 2010
CVA is fount the holy grail of muzzle loading rifles
The new Accura is perfect [almost] I didn’t like the ramrod !
Out of the box [black with blue barrel]
2×7 leupold compact scope added
first 5 shots sighting in at 100 yds.
120 gr volume equivalent of triple 7 3fg powder and the new 300 gr hornady bullet [PFB] no sabot needed.
5 shots = 1 ragged hole under 3/4 inch group
My last muzzleloader [ TC encore super 45] never grouped like this, and still doesn’t
This is the gun I’m taking to Colorado for elk !
The best gun at the best price!
Tuesday, 10. August 2010
Yes, the Accura V2 is a tack driver. How about the Quick Release Breech Plug (QRBP). It is fantastic. Anyone reading can see how it works in the test video at http://www.CVA.com.
Sunday, 15. August 2010
Dudley,
I was given an Apollo SS .50cal by my Father In-Law, a few years back. Every shot I have made with it has been a great experience. I took the biggest Doe of my life with this gun. It dressed out at 163lbs. The gun is mounted with a Bushnell 3-9x 40mm. Shooting Roundball and 90gr of Pyrodex pellets. She was moving through the woods at 70 yrds and I had a 4 foot window to shoot between the trees. It was a heart shot and she dropped on the spot!
I say all of this because without having full confidence in this gun I would have never even attempted that shot!
CVAs ROCK!!!!!!! I am one of your Facebook fans and proud of it!
My next Muzzleloader is going to be the Apex .50cal!
It’s Just A Better Gun!
Tuesday, 24. August 2010
Sir :
I have a Optima Pro magnum 50 cal…..with a speckled stock and forerarm..stainless it is my son’s .can bust 3″ clay birds at 200yds….here shortly getting the Optima 209 Magnum with the new breech plug…what sold me again is the trigger pull ..breaks like glass key factor to accuracy
thx BP hunter John
Wednesday, 25. August 2010
John: That is impressive shooting. I am sure that you’ll really enjoy the new CVA Optima with the Quick Release Breech Plug, as well. This plug design is the only one that really comes out with just finger pressure AFTER the gun has been fired. All the systems from our competitors will not do this. Also, the CVA Optima is a heck of a shooter, which I am sure you will appreciate. Thanks, Dudley
Thursday, 26. August 2010
Dudley, I have been shooting black powder guns since the early 60’s and currently own a .54 cal T/C Hawken, an original Knight MK-85 (purchased new in ‘85) and just recently a CVA Accura. I’m really impressed with the accuracy, workmanship and comfort of the CVA. I only use 100 grains of triple 7 as I have no need for greater velocity or power. I think your company has done a credible job of providing quality guns at an affordable price. Pretty important in todays economy. Thanks for the opportunity.
Wednesday, 1. September 2010
Larry: Thanks for your comments. We are very proud of how far CVA muzzleloaders have come over the last few years — and we are being rewarded with excellent sales results. The CVA Accura V2 is doing extremely well, as it has developed quite a (well-deserved) reputation for accuracy. Good luck this season! Dudley
Wednesday, 1. September 2010
Dudley
I bought my Accura last February, it does not have the quick removal breech plug, is this something that can be retrofitted ?
Thursday, 2. September 2010
James: Unfortunately, your CVA ACCURA barrel cannot be retrofitted with the Quick Release Breech Plug (QRBP). However, the barrel on your ACCURA rifle could be replaced with a QRBP barrel. This, however, would be a pretty expensive proposition — probably $200 or so — and not really worth it to most people.
Thursday, 2. September 2010
I am glad that you are setting the facts straight about Randy Wakeman and Chuck Hawks.. When my brother and I brought our CVA’s in 2007, we checked the world wide web for information also. Yes, the bad information was out there and we did read it , and determined that cva at that time did what they were suppose to do , and issue a recall. This is just like what Toyota was going through at this time.. When people start listening to radical views without presenting the fact’s , you are being controled by them. So, after looking at all the facts, we decided to purchase the optima and the wolf and both have been excellent guns. We shoot about 200 rounds a year through them and have not had any problems.. We use 90 to 150 grains of 777 powder and a 250 to 300 grain bullet. Our next gun will be th Apex.. Can’t wait. Oh yes.. 6 deer in 3 years. you can’t beat that.
Thursday, 2. September 2010
Dennis: Thank you for your comments. We had just ignored this stuff for several years, but each year it kept coming up again and flying all over the internet, so I decided that we needed to get the facts out there. Recently, Chuck Hawks was kind enough to allow me to post a response to Randy Wakeman’s articles on his website, and I am grateful to him for allowing me to do this. I think the word is out pretty well now, as I get fewer and fewer emails related to Mr. Wakeman’s outdated articles. The CVA Apex is indeed an awesome muzzleloader, and it allow you to convert to center-fire if so desired. As far as a straight muzzleloader is concerned, the CVA Accura V2 is awesome! We actually guarantee that the Accura V2 will be the most accurate muzzleloader you’ve ever shot, or we will refund your purchase price. Not a big deal for us, as we really just have that much confidence in the Accura V2. Good luck with your hunting this year and thanks again for your support of the CVA brand. Dudley