CVA 45/70 Conversion question

[cward84]

Hello All,





New to the forum, was suggested to me as a great resource to improve my smokeless muzzle loading experience in the field and on the bench. I've been following threads for a while but never posted information before, seems like a great group and I look forward to responses this thread may generate.





I have a CVA 45/70 that has been converted to a .45 caliber smokeless muzzle loader. I have only fired five 275 grain Pittman bullets through the rifle, using 58 grains of IMR 4198. two shots to zero the rifle and a nice three shot group cutting the same hole. I've noticed that my muzzle velocities have consistently climbed from 2332, 2326, 2404, 2432, and 2463. I have sized my bullets to .4495 to .4500 depending on how much pressure I apply to my micrometer. I've noticed that the first five bullets got harder and harder to seat as the barrel fouled. My concern is that as I'm loading the bullets there appears to be significant resistance approximately 8-10 inches above the breach plug. With my bullets sized to .4495, they load relatively easily until the sticking point in the barrel that I mentioned. At this point, I have to apply a great deal of body weight and strength to completely load the bullet...way more force than I've had to apply with other black powder or smokeless muzzle loaders.



Does anyone have any advice or reassurance that this issue is first of all safe and secondly will this affect consistent performance? If recommended, I can seek out a local gunsmith and have him scope the barrel for imperfections.



Any and all suggestions are welcomed and wisdom is greatly appreciated.



Thanks in advance,



cward84







Read more: dougsmessageboards.proboards.com/thread/21492/cva-45-70-conversion-question#ixzz5z5RvYfQV

[pposey]

Clean the barrel then try, probably just fouling in the barrel

[dannoboone]

Sept 9, 2019 22:12:55 GMT -5 pposey said:

Clean the barrel then try, probably just fouling in the barrel

^^^This^^^ Then try running a brush down the barrel between shots.

Your increases in speed also translate to increases in pressure.

[cward84]

Okay, barrel is clean lead and copper free. I should be able to get back on the range on Thursday, weather permitting. I will post update (good or bad). Surprising to me that there was so much resistance and fouling from smokeless powder, I would have expected it with black powder or an alternative. My high power rifles usually settle in around shot number 4 or 5 and remain accurate until around round 53 or so, then they require a good barrel cleaning.

Thanks for the suggestion, hope this works. Just wondering if I should do this thorough cleaning for the next 20 or so rounds, in 5 round increments, just like a high power rifle barrel break in.

cward84

[savagebeast]

I have the CVA Scout conversion and my barrel has a little sticky point about an inch away from where the bullet seats on the powder. IMO you should be sizing your bullets to a fouled barrel say after 7-8 shots. Should be no need to swab or brush your barrel between shots.

[cward84]

Sept 11, 2019 7:11:09 GMT -5 savagebeast said:

I have the CVA Scout conversion and my barrel has a little sticky point about an inch away from where the bullet seats on the powder. IMO you should be sizing your bullets to a fouled barrel say after 7-8 shots. Should be no need to swab or brush your barrel between shots.

Yeah, I thought the same thing about the fouled barrel, so I have sized my bullets down below .451, trying to find the sweet spot for my barrel.  I've got a good cleaning on it now and will hopefully know more after tomorrow.  I'm actually considering polishing or fire lapping the barrel trying to remove the sticking point.  

Thanks for the response.

cward84

[omega]

I am watching this thread my barrel is doing the same thing as yours.