Test bed

[ridjrunr]

A few yrs ago, I converted my CVA Mtn rifle to flint. Ever since I got this rifle and Charlie helped me "tune her up", I always thought it to be great little rifle.
After moving to Tx, I periodically have watched craigslist and over a couple yrs time ended up picking two more barrels for this rifle. One was just a barrel and the other was taped to a stripped,cracked and broken stock. Both where perc. drummed barrels. I bought these with the intent to prove them out as shooters and then hopefully build a gun around each. Things move slower than I care, but I finally got around to testing one of the two out. After converting it to flint with a liner, tapping  in a couple of sights and double checking that it was seated in the gun and against the hooked breech properly it was ready to shoot. A week ago yesterday was the initial test, and I think it will most likely turn out ok. This is the first 5 shots at 28 yards. Load was .490 rb, 60 g FF, .016 ticking lubed with Hoppes #9 BP+.
Haven't touched the sites since tapping them in and will do a few more tests before filing or moving them. So far so good. This is a USA stamped barrel.

[prairie dog]

Those old mountain rifles can shoot.  Are you using the CVA lock or the TOW upgrade?

[ridjrunr]

The lock is made by L&R,it's called the rpl ( replacement) lock.
Many suppliers carry it, including tow.

[Riley/MN]

[Uncle Russ]

I like it!  

In fact, I have always liked that little rifle, especially the flinters I've seen.
I sold my last Mountain Rifle Caplock to SnakeEyes here on the forum, and I've never personally owned a flinter in the Mountain Rifle, but the ones I have seen and shot have been pretty doggone impressive.

As a rule, most barrels stamped USA are good shooters. Of course there's always the exception, but that exception is rare IMHO.

Tweaking that load you're currently using may well result in groups that are very pleasing to the eye!

Uncle Russ...

[ridjrunr]

Ya Russ I agree. I think seeing what it has done,picking one load and not messing with the sites,that it will prove to be a barrel worth the effort. That's what the purpose of the test bed was,just to get an idea. The other barrel I have will take a little more work to get ready so in the mean time,I will tweet the load/sites on this one I guess.
The other barrel is not marked USA or Spain, but has a nice brown finish on it.
Much more shop time is in order