Second Hand CVA Optima question

[EE423]

Purchased a good looking CVA Optima V2 50 cal with a Simmons 3-9x40 scope at a local pawn shop during the off season. Haven't been able to hunt or do much with it at all due to work.
Looked at a few YouTube videos about how to break it down, scrub and clean the inside of the barrel and the breach plug. Then reassemble with breach plug anti-seize lubricant.

Purchased Hornady Low Drag .50 Caliber Sabots, Pyrodex 50/50 pellets, and Winchester Triple 7 209 primer caps. Prepping to go to the range either tomorrow or the next day and hunt on Friday. I know, only one MZ hunt is way lower than I wanted it to be but I'll take it.
During my prep, I saw it was a good idea to fire a primer cap before loading anything up to get any remaining moisture out.
I shot with a primer only and a ton of smoke came out around the break action point and the breach plug. Repeated with another cap 5 minutes later and the same thing happened.

I may be just being paranoid but anything about that sound like a cause for concern?

 

[swampbadger]

I think that's normal for a muzzle loader. I was really nervous the first few times I shot my cva muzzleloader. I was certain I was gonna blow myself up, but 20 deer and 15 years later we are still getting along and getting the job done.

 

[Jcalder]

Headspace is slightly off. McMaster has some orings that'll fit in the plug before you put the primer in that'll snug up the fit and stop all the blow by. Doesn't hurt much as is, just messy.

 

[Jcalder]

Also, cva used to make a shim kit for the firing pin bushing. If they have them, you can adjust the bushing and not need the oring

 

[bloodtrailing]

Take a picture of the breach firing pin area and post it.

 

[jlanecr500]

Make sure the firing pin is only denting the primer. If it is piercing the primer, there is a firing pin problem.

Also, the plug may be stopped up. This will cause what you experienced. You should be able to see thru it. Clean it by holding a #32 drill bit with vice grips and rotating the plug on it by hand. Don't drill thru the very end where the flash hole is. If it is really stopped up, this will take a minute. The flash hole should not be larger than .035. I check mine with the tip of a torch tip cleaner. They are cheap. Just measure the tips to find one that is .040 or slightly larger than .035. If it goes, throw away the plug. See video below. I know you watched videos on cleaning the plug but a lot of them don't mention drilling the carbon out.

Make sure it isn't a blackhorn plug if you're shooting pellets. The blackthorn plug has a deep recess in the nose. The original plug will be flat.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Make sure the firing pin is only denting the primer. If it is piercing the primer, there is a firing pin problem.

Also, the plug may be stopped up. This will cause what you experienced. You should be able to see thru it. Clean it by holding a #32 drill bit with vice grips and rotating the plug on it by hand. Don't drill thru the very end where the flash hole is. If it is really stopped up, this will take a minute. The flash hole should not be larger than .035. I check mine with the tip of a torch tip cleaner. They are cheap. Just measure the tips to find one that is .040 or slightly larger than .035. If it goes, throw away the plug. See video below. I know you watched videos on cleaning the plug but a lot of them don't mention drilling the carbon out.

Make sure it isn't a blackthorn plug if you're shooting pellets. The blackthorn plug has a deep recess in the nose. The original plug will be flat.

Agree with the above. I have a little brush i use for our breech plugs.

On a clean barrel, after popping a primer, would also suggest running a couple clean dry patches down the barrel afterwards.

 

[EE423]

I think that's normal for a muzzle loader. I was really nervous the first few times I shot my cva muzzleloader. I was certain I was gonna blow myself up, but 20 deer and 15 years later we are still getting along and getting the job done.

Correct. I was skeptical but everything worked with no issue.

Glad to know I wasn't the only one

 

[EE423]

Also, cva used to make a shim kit for the firing pin bushing. If they have them, you can adjust the bushing and not need the oring

This is exactly right. The cap only goes in about 75% of the way.

Despite this, everything worked well. Stacked three shots on top of each other at 100 yards with no delayed shot after the hammer dropped.

Would the bushing/oring serve any other purpose other than keeping me from having to clean the firing pin side of the breech plug/firing pin area as often?

 

[EE423]

Make sure the firing pin is only denting the primer. If it is piercing the primer, there is a firing pin problem.

Also, the plug may be stopped up. This will cause what you experienced. You should be able to see thru it. Clean it by holding a #32 drill bit with vice grips and rotating the plug on it by hand. Don't drill thru the very end where the flash hole is. If it is really stopped up, this will take a minute. The flash hole should not be larger than .035. I check mine with the tip of a torch tip cleaner. They are cheap. Just measure the tips to find one that is .040 or slightly larger than .035. If it goes, throw away the plug. See video below. I know you watched videos on cleaning the plug but a lot of them don't mention drilling the carbon out.

Make sure it isn't a blackhorn plug if you're shooting pellets. The blackthorn plug has a deep recess in the nose. The original plug will be flat.

Thankfully the primers were only dented, not pierced.

I did this before the range and the bit went through and came out clean.

Before next season, I may replace the breech plug since it's only around $35 for an original like-for-like replacement or $50 for the blackhorn with the larger sized flash hole.

 

[Jcalder]

This is exactly right. The cap only goes in about 75% of the way.

Despite this, everything worked well. Stacked three shots on top of each other at 100 yards with no delayed shot after the hammer dropped.

Would the bushing/oring serve any other purpose other than keeping me from having to clean the firing pin side of the breech plug/firing pin area as often?

It'll tighten that fitment up, and won't allow any blow by, thus keeping it clean. Basically your primer seal is leaking allowing some soot to come back. It'll be eliminated with the oring or shim kit