Re: MtMan-List: Old CVA Pistols

[ThisOldFox@aol.com]

Chris Sega writes:

> It was one of the ones marked Jukar and I
>  wish I still had that barrel.  Overall the quality of CVA guns is poor,
>  but occasionally you get a barrel that will shoot good.  Not just
>  tolerable, but VERY good.  If I had to take one part from a CVA gun it
>  would be the barrel, and I'd throw everything else away.

Chris,
I didn't see anyone answer your original question, so I will give it a shot.
People often stray from the topic at hand.

Take that 5" CVA barrel and remove the breech.  The size of the breechplug
will determine how much you can ream it out.  You cannot go larger than the
threads of the breechplug, unless you want to rethread the breech and install
a larger breechplug.

There is a product on the market called a Unibit.  It is a tapered step drill
with cutting edges every 1/16th of an inch, and it goes up to 1/2"  You will
also have to get a bit extension for it.  Since the bit is tapered, it is
self-centering, and will progressively cut through the barrel.  It must be
done on a drill press, to get the proper cutting pressure and control.  Once
you have run the bit through the barrel, you will have a smoothbore barrel of
50 caliber.

Now, you can either get a small brake cylinder hone, or a wooden dowel with
sandpaper on it, and polish the inside of the bore.  VOILA.....you have a 5"
smoothbore pistol barrel.  They ain't all that accurate anyhow, are they?

For a little added effect, file and polish the top flats of the barrel, until
you have a half round barrel, and file all the flats for the last inch of the
front of the barrel.  With the proper nosecap, or inletting, you now have a
faux round smoothbore barrel for your pistol.

It's not a lot of work.  Also, if you can obtain a CVA flint lock, you can
replace the percussion lock in your existing stock, and it only takes about a
half hour.  Remove the percussion drum, and make a touch-hole liner from a 10
X (?) metric bolt.  However, if you have a snail breech, then you cannot do
this.

It is a fun conversion and only takes a few hours, if you have the drill
press.

OldFox