Help w/CVA Optima

[ranchand99]

My friend has a .50 calOptima 26" barrel.The problem is that his primers are not going off.He is bringing it over Sunday for me to look at,and I was wondering if any of you have heard of this happening.I believe the pin is not hitting the primer,or atleast not hitting the primer hard enough.He said sometimes it leaves dimples,but the cap doesn't go off.Sometimes it does not leave a dimple.He has also thrown the old caps away,and bought brand new caps w/ the same results.

He says when the primer does not go off.He switches primers,and tries again,then switches primers,and tries again....eventually after 4-10 tries the primer will fire,and thegun will go off.

Could it be a corrosion build up around the firing pin?I'm going to shoot some cleaner in there first I think...Any help is greatly appreciated.Thanks guys!

[lemoyne]

Possably dirt or corosion under the shoulder of the firing pin. Lee

[sabotloader]

ranchand99

and also really possible the firing pin mechanism contained the the block is full of blow-back and/or excess primer material. Guessing that if that if you thouroghly clean the mechanism - it might work again...

[Underclocked]

Read of a similar issue on another forum just recently. Turned out part of the pin was broken but I'm not at all sure of the details. CVA screwed up when they made no provision for cleaning the firing pin area. But so did NEF.

[ranchand99]

Thanks guys,I was thinking along those lines...Hadn't thought about the possibility of the pin being broken.My friend just bought this muzzleloader last year,and I think it's really b/c he doesn't know how to clean it properly.Again thanks!