I picked up a new muzzle loader on saturday at the shoot for $80.00
It'a a CVA, .50 cal Hawkins Style sidelock, hooked breech, 2 triggers, 28" octagon barrel, #11 nipple, Stock is a light wood color (Beech?), Serial # is 0016424

What twist rate is this gun, and what will it shoot?
Anybody know when they were made, How to get a owners manual?

thanks, redpep

Cleaned it up saturday, shot it on sunday, it will throwa Bullshop 460 conical pretty darn nice

Sounds like a hawken, more than likely a 1"48 twist. The last two digits on the barrel is the year. there should be the serial # and then 2 more numbers, those last 2 is the year. And thats a 10-4 on the beech wood stock. They turn out beautiful once you take the ugly factory finish off and stain it darter and a few coats of truoil.My brothers loves 80 grains RS and a 295 powerbelt for hunting. PRB is also deadly in the rifle.

It sounds like the CVA St. Louis Hawkins. They have a 1-48 twist. An owners manual should be able to be obtained in a down load off the CVA site. They should shoot roundball and conical very well. Sounds like you got a real good deal on it.. have fun.

Depending on how old it is it could have a 1-66 twist like the one I have. I bought mine back in the mid to late 80's. So they have made them for a while.

Thanks to all responders.

The #0016424 that I posted is all that's on the gun. CVA is spelled out in its full name,
Does not say made in USA or anything else.

Suggested loads?

Suggested loads -

Being a .50 caliber start it with 70 grains of 2f powder and work up 10 grains at a time for the best possible group. Most of my CVA's tune in around 80-85 grains of powder.

With a conical, I do the same thing. Start them at 70 grains and work up. Most of them tune in around 80 grains. Since all rifles are different only your rifle will be able to be the final judge in that matter. One thing I will say for the CVA traditional rifles, they are normally excellent shooters. I have had a lot of them and never had a bad shooter in the bunch.

After you get what you feel is a good load, then when you have time you can experiment with different powders. Some of the .50 calibers do like a 3f powders as well.

Ok, got off the phone with BPI, from talking with them it sounds like I have a Frontier.
They couldn't find anything with the serial #

I do not have a patch box on the stock side,
the butt plate on mine is brass and is only on the butt (notL shaped)