More problems with the Weather Shield on CVA Mountain Rifle
 

Well I was cleaning the rifle today after some range time and found this:



I sent CVA another email and will await their response. I can understand the barrel, but the receiver also??? I am very unhappy and don't know what to do. I love this rifle.

This damned coating is chipping off all over the gun. Why did they have to put it on in the first place?

Man that stinks. I have asked why ever since I heard it was on stainless steel. I believe this was a bad idea with the coating. You will have some that may not have a problem with it and some that do. I know I would probably be one that did with my luck. I mean they make the Optima in stainless steel which is one of their cheaper models so why not just make the MR in stainless!!

That has always been my problem throughout life. If it is going to happen, it will happen to me!!!:nonono2:

Something I don't understand was they told you that they had a problem with the barrels with some oil being left on the area it was chipping but what about the frame? Was there oil left there too? Very interested in hearing what they have to say about this one.

i expect to see that in the frame area since the surfaces rub, especially at that exact point where the barrel hinges onto the frame.

So coat it but then expect to see it chipping off . Interesting.

well yeah you cant expect it to hold up in an area thats getting rubbing and clinking when putting a barrel back into place. Kind of like bluing, its gonna wear off where its handled a lot.

Its basically like a scratch on a brand new car, hurts like hell to see it.

Looks like it is also chipping or wearing off above where the firing pin is. I wouldn't think that area would be getting much rubbing or anything from normal use.

I disagree MD. If a coating is applied, then they must have figured it to last. That chipping area is an invitation for dirt, crud and eventually rust. I don't blame rafsob's concerns. If me, it would be going back to the company. And a note, when it's made without that coating, give me a call.

Right here is where I am talking about.

looks like either primer blow by or a cleaning jag got that section imo, the wear looks smooth.

If that's the case I say that stuff doesn't appear to be too durable. I had weathershield on my Encore Pro Hunter and I had a bad habit of making contact with that very same part of the frame with my breechplug taking it out by not opening the frame all the way along with hitting it with a cleaning jag a few times and I will say that it did get some scratches but did not chip or come off. This was actually over a longer period of time doing this then what he has with this gun.

That looks like something that would happing to me I would see if you can get your money back I would not be happy with it like that and a new gun would do the same thing.

I can understand wear in this area, but it is chipping off. That is my concern. I expect to end up sending this gun back. I don't like the design on any other of their rifles. I wish I could have this rifle but sans the coating!!!

Rafsob,
Your not alone with bad luck in life. In this case it was no fault of yours. With normal use that should never happen. I would imagine CVA was in a hurry to copy T/C and Knight with the whole Weather Shield-Bore Coating thing. Im sure CVA will make it right..But I would want my money back.

I with you rafsob, if it's gonna happen it'll happen to me. Im so used to things happening to me that I just expect it.
Im also with why did they put the weathershiled on it in the first place, a SS Barrel is fine as is.
I also would expect the finish to come off in that area where the barrel would make contac with the receiver. It's a coating and coatings come off with rub, contac and wear. I feel for you and know you love that ML.
Even if CVA replaces it I'd suspect te same will happen with the next.
Best Wishes!
(BP)

If you like the gun, have all that stuff stripped off and re-done by a proffesional. If not send the gun back and get your money back.

It will be interesting to see how common this problem really is. Is it just a fluke or will a lot of other people be posting in the future who have the same problem.
Personally, I would prefer a beadblasted stainless finish or even a nicely blued barrel to a coated barrel.
For your sake, I hope CVA has found the root of the problem and a replacement rifle would not see the same flaking of the finish. I'm not a CVA owner at present but it does seem like they are making every effort to "make things right" with you. I have a feeling though that they are well aware this is being discussed here........

One of the guys in the club is having that problem, his is sort of a combination of chipping and pealing. He says he will blue it when it all comes off. He is one of those buyers of foreign stuff also his Toyota is in the shop over a recall.

If you really like it, i would have it bead blasted and possibly redone in Black Ice.

I'm getting a little wear at the hinge area, but I would expect that anyway. It's out of sight. I have zero chipping so far.

I'm sure I don't have one with the oil problem. If it chips in time. I'll just remove the finish.

Unless I make a deal on an Apex. I don't know about that yet. I really like the feel of the MR, and I figure the Apex will feel the same with some extra weight. Which I like for offhand shots anyway.

how can you blue a stainless steel gun though?

You do realize that Lee is a retired gunsmith - correct but for someone that is suppose to have all the knowledge that you claim to have - this really seems to be an odd question...

http://gunblue.homestead.com/Stainless.html

This might help you..

I'm not sure why anybody would want to blue SS? A bead blast finish is easy to take care of, and has no glare. Perfect for hunting.

CVA oughtto include a hard plastic case for the MR and they could offer a guarantee that as long as you use the hard case and not take the gun out of the case it won't chip or flake . :D

i do remember knights and their camo stocks ALWAYS chipping/peeling. Its hard to find a used tk2000 thats NOT pealings off its camo finish.

I really wonder of this is a result of NOT doing some research and development before offering a product to the open market. Of course not doing R&D does save money. But from looking at the pictures that have been provided - I believe that the coating is extremely brittle and because it is applied to stainless as a surface protectant it is not really sticking nor is it penetrating the metal. Even the pictures of the reciever, which MD suggests you should expect some wear in the hinge portions - it really does not look like wear it appears to be chipping from metal catching a peice of coating and then chipping out a chunk.

thats funny, I've owned Knights since you were in pre-school and I don't remember that. I have at least 40 Knights and not a one has that problem. But if it was going to happen, I would just as soon it happened to one you owned. OH wait a minute , have you actually owned any Knights????

yep owned 2 knights before.

You may be surprised to know I owned one too.

It wasn't bad for a kit gun.

i'm sure you didn't own yours long enough to actually shoot it.:D

Actually, I did hunt with it once during rifle season.

It convinced me I like CF better. :D

Well!, there-you-go -> I had actucally the opposite experiance, which reminds me I really should clean mt CF guns they have not even been out of the safe in 10 years - but yesterday rummaging around I found the magzine full of 300 Win Mag shells for the Tikka - I wonder if the Tikka knows it does not have a magazine??

It just amazes me that MD does not know that you CAN blue stainless - I thought he waz suppose to know it all.

But, Muley look at this stainless pistol - it really does look good...

It took me awhile to warm up to muzzleloaders.

I did like black powder guns like the 1860 Colt, and Win 73 I shot in CAS, but stuffing down the muzzle took me time to like.

SL I dont do centerfire so bluing SS wouldnt even come to my mind. Nor would i want to ruin my SS finish by bluing it lol.

If the coating becomes a problem. I wonder if they'd go for bead blasting it? You should ask them.

SS doesn't just apply to Center Fire. SS is SS whether it's a CF or a ML. Blueing a SS wouldn't ruin it, just change the look.

So you would never dream of blueing a SS but coating it with weathershield ,now thats a different story.;)

Pretty nice Mike.

i love the light tan color they used. I also love my SS optima.

But i also do prefer brown over blue