CVA Accura MR QR Breech Plug Project
 

I'm working with Lehigh Defense on making a quality replacement plug for this ML and those that share the same plug. There will be a loose powder plug and pellet plug. I won't rule out one plug for all uses but right now the plan is two.

I've had this ML for over a year now. A few people didn't like my opinions on it but that's normal. I actually love just about everything about it except the breech plug. It's poorly designed, and very cheaply made. The goal is to make a quality plug with better ignition, better steel, and no shims. We have an idea to set the head space right on the plug for a clean reliable ignition source with all powders including BH209 my favorite.

Obviously do to the current design, we are limited to what we can do. I wish we could totally change the plug but that's just not possible. I've drawn up a complete redesign but that would mean barrel threads would need to change and some other things.

I love being involved with making products better. And I'm far from perfect, so any help or suggestions from board members would be greatly appreciated. My buddy Sabotloader is not a CVA fan, nor does he own one. I still don't think he believes I do :D So we will need a few volunteers to test the plug when ready. But we are in the very early stages and Lehigh Defense is a very busy company.

I'll update this thread when any news happens. All and this was my idea, and in no way will I be compensated for it. I'm good friends with Dave at Lehigh and enjoy being a part of developing new products and being able to test them.

Future plans at Lehigh are as follows in no special order. Improving T/C QR plug. A new premium ML bullet made out of Copper. A Sabotless fast twist ML bullet for shooting paper. And my favorite, designing the ultimate Hunting Muzzleloaders!!

Hey Grouse - you really don't have to change the existing threads. You can run a sleeve into the existing threads with the new design installed into the sleeve which could have a real QD design?!? The actual BP could be nothing more than a tube that slips into the sleeve with a quick removing locking device.
You would just need some way to "lock" the sleeve in place.
It seems with this design, the BP could be quickly switched out for loose, pellets, or BH209.

You are correct it is really hard for me to believe that one!

Although the project certainly could be a very good one!

It's the equivalent of putting a gold ring in a sows nose .

I'd give a new design a try as a volunteer. Even though IMO I see nothing wrong with the original.

Chet not sure what you mean by that. But without starting another war on CVAs I have zero complaints. My Accura V2 shoots great and everything I shot at with it either dropped in its tracks or only traveled a short distance. Same goes for my cousin's and my friend's. But I guess that's why there are different manufacturers out there and different styles of rifles. They may not be the best but they aren't the worse. And they fill a niche for the average Joe Hunter.

They are without a doubt the best... I have had plenty of others from Knight to TC. The Accura beats them all hands down. Part of the reason is the breech plug... very well thought out and made.

My guess is the plug will be made like knights and made to run cleanly with one primer set up while the others are still dirty. The O rings and shim kits make all primer brands the cleanest.

If the plug is setup for a Win209, i doesn't take a rocket scientist to set it up for a shorter primer which is pretty much ALL of them. The original Lehigh plug for Knights proved a mag primer is completely unnecessary with BH209 if the plug is well designed.

and not all can find the W209 primers.

That would be the simple way, but gonna try and make it clean with all primers. We have an idea, will see out it goes.

To be honest, the Acura MR is a pretty nice break open. The weak link is the breech plug. Will see how it goes.

If you don't think there's any issue, why mess with it to be honest. I have several guys that own these guns that agree with my theory on them right or wrong. Hopefully we find a fix for those interested.

Maybe you can get it ready so it can be your Colorado elk gun or your main go to gun in a break action .you think it's better than the Triumph you had up for sale?

It's not as good of quality, but I would like it better with a good breech plug. As far as Elk, I couldn't use it with magnum charges so I doubt it.

I don't understand your project??? CVA already has another plug made for the use of BH209. Why not just buy one. I did and I have yet to have any problems with ignition!

Am I missing something here?

Yes, you are missing something but it should be pretty obvious with grouses background ;)

The goal is to make a breech plug with better quality steel or stainless. So its not so fragile if dropped for example. The second goal is to be Bh209 compatible which is actually better for all powders. The third goal is to be able to set the head spacing on the plug instead of shims for your specific primer.

My MR is very dirty, and in testing i had delays after a lot of shots. I know its because of leakage and shims would fix it. But i dont like shims and i think Lehigh will make a much better reliable plug in the end. But it will take some time and it wont be for everyone thats for sure. If you have no problems and are happy you wont need one.

Your exactly right!! Better products at a fair price for those interested.

The difference though for CVA is the shims dont go in the primer pocket. They go under the firing pin bushing, between the frame and bushing. Once its done its done. This is by far one of the easiest ways to adjust headspace and maintain it.

I bet if you took 12 CVAs and looked at the firing pin bushing not very many (if any) would yield the same head space.

Now make sure they are all screwed in all the way. You may find a few that are close enough to each other.

Now screw the bushing out till it is flush with the frame. Again you will find more that are very close to each other.

IMO i would not be too concerned about achieving a .003 crush with the plug. The bushing shims work just fine for this.

What i would consider is an improved bushing. The slot is too wide and allows some primer flow into the slot when the loads are warm or the primer sees a bit too much pressure. A bushing that uses something more like a spanner wrench or spanner socket would be ideal. You would have no slot going across the firing pin hole. Just a smaller hole or notch on either side for the spanner.

Grouse you're saying you had delays after a lot of shots? And I assume you were using BH209. From what I understand, no matter what BP you're using you will get carbon build-up in the flash hole and it must be removed by hand with a small drill bit. Some recommend this after as little as 10 shots.
Now unless you plan on designing a self cleaning BP (an impossibility) I don't see any advantage.

what you are saying is true. but a properly designed plug you wouldnt need to clean it at all. Im being sarcastic but its true. The original Lehigh plugs that were designed by members on this board can shoot hundreds of shots without cleaning and not have misfires or delays.

Bronko, you will find you get far less carbon build up in the flash channel if you have a good primer seal AND avoid mag primers. I can shoot my Knights and my NULA all day and never need to clean the flash channel. Over 95% of my shots have been with a plain old Win209 and nearly 100% with a standard CCI in the NULA.

Never had a single hang fire, delay or fail to fire ever even after 40 shots. I don't even bother cleaning my NULA plug after a range session. There is almost no carbon in it when i do.

Better internal geometry helps a great deal too and a 1/8 flash channel is not quite ideal. 5/32 has shown to work better in my plugs. All three from different manufacturers. The Savage plug was one of the plugs used to develop BH209 and you guessed it....its a 5/32 flash channel. My Lehighs and NULA are also 5/32.

W209 primers are not mag primers and produce a horrible hard crusty glass like carbon build up, including in the knight I had a while back.

So you had a Knight with a Lehigh bare primer conversion and basically zero blowby?

Or are you talking about something totally different as usual to get your point across?