In need of a gunsmith to convert a single shot 45-70 to muzzleloader

savagelh

savagelh

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I thought my local guy would take this on but he seems a bit intimidated by this project and doesn't want to give it a shot.

I have all the needed parts. The job will entail boring out the breach and tapping it with 9/16×24 threads amd then counter boring it to set headspace. The rifle is a cva scout 45-70 and the conversion is a hanks precision breech plug. I'm just looking for someone to do the labor for me. I called rustywood and he told me that smokeless muzzleloaders don't exist and basically that I'm an idiot.

I appreciate any leads.
 
You won't get it for this season.

If I follow the name drops, you have a modern 45-70 break action and you want the breech inside threaded for a plug. I wouldn't complicate the conversation with too much background or foreground. You are asking him to do what amounts to a partial deactivation with a threaded plug.

You are buying the gunsmith's time. It might be easier and faster to leave the 45-70 intact and get a Rem 700 inline.
 
I had a bit of difficulty finding a willing gunsmith as well but I didn't look too hard. I work with an exceptional machinest at work. I had him do 2 for me. Went perfect. Started load work on the one. Haven't shot the other yet.
 
out of curiosity - why? The CVA is not an expensive gun and the shipping/exchange/machining costs don't really line up.

But yea - as mentioned, start calling machine shops.
 
prairie lover said:
I had a bit of difficulty finding a willing gunsmith as well but I didn't look too hard. I work with an exceptional machinest at work. I had him do 2 for me. Went perfect. Started load work on the one. Haven't shot the other yet.
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sean69 said:
out of curiosity - why? The CVA is not an expensive gun and the shipping/exchange/machining costs don't really line up.

But yea - as mentioned, start calling machine shops.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree that this job would be quite easy for just about any machinist shop to accomplish. Actually, I'm not sure a good machinist would even bother with the threaded plug option in the first place and might opt for a press-fit plug that fits the chamber for a simpler, clean solution but I'm not qualified to make that technical assessment.
 
sean69 said:
out of curiosity - why? The CVA is not an expensive gun and the shipping/exchange/machining costs don't really line up.

But yea - as mentioned, start calling machine shops.
Click to expand...
My guess is so he can use modern smokeless powder... With the shortage of BlackHorn 209, which I used in my CVA Optima, I can understand the drive behind the project...
 
Winz said:
I tend to agree that this job would be quite easy for just about any machinist shop to accomplish. Actually, I'm not sure a good machinist would even bother with the threaded plug option in the first place and might opt for a press-fit plug that fits the chamber for a simpler, clean solution but I'm not qualified to make that technical assessment.
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The warden might not consider it a muzzleloader if you just put a plug into it. Threaded it's not a 4570 anymore.
 
prairie lover said:
The warden might not consider it a muzzleloader if you just put a plug into it. Threaded it's not a 4570 anymore.
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In Ontario conversion plugs are legal for the muzzleloarders season in 12ga guns. They must still be loaded thru the muzzle and that meets the legal requirement. I use a pair of 209 adapters in a sxs 12ga hammer gun
 
I've seen the conversion done on youtube and it looks pretty straight forward. Any competent smith should be able to do it so I'm sure you'll find one but you will likely have to ship it.
 
I found a smith to do it thanks to a pm from a member on here. Sounds like it should be done next week. And yes the drive behind this is to use smokeless powder and not be dependent on bh209. It should also make a powerful yet Accurate muzzleloader capable of 400+ yard shots. That's what I'm hoping for anyway. I might be able to shoot it around Thanksgiving.
 
Indeed it is. My local gunsmith in saskatoon is a great smith but he simply hadn't worked on anything like this so he politely declined, which imo is a good quality if a smith knows his own limits.

As a side note, I called rustywood trading on another recommendation from here and he was quite rude and told me that smokeless muzzleloaders don't exist and for good reason.
 
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