CVA Optima V2

The History of CVA

The CVA company was founded in 1971 under the full name Connecticut Valley Arms™. It quickly gained a reputation for making high-quality traditional side-lock muzzleloading rifles and DIY rifle kit assemblies.

Throughout the years, CVA has introduced several models of muzzleloaders like the CVA V2, CVA Accura, Optima, Wolf, and many others. In 1997, the company faced a significant challenge. A specific model of gun that they made in 1995 and 1996, sold under the name Apollo, had to be recalled due to safety incidents. In response to this situation, CVA took a responsible step by initiating a recall and settling most of the associated claims. As of now, about 96% of the approximately 55,000 recalled guns have been retrieved. Notably, outside of the Apollo model from 1995 and 1996, no other CVA gun has ever been recalled.

In recent years, the guns being sold under the CVA brand have undergone significant changes. Today, the barrels are made in the Bergara Barrels factory in Spain, which is owned by their parent company BPI Outdoors. This move allowed CVA to have deep insight into the production process, ensuring higher safety standards and tight quality control. As a result, current CVA guns are considered as safe as any other brands on the market, and the company maintains that the quality of their products matches, if not surpasses, that of their competitors.

Today, in 2023, CVA operates under the parent company BPI Outdoors, a group that owns several other brands including Bergara Rifles™, PowerBelt® Bullets™, Quake Industries™, and DuraSight™. They still focus primarily on manufacturing the high-quality muzzleloader rifles they are best known for; however, they also entered the bolt action business with the introduction of the Cascade centerfire model and continue to offer various kit assemblies.

CVA Optima V2 Rifle Review

The CVA Optima V2 is a break-action muzzleloader rifle first introduced at the 2013 Shot Show in Las Vegas. When CVA introduced the original Optima model, it quickly gained a reputation as one of the most sought-after muzzleloaders on the market.

The barrel and receiver on the Optima V2 are joined by a pin, creating a hinge assembly. The stock and barrel configurations are essentially the same as in earlier Optima models and the overall action design and the trigger system of the Optima V2 are derived from the Accura V2 models of the series. However, the trigger weight on the Optima V2 model is not adjustable, whereas the Accura models allow for pull weight adjustment of the trigger unit. The standard CVA Optima features a 26-inch barrel, but the V2 model is also available with a 28-inch barrel.

In terms of configuration, the ramrod is located under the barrel, and the trigger assembly features a steel extension lever that breaks the action open when pulled rearwards. Positioned at the barrel's rear end are the quick-release breach plug and a cocking lever, which has a reversible pin for use with either hand. The quick-removable option on the breech plug allows the plug to be removed without tools, even after the rifle has been fired multiple times.

Optima V2 muzzleloaders come either in standard or thumbhole stocks and are available in various camo patterns. Regardless of the stock choice, all stocks are ambidextrous. Unlike the Accura V2 models that feature a Bergara-branded barrel, the Optima V2 uses a "regular" CVA barrel that is available in different finishes and protective coatings. All Optima V2 models include a crush zone rubber recoil pad on the back end of the stock and a receiver that comes drilled and tapped, ready for scope mounting purposes.

CVA Optima V2, chambered for .50 muzzleloader caliber

Figure 1: CVA Optima V2, chambered for .50 muzzleloader caliber (Source: https://cva.com/product/optima-camo-nitride/)

CVA Optima V2 Calibers

Optima V2 is available in the following calibers:

.50 Cal.

The W209 shotshell primers are recommended for the ignition system.

CVA Optima V2 Variants

There are several variants of Optima V2 muzzleloader available:

OPTIMA V2/LR 28" TH PAT/TIM 50
OPTIMA V2 NW SS STRATA .50 FOS
OPTIMA V2/LR OD GR/WIDELAND
OPTIMA V2 NW SS EDGE - .50
OPTIMA V2 NIT/ EDGE - .50 ISM
OPTIMA V2 NIT/ EDGE - .50 FOS
OPTIMA V2 EDGE/SS .50 FOS
OPTIMA V2 SS/BLK SCP VALUE PK
OPTIMA V2 BLACK/SS SCOPE PKG
OPTIMA V2 BLACK/SS .50 ISM
OPTIMA V2 BLACK/SS .50 w/SIGHT
OPTIMA V2 LR DTC EXCLUSIVE
OPTIMA V2/LR TH CERA/WIDELAND
OPTIMA V2/LR 28" TH EDGE/SS 50
OPTIMA V2 NORTHWEST SS EDGE
OPTIMA V2 EDGE/SS .50 ISM

The receivers of CVA Optima V2 rifles come with four holes for scope mounting purposes. There are two holes at the front and two at the rear end of the receiver.

The receiver of CVA Optima V2, chambered for .50 Cal.

Figure 2: The receiver of CVA Optima V2, chambered for .50 Cal. (Source: https://muzzle-loaders.com/products/cva-optima-v2-50-cal-realtree-excape-camo-pr2040s)

CVA Optima V2

A: 21.9 mm

B: 20 mm

C: 21.9 mm

BHU: 0 mm

Ø: 8-40

R1: R12.7

R2: R12.7

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With CVA Optima V2

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With CVA Optima V2

For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension. Rifles that share one-piece scope mounts with CVA Optima V2 are the following:

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With CVA Optima V2

To meet interchangeability conditions, two-piece mounts must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart. Rifles that share two-piece scope mounts with CVA Optima V2 are the following:

Best Scope Mounts for CVA Optima V2

Fixed Scope Mounts for CVA Optima V2

If you are looking for fixed bases for your CVA Optima V2 rifle, you might consider these Warne Maxima 2-piece bases. They are made from high-quality steel and come with a 10-year warranty.

Picatinny Rails for CVA Optima V2

When choosing a Picatinny rail, one should always keep an eye on the distance between the holes on the rail. This aluminum EGW Picatinny rail made entirely in the USA is an excellent choice as it matches the receiver of the CVA Optima V2 rifle.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the scope mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: [email protected]

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CVA Optima V2

The History of CVA