According to the author, the new CVA ARC ignition system will provide enhanced accuracy and longer range capabilities—with proper bullets, of course.

Like no other muzzleloader on earth, the CVA Electra ARC incorporates a completely sealed, Electronic ARC Ignition system. There is no flash hole of any kind. This new technology completely eliminates the need for a primer. It is the most radical innovation to hit the muzzleloading industry in years, and may very well be the ultimate black-powder rifle in terms of ease-of-use, rapid reloading, ease-of-cleaning and absolute reliability.

The ARC Electronic Ignition is completely sealed from the elements, with no opening of any kind through the breech plug, and no hammer or bolt to cock. This means that no parts other than the barrel ever have to be cleaned of propellant fouling. The Electra “trigger” is actually an electronic switch, so the trigger pull is incredibly clean. When the trigger is pressed and the electronic circuit contacts meet, ignition is absolutely instantaneous—even faster than that of a conventional centerfire rifle—thus eliminating the age-old problem of “locktime,” which is an inherent issue with all primer-ignited muzzleloaders. Unlike modern 209 shotgun-primer muzzleloader ignition systems, there is no primer explosion to cause displacement of the powder charge, which allows full and consistent ignition of the powder charge in the breech end of the barrel (in much the same way that centerfire propellant fully ignites within the cartridge case), thus eliminating another major cause of inconsistent muzzleloader accuracy.

The CVA Electra is powered by a common 9-volt lithium battery housed in the grip (accessed thru the grip cap), which will reliably fire the gun up to 500 times. An on/off switch located behind the triggerguard activates the ARC ignition. When the switch is activated, the gun is ready to fire in approximately twenty seconds. A red indicator light on the tang illuminates when the system is ready. This twenty-second delay also occurs after each shot while the internal capacitor reloads (much the same as a camera flash recharges between shots), allowing ample time to reload the gun before the system rearms. Battery life is impressive; a lithium battery will last up to 600 continuous hours (twenty-five days) if left in the “on” mode, and much longer if turned off between hunts or shooting sessions.

Electra rifles also feature a twenty-six-inch, 1:28 twist premium Bergara barrel, manufactured in CVA’s production facility in Eibar, Spain, in consultation with legendary custom barrel-maker Ed Shilen. Bergara barrels are available in either stainless or blued steel. These custom-quality barrels are far superior to standard production barrels in terms of rifling quality and consistent bore diameter.

Electra ARC rifles will be available in both camouflage trim or black. Standard features include fiberoptic sights and a Crush Zone recoil pad.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Eibar factory, where Electra rifles (and all CVA muzzleloaders) are fabricated, and was impressed by the high-tech process and meticulous quality control of its assembly and barrel-making procedures. The Bergara barrel, combined with the benefits of instantaneous Electra ARC ignition and non-displaced powder burn, provides a potential for unsurpassed muzzleloading accuracy. For the first time, we have a price-affordable, standard-production black-powder rifle that is capable of the same type of open-country, long-range hunting as a centerfire rifle.