Late Tuesday we saw something we don’t typically see in the month of August, the release of a new hunting muzzleloader to the market.

The CVA Crossfire will be familiar to anyone following “modern muzzleloaders”. It borrows CVA’s classic break action design seen in the Wolf, Optima, and Accura series, but changes one major part; the barrel. Unlike the rest of CVA’s lineup, the Crossfire has an open breech to accommodate the “Federal Fire Stick”, a plastic cartridge full of Hodgdon Triple 8 powder.

The CVA Crossfire has been rumored to be in development for over a year now, with reports popping up online from the 2022 SHOT Show.

CVA is taking a “beginner friendly” approach to the Crossfire, focusing on it’s ease of use to someone totally new to “muzzleloading”and pitching it as one of the easier ways to extend your hunting season while not getting too far from the familiar modern cartridge rifle.

As of reporting it looks like the Crossfire is only available in .50 caliber options with a cerakoted/camo version and a black/stainless steel version. CVA recommends using Powerbelt bullets in the Crossfire, as they do for the rest of their muzzleloading line up. CVA and Powerbelt are owned by BPI Outdoors, so it makes sense they try to keep their recommendations “in the family”.

Like any muzzleloader, the projectile is going to load from the muzzle, but the difference here is that the rifle is charged from the breech. Sound familiar?

In 2019 Traditions launched the “Traditions Nitro Fire”, a break action modern muzzleloader made to run on the Federal Firestick. Here is 2023 it looks as if some possible “exclusivity” clause has run out and now other manufacturers can produce a rifle for the Federal Fire Stick.

Just like the Nitro Fire, the Crossfire has already ignited debate on whether or not it should be called a “Muzzleloader”. While this discussion will go on for many years, state game agencies are already giving the “Fire Stick” system a yay or nay. As of reporting 26 states allow the Federal Firestick in somekind of season, be it modern rifle or muzzleloader, and as with anything hunting-related these days, money talks.

In the past we’ve seen companies like CVA, Federal, and Traditions advocate for changes in state hunting seasons, and with a product like the Crossfire, CVA is sure to jump in the ring and argue for the Crossfire’s permittance in as many seasons as possible.

Is the Fire Stick a passing fad?

This is the #1 question I see about these rifles. I’m not sure if the people asking are the target demographic or not, but it’s a fair question. We’ve seen these products come and go over the years and it makes sense for hunters to be concerned about the longevity of a product. Shortages in Federal Fire Sticks from 2021-2022 lead to many a complaint on the online forums about the absence of Federal Fire Sticks. Hodgdon owned Blackhorn 209 has also soared in price in this same time frame, leading many to question if they buy this rifle, will there be Fire Sticks to shoot it? After all, this is not a regular muzzleloader where I can try another powder if my preferred kind is out of stock.

While I have the same concerns as those listed above, I don’t know that we’d see Traditions, Federal, and now CVA invest the R&D money expecting this to flop. Many said that the Traditions Nitro-Fire would flop within the year, but here we are 4 years later and CVA sees it fit to jump in the ring.

We don’t have official numbers from any of these aforementioned companies, but it sounds like these rifles are selling.

“The Fire Stick Degrades Muzzleloading”

Perhaps it does, it’s another step away from the sidelocks many of us know and love. I have to admit, it’s not my cup of tea.

That being said in the time since the Traditions Nitro Fire has launched, I’ve received numerous comments and emails about enthusiasts starting with the Federal Firestick and wanting to explore options more “Traditional”. I personally don’t see these ‘killing’ muzzleloading myself and even if only a few get introduced to the larger sport, then I’d say it’s a win.