Terrible 44 mag rifle groups

[steve urquell]

Some good reading on people tinkering with these:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...r-in-44-Magnum

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...scout-2-44-mag

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...gle-Shot-Rifle

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...A-Scout-44-mag

https://www.google.com/search?q=CVA+...897&dpr=1#ip=1

[lar45]

Are you using open sights or a scope?
If a scope, make sure the base screws are clean and loktited in place.

[wallacem]

Just to cover a few, I slugged the bbl, .431 dia. I am using .432 and .433 dia cast bullets. I am loading the bullet out to almost touch. It is not a long throat. Have not measured dia of throat, but the .433 bullets slide in with just a little pressure, don't just drop in like the .432 bullets do. there are no tight spots in the bbl. The trigger is about 2 lbs, one of the bright spots about the rifle. I did have trouble with the screws coming loose on the base, locktighted them. Thats all I can think of right now. Wallacem

[steve urquell]

Just to cover a few, I slugged the bbl, .431 dia. I am using .432 and .433 dia cast bullets. I am loading the bullet out to almost touch. It is not a long throat. Have not measured dia of throat, but the .433 bullets slide in with just a little pressure, don't just drop in like the .432 bullets do. there are no tight spots in the bbl. The trigger is about 2 lbs, one of the bright spots about the rifle. I did have trouble with the screws coming loose on the base, locktighted them. Thats all I can think of right now. Wallacem

CVA's recommendation to several people is to try the Hornady 300gr XTP in these. They did replace someone's rifle in one of the threads I read and it came back grouping well.

[DougGuy]

Your .433" being snug enough to feel the difference when loading tells me that one fits the throat nicely.

[Hannibal]

Just to cover a few, I slugged the bbl, .431 dia. I am using .432 and .433 dia cast bullets. I am loading the bullet out to almost touch. It is not a long throat. Have not measured dia of throat, but the .433 bullets slide in with just a little pressure, don't just drop in like the .432 bullets do. there are no tight spots in the bbl. The trigger is about 2 lbs, one of the bright spots about the rifle. I did have trouble with the screws coming loose on the base, locktighted them. Thats all I can think of right now. Wallacem

Based on that, you shouldn't be experiencing groups like you are. You mentioned base screws coming loose. That usually means the base and receiver aren't mating well. I'd think about bedding the base and receiver with JB weld or a similar epoxy. Also, I presume you're using a scope since you mentioned base screws. Do a scope swap and see how it shoots.

[Rapier]

You can shoot cast bullets just to shoot, like throwing rocks. If you want to shoot for accuracy, then there are steps you need to follow. Not one mention of the steps in your original posts. Basically you are throwing rocks and nothing more.
You want accuracy with a 44 Mag do the steps.
1) You clean the bore to bright steel, remove ing all copper residue.
2) You slug the bore to get the exact groove diameter.
3) You prepare your brass completely, sort and trim the brass.
4) You reload with a bullet sized to groove or no more than .001 over.
5) You use a bullet weight that keeps the bullet base in the case when it fully engages the lands.
6) You use a taper crimp to just straighten the case mouth on a single shot.
7) You seat as a seperate step, ignore the revolver OAL, seat for that rifle.
8) You switch primers to LR.
9) You change to the Standard Silhouette load of 23gr 296/110 and a 240 grain cast SWC, that is a 1" load at 100 meters in a revolver, which means if it will not shoot in a rifle, well, bud, you have more problems than the bore, grooves, and loads..

I had a new TC one time that had a for crap bore, chattered grooves and lands, both. I fire lapped it, intentionally, from .308 to a .312. Cast bullets made up to size and won over a dozen marches with it, so cast and custom bore sizes go together.

[303carbine]

I had a NEF 44 mag rifle for years that shot very good groups with almost everything I stuffed in it. Sold it and picked up a new CVA single shot rifle in 44 mag. Group size is bad with everything. I am getting the best groups with 260 and 300 gr cast bullets sized 4.32" They are around 2.5" at 50 yards. EVERYTHING else, including several factory loads is grouping 3-6" at 50 yards. I have tried full power, very low power, mid power, and nothing works. The only difference I know is my NEF was a 1 in 38" twist, and the CVA is 1 in 20" twist. Tell me what to do.

I had the same CVA Scout TD in 44 mag, same problem, I tried everything and got the same results as you. I sold it and will not buy another.
However, my CVA Scout TD in 45-70 shoots through the same hole at 75 yds, the 440 grain cast zip through the chrony at 1735 fps.
The 540 grain Postell style cast bullet clocks in at 1380 fps, they only drop about 11 inches at 200 yds.

[white eagle]

I still stand by the issue isn't you, but CVA
it's obvious you know how to load and shoot the 44 magnum, being your previous rifle shot fantastic groups
check and see what other CVA shooters are getting with their rifle's
good luck

[dverna]

Stuff like this is very frustrating. I had a .22 Hornet that would not shoot even with jacketed bullets. Bought it used and sold it for at a small loss. Was worth it to me to get rid of it.

Cannot add to all the hints and suggestions already offered.

Hope you sort things out. If not, send it down the road and get something fun to shoot.

[steve urquell]

One, it could be your trigger, two, it could be your crimp. I had horrible groups in my 77/44 till I started using the lee factory crimp die. The crimp style took my same loads with 4 to 6 inch plus groups to sub MOA.

Im gonna quote this to reiterate it. My FIL recently was having problems with his 9mm loads. I showed him how his crimp (Lee FCD)was swaging his .357" boolits down to .348". I always seat a bullet and then pull it and measure it to make sure the crimp is not resizing it.