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Thread: CVA .32 cal. Squirrel Rifle

  1. #61
    Boolit Master

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    CVA Squirrel .32 was pretty petite!


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  2. #62
    Boolit Mold
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    In reply to size of Crockett rifle. I stand 6' 3", wear a 36" sleeve. The rifle fits me.

  3. #63
    Boolit Master AntiqueSledMan's Avatar
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    I purchased a Crockett for my son, disappointed that it doesn't have a hooked breech.
    We have a pair of CVA Squirrel Rifles, only problem is not enough drop in the stock.
    The Squirrel Rifles have a 25" barrel compared to the Crockett's 32" barrel,
    much easier to maneuver through the woods with.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Squirrel-01.jpg   Squirrel-02.jpg  

  4. #64
    Boolit Master
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    "only problem is not enough drop in the stock" that's a a big 10-4 on that one. Picked up a cap and a rock lock years ago sight unseen and cannot get my fat punkin head down in sights. Was debating scope but oiled and stuffed awaiting growth of two grandsons.

  5. #65
    Boolit Mold Ruffinit's Avatar
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    Hi guys, I just got my first warning within 30 minutes of registering and posting my first post, so I guess this is my first post as the other was deleted. I found this forum and post because I was looking to find out more information on my CVA 32 cal Squirrel rifle. I have found via this post that there is a lot of interest in the rifle that I was not aware of. I've never shot the thing in the ~30 years I've had it because 1) if I got all the stuff to shoot it and didn't like it I was out the money and 2) my wife doesn't like rabbit or squirrel. I've recently gotten into reloading in earnest and began looking into possibly casting my own bullets (my recent procurement is a 45-70) which got me into thinking about the 32 cal again. Besides plinking, what's the use of this rifle?

  6. #66
    Boolit Master

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    10-25 grains a pop sure makes a pound of powder last a long time. Tap-O—Cap makes your caps real cheap; Lee makes the mould for it. Can’t shoot cheaper than this!
    Best fun ever!!!


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  7. #67
    Boolit Grand Master bedbugbilly's Avatar
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    as far as the use of it - it's named "squirrel rifle" for a reason! Tree rats, rabbits and other critters . . . . it will do the job.

  8. #68
    Boolit Master arcticap's Avatar
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    The .32 can blow holes through small game and the balls are fast & powerful enough to even kill coyote at a considerable distance.
    They say to aim for the head of smaller game to leave some meat left for the pot.
    It's a little ball that can be pushed very fast.
    Just keep the barrel clean for best accuracy.
    I think that 777 3F is a good clean powerful powder for small bores like the .32.

  9. #69
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    It's also a perfect turkey rifle.

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  10. #70
    Boolit Mold Ruffinit's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bedbugbilly View Post
    as far as the use of it - it's named "squirrel rifle" for a reason! Tree rats, rabbits and other critters . . . . it will do the job.
    Yeah but as I said above, the wife doesn't like rabbit or squirrel. I've got lots of other rifles.

  11. #71
    Boolit Mold Ruffinit's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fiberoptik View Post
    10-25 grains a pop sure makes a pound of powder last a long time. Tap-O—Cap makes your caps real cheap; Lee makes the mould for it. Can’t shoot cheaper than this!
    Best fun ever!!!
    What is the actual size of ball this thing would use? Can it use shotshell size or is it .310/.312? I'll look into the other stuff. I've never even shot a black powder gun before.

  12. #72
    Boolit Mold Ruffinit's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by arcticap View Post
    The .32 can blow holes through small game and the balls are fast & powerful enough to even kill coyote at a considerable distance.
    They say to aim for the head of smaller game to leave some meat left for the pot.
    It's a little ball that can be pushed very fast.
    Just keep the barrel clean for best accuracy.
    I think that 777 3F is a good clean powerful powder for small bores like the .32.
    Seriously? Coyotes? What kind of distances are you talking about?

  13. #73
    Boolit Master arcticap's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ruffinit View Post
    Seriously? Coyotes? What kind of distances are you talking about?
    That's a good question because it depends on shot placement, the size of the coyote and the projectile.

    Reading a lot of posts by .32 hunters, I've found a range of opinions on what constitutes a humane kill on coyotes if there is such a thing since
    they are known to eat people's pets in my state, and they can grow as large as 50 lbs. or so.

    At a range of about 40 yards, a .31 ball can pass through a large coyote's chest and then only run 50-75 yards.
    And that's a large one, that could perhaps cover 10 yards per second after being shot.

    Since a .32 can generally shoot a 1" group at about 50 yards, which is good enough to be able to hit a target as small as a squirrel,
    a .31 ball should be able to produce a lethal head or neck shot on a coyote.

    Another .32 hunter described shooting clear through woodchucks at ranges from 70 - 90 yards, with one at 97 yards, for a total of 38 woodchucks.

    I recall one .32 hunter who told a story many times about how he took a long shot at a coyote at 125 yards and hit it in the ear which killed it on the spot.

    Also, Track of the Wolf sells a .32 Maxiball bullet that weighs 125 grains which retains a lot more energy at a longer distance than a .31 ball that weighs 45 grains.--->>> https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/...1/BALL-32-MAXI

    Someone ran a ballistics calculator on the .32 round ball and this is what he found:

    "Shooting a .31 diameter roundball (about 45 grains weight) loaded over 35 grains of powder out of a 26" long, 1:66 twist barrel would produce about 2006 fps muzzle velocity. (Based on Lyman data and some interpolation.)

    At the muzzle, that gave a energy of 401 ft/lbs

    At 20 yards the velocity was down to 1599 fps and 255 ft/lbs of energy.

    At 50 yards the velocity was 1153 fps and 133 ft/lbs.

    The energy at 50 yards for the .32 muzzleloader is greater than a .32 auto produces at the muzzle and IMO, shooting a coyote with one of these pistols at point blank range should be more than enough to dispatch it.
    "


    A lot of these .32 hunters were discussing their Traditions .32 Crockett rifle that has a 32" barrel which can increase performance somewhat.
    Others hunt with .32 rifles with even longer barrels such as the woodchuck hunter who was shooting a flintlock.

    But the point is that basically, there is not a particular distance limitation for coyote hunting with a .32 except that
    it depends on shot placement, eyesight, a person's shooting ability, their load and how well it shoots.
    A lot of people use calls to bring the coyote into shooting range.
    Last edited by arcticap; 02-28-2019 at 12:48 AM.

  14. #74
    Boolit Master



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    The little .32 is one of those rifles like the 6.5x55 that hits all out of proportion to its diameter size. I know I had one and was surprised at hard it hit when I first got it. Sadly like a lot of other guns I should have kept, I sold it in a moment of weakness. james

  15. #75
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ruffinit View Post
    What is the actual size of ball this thing would use? Can it use shotshell size or is it .310/.312? I'll look into the other stuff. I've never even shot a black powder gun before.
    Either .310/.315. 10-25 grains. Cheapest shooting ever! If you’re vegetarian, you can always shoot cans!


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  16. #76
    Boolit Mold Ruffinit's Avatar
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    Who would've thought.. Thanks for the info. In all projectiles of course the shot placement is the number one point with load being the second. I'm familiar with coyotes.. we have plenty here in Iowa. Besides this post I haven't seen much info on these particular rifles. We have black powder hunting season here, but most shoot .45 or .50 for deer. I've got extensive experience with "modern" firearms, but no feel at all for blackpowder..

  17. #77
    Boolit Master

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    Think .22 of bp.


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  18. #78
    Boolit Master
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    Dandy looking little rifle in the pix. Didn't know the Crockett rifle came with set triggers until now.
    Kind'a resembles a T/C Seneca wo/a patch box.

    Seem like my Goggle search only listed a traditional 1-48 twist in those few aftermarket & factory barrels I checked on.

  19. #79
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by arcticap View Post
    That's a good question because it depends on shot placement, the size of the coyote and the projectile.

    Reading a lot of posts by .32 hunters, I've found a range of opinions on what constitutes a humane kill on coyotes if there is such a thing since
    they are known to eat people's pets in my state, and they can grow as large as 50 lbs. or so.

    At a range of about 40 yards, a .31 ball can pass through a large coyote's chest and then only run 50-75 yards.
    And that's a large one, that could perhaps cover 10 yards per second after being shot.

    Since a .32 can generally shoot a 1" group at about 50 yards, which is good enough to be able to hit a target as small as a squirrel,
    a .31 ball should be able to produce a lethal head or neck shot on a coyote.

    Another .32 hunter described shooting clear through woodchucks at ranges from 70 - 90 yards, with one at 97 yards, for a total of 38 woodchucks.

    I recall one .32 hunter who told a story many times about how he took a long shot at a coyote at 125 yards and hit it in the ear which killed it on the spot.

    Also, Track of the Wolf sells a .32 Maxiball bullet that weighs 125 grains which retains a lot more energy at a longer distance than a .31 ball that weighs 45 grains.--->>> https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/...1/BALL-32-MAXI

    Someone ran a ballistics calculator on the .32 round ball and this is what he found:

    "Shooting a .31 diameter roundball (about 45 grains weight) loaded over 35 grains of powder out of a 26" long, 1:66 twist barrel would produce about 2006 fps muzzle velocity. (Based on Lyman data and some interpolation.)

    At the muzzle, that gave a energy of 401 ft/lbs

    At 20 yards the velocity was down to 1599 fps and 255 ft/lbs of energy.

    At 50 yards the velocity was 1153 fps and 133 ft/lbs.

    The energy at 50 yards for the .32 muzzleloader is greater than a .32 auto produces at the muzzle and IMO, shooting a coyote with one of these pistols at point blank range should be more than enough to dispatch it.
    "


    A lot of these .32 hunters were discussing their Traditions .32 Crockett rifle that has a 32" barrel which can increase performance somewhat.
    Others hunt with .32 rifles with even longer barrels such as the woodchuck hunter who was shooting a flintlock.

    But the point is that basically, there is not a particular distance limitation for coyote hunting with a .32 except that
    it depends on shot placement, eyesight, a person's shooting ability, their load and how well it shoots.
    A lot of people use calls to bring the coyote into shooting range.
    I have to add that I think it depends a lot on the tenacity of the individual animal. Shot one thru the chest and it took out a lung and 1/2 of the rib cage. It was found the next day by another castboolit forum member. Quite always from where I shot it too. Shot it with a Lyman 429244 moving close to 1800 FPS out of a .444 Marlin. One tough critter!

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check