My new CVA Hunter, now a .358 Win

[jaysouth]

Recently I acquired a CVA Hunter single shot in .35 Remington. As most of you know, .35 Rem in virtually impossible to find brass or factory cartridges for. I solved the ammo problem with a chambering reamer. It is now a .358 Winchester. The factory twist is 1:14 which I figure would make a good barrel for 180 to 230 gr. cast bullets.

My goal is to get a two minute hunting rifle for the short ranges where I hunt in AR. Starting easy to gain mechanical familiarity with the gun and get a scope sighted in.

I loaded some 180 plain base WFPs from a commercial caster and some RCBS 200gr FPs over 10 grs. of unique.

Being a long time tinkerer with H&R Handirifles, I am very impressed with the CVA Hunter. It was on sale at Bud's for $213 with free shipping. Some folks are trying to sell Handi barrels for almost that much, since it is rumored that Handis are going to be discontinued. Fit and finish are way above Handis. The trigger is heads and shoulders above Handi, plus you get a free Dead Nutz scope mount and base, and a free hammer extension.

Here are a couple of pictures with a Redfield Revolution 3-9 mounted on it for load development. When I get loads dialed in, a Weaver K-4 will top it.

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/dacron%20filler/Davidson%20Sportsmen/20150118_150329_4_zps987772ca.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/dacron%20filler/Davidson%20Sportsmen/20150118_150329_4_zps987772ca.jpg.html)
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/dacron%20filler/Davidson%20Sportsmen/20150118_141054_1_zps76a99391.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/dacron%20filler/Davidson%20Sportsmen/20150118_141054_1_zps76a99391.jpg.html)

Here is a target that I shot at 50 yards with my introductory reduced loads.
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/dacron%20filler/Davidson%20Sportsmen/20150118_150207_1_zps80900d53.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/dacron%20filler/Davidson%20Sportsmen/20150118_150207_1_zps80900d53.jpg.html)

I have Lee and Lyman .358 sizing dies and gas checks on the way. Then we put on our big boy pants and get some bambi busters dialed in. I am still obsessing about a mold.

[RickinTN]

Looks like you are well on your way to your accuracy goals. Neat package there. It should make a good thumper for you.
Rick

[35 shooter]

Nice looking setup. As far as a new mould I have a 360230 NOE in the rg version. It puts out hollow point, cup point, and flat point all in one mould. Haven't worked much with mine in the whelen yet, but have seen several good reports on it in 358 win. rifles lately. It hasn't been out long.

[richhodg66]

I'll be watching this thread. I just started working with a new to me CVA Optima Elite in 7mm-08 and like it a lot so far. I also worked most of the past year with a .358 Savage 99 and like it a lot too. Killed a deer with it New Years Day.

CVA sells spare barrels for these, may have to get one and have it rebored for .358 at some point.

[jaysouth]

I'll be watching this thread. I just started working with a new to me CVA Optima Elite in 7mm-08 and like it a lot so far. I also worked most of the past year with a .358 Savage 99 and like it a lot too. Killed a deer with it New Years Day.

CVA sells spare barrels for these, may have to get one and have it rebored for .358 at some point.

As far as I can tell, there are no extra barrels available for the lower end models like my Hunter or the Scout. The only extra barrels I see are for the Apex model which is approaching Encore prices.

Another problem with CVA is lack of availability. When you see what you want on Buds or Gunbroker, you had better jump on it. CVA "customer service" has no clue where their guns are available or what's being produced or shipped.

I am very pleased with mine so far and see more crossing my future. Maybe an Apex in 45-70 or 358 Whelan with a .223 spare barrel.

[richhodg66]

I have been impressed with the Optima Elite, though I haven't shot it much yet. The stock is ugly and strangley shaped but very comfortable to shoot, either from a bench of off hand.

[021]

I'm not exactly sure you went from a hard to get caliber to an easy to get caliber, but you'll love the .358! Good luck! 021

[glockky]

I am really looking to find a 44 mag in one of the CVA scout's. On D&T custom gun works website he states that the 44 barrels seems to have a very uniform .430" bore.

Great looking rifle and I look forward to seeing more range reports with it.

[jaysouth]

I'm not exactly sure you went from a hard to get caliber to an easy to get caliber, but you'll love the .358! Good luck! 021

You make a good point. Not only is .35 rem impossible to find, but the brass is fetching a dollar each. Likely I will never shoot a factory 358 round, but I can make LOTS of bass out of the parent .308 case. I also plan to never shoot any jacketed bullets in this one.

[C. Latch]

I found a .35 Remington case on the side of the road today. Relatively new. It was Hornady and I assume it's one of those short ones that Hornady makes, but I picked it up anyway.

[ballistim]

Very nice! .358 is a great choice.

[Rick Hodges]

I am really looking to find a 44 mag in one of the CVA scout's. On D&T custom gun works website he states that the 44 barrels seems to have a very uniform .430" bore.

Great looking rifle and I look forward to seeing more range reports with it.

Me too! Wanting a Scout V2 in .44 mag.

[Four-Sixty]

I bought a 44 Mag CVA Hunter from Buds, then got a message they had an inventory error. So, they could not deliver it! What a bummer!

I to have the CVA Hunter in 35 Remington. I own two Handi Rifles and agree the CVA Hunter seems to be made better, with an awesome trigger right out of the box. The rifling was very sharp! I am a fan of CVA and will be looking for more.

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

I have two 35 Remingtons, an XP-100 and an old Marlin. Never had any problems with finding brass. Can't afford factory ammunition, so that is a wash. Besides, what would be the fun in shooting factory stuff, other than in your double rifles.

That said, I do not think you went wrong with the 358. I'd build one today, if I did not have a really nice custom built 9,3x62.

[308w]

Jaysouth, I just bought a cva scout in 35 remington, and my first thought was what a nice envelope for 358 win. Could you give me some detail about how you went about rechambering yours? Thanks 308w

[dougader]

I got brass from grumpa on this site at 60 cents a piece. The Hornady brass is the same length, as I bought one box of the 200 grain ftx bullet factory loading.

I figure the 35 Remington can push a 200 grain cast bullet (boolit) at 2000 fps for deer and the brass grumpa makes from LC military brass should last a long time. I love the 358 Winchester cartridge but I like this little CVA Hunter in 35 Remington too much to mess with it.

50 yard groups with the factory load pile bullets on top of each other. My cast bullet loads need work, but throw one-hole groups at 25 yards and about 2 shots together at 50 before the group goes to heck... incredible fouling with AA4350. Have Blue Dot, 2400, AA2230, H4895, etc. to try again. Only have some Hunter 190 grain rnfp's right now but they show promise. Looking for a good mould in the New Year...

[FergusonTO35]

If CVA would add a wood stock and some Williams sights I would bite. I'm a fan of single shots but the cheap plastic and slick barrel just drains my enthusiasm. I'm sure the CVA is a good gun and shoots well, I just gotta be honest.

[revbc]

I did almost the same thing................. Haven't shot any cast in it yet though.

151772Bought a Hunter compact 35 remington (http://www.cabelas.com/ghome.jsp) awhile back specifically to rechamber to 356. $167 from Bud's, great trigger.

Got the reamer in the other day and proceeded to get started.

Thought I would chuck it up in my lathe and use the live center to center everything up. I made a cut or two and decided I was better with a bench vise and tap handle. (Not a ton of lathe experience, didn't want to mess up my barrel) I had previously hand cut a H&R 35 Remington (http://www.cabelas.com/ghome.jsp) with good success.

6 hrs later http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/Smileys/default/shocked.gif http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/Smileys/default/shocked.gif http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/Smileys/default/shocked.gif http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/Smileys/default/shocked.gif I finally finished! The throats on the CVA's are so tight the pilot could barely be forced in. Had to stand on a 5 gal. bucket and put weight on the handles to cut this thing.

SO IF YOU DECIDE TO TRY IT.............SEE IF YOU CAN GET UNDERSIZE PILOTS WITH THE REAMER RENTAL!!!!!!

However...........the proof is in the pudding. Loaded up an old favorite load, not a bad group for the new Lady.