Picked up a CVA Hunter .44 magnum

[Elias Graves]

I've been itching for a big bore something for a while but didn't really "need" any more guns but I couldn't pass up on the great price of this thing. I intend to keep it as a truck gun.
Took it out this weekend and I gotta say I'm very impressed for the price. It's plain Jane, to be sure but it locks up tight, doesn't leak around the breech and seems to shot straight. The trigger is exceptional. Maybe a 3# pull, no creep. It's nice and crisp.
I shot 50 rounds of 240 gr hard cast rounds through it. Managed this at 50 yards with a 40 mph cross winds. Ugh.

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/3F93FCF9-8874-4FEE-93CC-F71B08020F40_zpsnnf9mbii.jpg

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/E9738671-B6E1-4E01-B105-3D58A3C54C0B_zps5thvr1cv.jpg

A hit on some angle iron shows what a brute this is.
http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/19EB3E8C-B023-4325-B0EE-6D3295D91F34_zpsks143rba.jpg

it reduced 10# chunks of concrete to dust! Oak logs just exploded. I'm a big bore fan now!!!

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/22303E7D-29B8-4F6B-88E3-D61362578FD3_zpszldg4mjk.jpg


It came with the cheap 4x Bushnell scope, which is ok but is obviously a cheap scope. That's gonna have to get changed but other than that, no complaints. A great bargain.

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/CC47F13D-6525-4A2C-876F-6D4B037035C6_zpswzfukuip.jpg

[Elias Graves]

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/856283F9-59B8-4B8F-A8DB-360EBF4480E2_zpsbmeus6mc.jpg

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/519AA5E8-9DAD-4A22-8B72-288573698FA4_zpsolefalnh.jpg

[izzyjoe]

Cool, I noticed that they also have them in 35 Rem, I may have to look into that.

[Tatume]

Welcome to the list. Very nice rifle, and good choice of cartridge. The 35 Remington would be good too; both are excellent hunting cartridges.

[kungfustyle]

They are great guns. For the money you can't beat them. Great recoil pads on them too.
What was the bore when you slugged it or did you? My Rossi was .432 so I had to get a new mold for it.

[Elias Graves]

Have not checked the bore yet. Fired 50 rounds of 240 gr lead and they flew just fine, though.
Im sure that .35 is a beast. Would love to try one.

With th this one, I was kinda looking for a medium sized gun. The Mauser is a bit big for fun shooting at the farm and the .22 is, well, a .22. This fits right in between. I also like the idea I can carry it empty in the truck and have a round loaded up real quick if need be.

[Wayne Smith]

For a farm/truck gun, why change out a cheap but useful scope? If it doesn't do the job that's another issue. You may be surprised how long it lasts.

[Freightman]

That is my next CVA I have 7mm08 love it very good shooter only shot lead from it don't have any idea how it shoots jacketed.
Oh yes I have a cheaper scope on mine N-C Star works fine.

[Elias Graves]

Took it to the farm this weekend to shoot up another box of shells.
The rifle continued to impress with accuracy and ridiculous simplicity. I had two folks who rarely shoot hitting gallon jugs at 30 yards after a round or two.

Everything was was going along just fine until "click" but no boom. I gave it a couple of minutes to sit and opened the breech. The mark on the pin was very shallow.
Closed the breech, cocked it and it fired normally.
After another 5 rounds, it happened again.
Three rounds after that, I get nothing but click now.

I'll have to get it checked out.

[curator]

The CVA Hunter and its design counterpart, the H&R Handi-rifle should not be dry-fired. Sometimes as few as 2 or 3 dry-firings and the firing pin breaks. Replacing the firing pin is easy and inexpensive if you have a set of "blind pins" to be able to reassemble the action. Several tutorials on youtube on how to do this. When our local Boy Scout Camp was using the H&R shotguns, I would buy firing pins by the dozen to keep them working. I have not repaired a CVA Hunter but a friend has one also with broken firing pin that he keeps threatening to bring by the shop. He did dry-fire it "a couple of times." With the action open, hold the trigger back to engage the hammer-block safety and push the hammer forward. The firing pin should protrude from the action face. If not, there's your problem.

[Elias Graves]

CVA opened a repair ticket. Shipping it off to get it checked out.

[Elias Graves]

It's back! Repair ticket said the firing pin needed adjustment.
Got a new scope for it while I was waiting for it to return and put that on today. It's a 2.5x20. Will have to get out for some shooting this weekend!

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/E17E173A-4D7D-47F7-B798-D749D2C565E0_zpsbgxbegjg.jpg

[shoot-n-lead]

I like the looks of it!

I have the pistol verson in .357...man, that thing is a shooter.

[Elias Graves]

I like the looks of it!

I have the pistol verson in .357...man, that thing is a shooter.

I would love to have a 357 version! 38 special is a lot cheaper than 44 mag. 45 cents a round is the cheapest I've found. If anyone knows cheaper, let me know, please!

Yes, the gun is a great shooter and it hits really hard. It still hasn't had 100 rounds through it but it appears to shoot where you point it.

The new scope is lower power than the first but has better glass and the eye relief fits better.

My complaints are few. The for end could be a little wider and rounder on the bottom.
The black plastic looks cheap. There are better looking synthetic stocks out there.
The recoil on this gun is fairly mild, so a good cushy pad isn't a big deal but their "crush zone" pad would crush nothing but your shoulder with a 45-70 version.

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/A5EDA536-8599-497D-9BE0-0741C12A361C_zpsu7kzdywp.jpg

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/18D8F81F-CD60-4C35-B0AE-260EF8DE19B6_zpskldrddwz.jpg

[Elias Graves]

Got to slip out and shoot a little. Everything is back in order. New scope sighted in...I love the 2.5x! Super fast target pickup.

Not it sure why but this gun is just plain fun to shoot. I was a little worried the single shot aspect would bug me but so far it's good. I don't have to scrounge the dirt for brass that went flying and I never liked loading magazines much anyway lol.


http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/E17E173A-4D7D-47F7-B798-D749D2C565E0_zpsbgxbegjg.jpg

[Elias Graves]

Wow, I do like 44 magnum in a rifle. This is 8 gauge steel.

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/8B084940-3B6D-46EA-A18D-9E6C78C83FB3_zpsjnpkgyyg.jpg

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/9FFD4FAE-7745-4BCA-AA7A-B8EBFB29B35C_zpstm6bzdvo.jpg

[Texas by God]

Ok Elias- quit having fun plinking and show us what it'll do on bags on paper! Best, Thomas.

[TCLouis]

I shot one in 7-08, trigger was great.

Never did nail down a good cast load!

Nother roundtoit sitting there waiting on me.

Size and weight of that gun would make it great in 44 Mag . . .

BUT

Even better in 357 Mag

[bluelund79]

That's a good looking 44. Thanks for sharing, love the target pics

[Hiwall55]

Does anyone have one in .35 Whelen, that one would be a great caliber to shoot cast in a single shot. Reform brass from 30/06 and shoot cast 158 grain to 250 grain and have a 14 twist barrel.
Sweet!

[rondog]

That would be a WONDERFUL deer gun!

[kungfustyle]

I don't know if you reload or not. Looks like you have cast bullets in some of the pictures. If you don't reload, you may want to look at it. http://www.rozedist.com/ has 44 jacketed for $137 for 1000. That means you can reload jacketed ammo for about $.25 each. Load that over a good charge of H110 and you are off to the races.

[Elias Graves]

That would be a WONDERFUL deer gun!

Should be. I'll find out soon enough.


I don't know if you reload or not. Looks like you have cast bullets in some of the pictures. If you don't reload, you may want to look at it. http://www.rozedist.com/ has 44 jacketed for $137 for 1000. That means you can reload jacketed ammo for about $.25 each. Load that over a good charge of H110 and you are off to the races.

I am not presently reloading but will be soon. Looks like 20-25 cents a round to reload, which is way better than the 60 cents a round to buy new.

[Elias Graves]

I shot one in 7-08, trigger was great.

Never did nail down a good cast load!

Nother roundtoit sitting there waiting on me.

Size and weight of that gun would make it great in 44 Mag

I like 7-08. Used to have a Browning BLR chambered for that. Great round. Hard to find!


That's a good looking 44. Thanks for sharing, love the target pics

Thanks.


Does anyone have one in .35 Whelen, that one would be a great caliber to shoot cast in a single shot. Reform brass from 30/06 and shoot cast 158 grain to 250 grain and have a 14 twist barrel.
Sweet!

I'd like to hear a report on that myself. Have never seen a 35 Whelen anything.

[Hiwall55]

Ive got a couple of bolt guns in that caliber and for shooting cast they are awesome, I picked up a accurate molds copy of the Lyman 35809 a 280 grain RN-GC that IVE cast with but haven't shot yet. I just bought a Shiloh in 40-65 and should get it next week so I'll be working that one up next, I still think the 35 Whelen would be a great truck gun in the CVA. Shoot pistol bullets with Unique or shoot 250 to280 with full house loads with cast

[Elias Graves]

I didn't have any LocTite when I installed the scope mount. It came loose under recoil lol.
Dont forget the LocTite!
Fixed but now I gotta check it & adjust if needed.

Credit to CVA scope mount. Twice now I've removed a scope from these rings. In neither case did the scope bind in the rings when the bolts came off or show any marks on the tube from the rings. I consider that a good sign.

[Elias Graves]

I think the little 2.5 is a great scope for this gun. It's easy to simply look at the target with both eyes open, raise the gun and fire almost instantly. It's like shooting a shotgun almost. The gun just seems to raise right to eye level intuitively and makes for a quick shooting gun.
And it makes really big holes.

[Texas by God]

I don't know if I want one until I see some groups Elias! Help a brother out. Best, Thomas.

[Elias Graves]

I don't know if I want one until I see some groups Elias! Help a brother out. Best, Thomas.

I seldom shoot groups of any kind but here ya go. Three shots at the same point of aim from 50 yards today. I measured it at 7/8".

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/B1FA66B9-19CC-437B-AD86-B0DD3F2E75B0_zpsddrdevym.jpg

This was kinda cool. On the left, a clay with a 22 hole in it. On the right, a clay with a 44 magnum hole in it. Lol

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/7948C865-CD28-4692-8342-3027CAD5CADC_zpsehqpdcn5.jpg

[fastdadio]

Oh great, now I gotta go get nuther gun. Can we swap barrels on these or do I have to buy two?

[Bookworm]

Oh great, now I gotta go get nuther gun. Can we swap barrels on these or do I have to buy two?

Exactly what I thought when I first read this thread.

I'm happy to report that my new CVA Hunter in 44Mag is in my possession as of 2 days ago. Fired it today first time.
What a hoot ! I should have gotten one of these years ago.

And, it's a good match for wife's .357 Mag Handi-rifle.

[mcdaniel.mac]

Oh great, now I gotta go get nuther gun. Can we swap barrels on these or do I have to buy two?
My understanding per the company's website is that barrels do not interchange on the Scout models. The Apex line does have interchangeable barrels.

[fastdadio]

I just went and looked at the Apex line. No pistol calibers offered in the line. I want .44 and 30-06 combo. Nice looking guns though.

[Texas by God]

I seldom shoot groups of any kind but here ya go. Three shots at the same point of aim from 50 yards today. I measured it at 7/8".

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/B1FA66B9-19CC-437B-AD86-B0DD3F2E75B0_zpsddrdevym.jpg

This was kinda cool. On the left, a clay with a 22 hole in it. On the right, a clay with a 44 magnum hole in it. Lol

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/7948C865-CD28-4692-8342-3027CAD5CADC_zpsehqpdcn5.jpg

I want one now! You can tell a lot from a target and it and you are good to go! Now back to the fun- Thanks.

[GhostHawk]

Been debating in my mind between the CVA Scout single shot pistol and the Hunter rifle.

At this point it is looking like the rifle might win.
Yesterday discovered that they are not all stainless and black, they have Blued and black also.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkBuLHp8TvAFBX0UN13XSz7ax9OzPb8 JnzR0y1yUOMa0qIEfjr-Q

Price seemed a bit lower also. Will be talking to my local Mill's Fleet Farm I think about getting one of these in.

[Elias Graves]

Oh great, now I gotta go get nuther gun. Can we swap barrels on these or do I have to buy two?

you gotta buy two unless you get the Apex model.


Exactly what I thought when I first read this thread.

I'm happy to report that my new CVA Hunter in 44Mag is in my possession as of 2 days ago. Fired it today first time.
What a hoot ! I should have gotten one of these years ago.

And, it's a good match for wife's .357 Mag Handi-rifle.

Cool! Have fun.


Been debating in my mind between the CVA Scout single shot pistol and the Hunter rifle.

At this point it is looking like the rifle might win.
Yesterday discovered that they are not all stainless and black, they have Blued and black also.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkBuLHp8TvAFBX0UN13XSz7ax9OzPb8 JnzR0y1yUOMa0qIEfjr-Q

Price seemed a bit lower also. Will be talking to my local Mill's Fleet Farm I think about getting one of these in.

Yes, I like blued myself.

[JavelinaBlanco]

Waiting for CVA to make a 50 S&W Mag rifle....

[longbow]

Do you know what the rifling twist is? I don't see it on the CVA site.

Thanks,
Longbow

[Elias Graves]

Do you know what the rifling twist is? I don't see it on the CVA site.

Thanks,
Longbow

I hope I get this right. Pistols use a 1 in 20" and this one has a 1 in 38" to stabilize heavier bullets.

[longbow]

1:38" was not what I wanted to hear. My Marlin has 1:38" twist which is too slow for heavy boolits. I find I can shoot up to about 270 gr. with good accuracy but much beyond and they are keyholing by 100 yards.

I was hoping for 1:20" or so.

Thanks,
Longbow

[Hardcast416taylor]

Elias, is that target an `offical Iranian navy training target` for our Gulf Navy sailors?

Now that Michigan allows straight walled ammo to be used in shotgun areas for deer hunting I might have to locate one of these since you guys have put that germ in my feeble old mind!Robert

[GrizzLeeBear]

You would want the faster 1:20 twist for heavier bullets NOT 1:38. You might want to double check it with a tight patch on a cleaning rod, but here are a couple reviews that list it as having 1:20 twist.

http://meigsindypress.com/2014/11/04/in-the-open-test-fire-cva-scout-v2/

http://dailycaller.com/2014/10/04/gun-test-cva-hunter-in-44-magnum/

i've been thinking about picking one up for deer hunting next year here in MI as well.

[longbow]

If the twist is 1:20" I just might pick up one of these. I wanted the ability to shoot heavy boolits but the 1:38" is not heavy boolit friendly. 1:20" would be much better. Not sure what the max weight would be at .44 mag velocities with 1:20" but certainly up into 300+ grs. and maybe as heavy as 400 grs. for a .44 mag "whisper" which is something I wanted to play with.

Thanks for posting those links. I checked the CVA website but found no info on rifling twist.

Longbow

[Mossy Oak]

I have a 44 mag also, and it shoots very impressive groups also. Local box store has the 45-70 for 275.00, should be a good one too. Good shooting Elias,

[Elias Graves]

Elias, is that target an `offical Iranian navy training target` for our Gulf Navy sailors?

Now that Michigan allows straight walled ammo to be used in shotgun areas for deer hunting I might have to locate one of these since you guys have put that germ in my feeble old mind!Robert

It can be whatever you like. It's a Battleship game target. Lots of fun with 22s.


You would want the faster 1:20 twist for heavier bullets NOT 1:38. You might want to double check it with a tight patch on a cleaning rod, but here are a couple reviews that list it as having 1:20 twist.

http://meigsindypress.com/2014/11/04/in-the-open-test-fire-cva-scout-v2/

http://dailycaller.com/2014/10/04/gun-test-cva-hunter-in-44-magnum/

i've been thinking about picking one up for deer hunting next year here in MI as well.

I'd do some double checking on my numbers regarding twist rate. I read stuff about these guns but I can't recall the numbers exactly.
If memory serves, 1 in 20" and 1 in 38" were the numbers. Whichever is the more common pistol twist rate, the rifle was the other. Not much help on that issue, I'm afraid. I haven't had accuracy problems with any load I've shot through the thing. It shoots straight no matter what I put in it.

[Elias Graves]

Too bad they can't all be like that one lol.

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z352/ElijahGardener/gun/DF4884F1-6D2E-48D3-99BB-CEB496B51839_zps32dvgvyd.jpg

[1Hawkeye]

Saw one of those in .300 black out and it's got the wheels turning. I had one of the nef .300's it shot great but the stock was just too short.

[Rick Hodges]

I have a 44 mag Scout. The twist rate is 1:20 (I checked with a tight patch and it came out 1:21 close enough. I probably got some slippage)

[Hardcast416taylor]

I haven`t checked into this rifle as of yet. If they offer it in .45 Long Colt I think I`ll be getting one.Robert

[Elias Graves]

Saw one of those in .300 black out and it's got the wheels turning. I had one of the nef .300's it shot great but the stock was just too short.

Stock on this one is full size. The molded checkering works well, too.

[geezer56]

I used to have a handi rifle addiction. Got cured of that finally. I do have CVA's in 300 blackout, 35 Rem. and 35 Whelen. Would love a 45 colt and 357 Mag.

[Elias Graves]

Fun day shooting yesterday. Got to put 100 cowboy loads through it. I have an addiction to to blowing up cinder blocks now!

[rosewood]

I have the hunter in 35 rem and 7mm-08. Both 20" bbls. The 35 is my new favorite deer rifle. Got it shooting 1 MOA with a 206 grain Lee GC mold. The 7mm-08 shoot submoa with the 139 grain Hornady btsp. You cannot beat these guns for the price.

I would love to have one in 357mag or 45 colt, but have yet to see one in the stores.

Rosewood

[Elias Graves]

I have the hunter in 35 rem and 7mm-08. Both 20" bbls. The 35 is my new favorite deer rifle. Got it shooting 1 MOA with a 206 grain Lee GC mold. The 7mm-08 shoot submoa with the 139 grain Hornady btsp. You cannot beat these guns for the price.

I would love to have one in 357mag or 45 colt, but have yet to see one in the stores.

Rosewood


Excellent!
I'm still having a blast with mine. My brother gets jealous how fast I can clean up after shooting.

[dougader]

I have the 35 Remington. Don't have a cast lead load for this yet, just some plinkers from Hunters and they are undersized a bit.

I did snag one box of the Hornady flextip ammo and it's very accurate in the gun. Sighting in the scope, I stacked 3 rounds touching at 50 yards.

[Elias Graves]

New ammo report!
These weren't cast, but I got some Remington HTP round nose semi-jacketed rounds on sale.

The cowboy action loads I've been shooting were rated under 1,000 fps from a pistol where these are rated at 1,180 with a 240 grain slug. One tester reported 1,750fps with these from a rifle.

What a difference! These pack a much bigger wallop than the cowboy loads for sure. Recoil is noticeably stronger.

Also so put on a different scope...A Bushnell Trophy XLT 1.75-4x32 shotgun/muzzle loader scope.
Not bad for a low end import. I shot in the afternoon facing west and the glare was kept under control nicely.

In all, still loving the gun. I've had zero issues since my original firing pin problem and the accuracy is quite acceptable for a hunting gun.

I'll probably stick to the cowboy loads for a lot of my plinking. The recoil is less and so is the price.

[bowfishn]

I got a chance the other day to run some of my handloads that I use in my Ruger SRH 9 1/2" out of it . According to my Magnetospeed they clocked 1550 fps from my SRH and 1850 fps from the CVA Scout with the 44 Mag Barrel. Not to shabby for a 295 gr GCHP from a MiHec Mould, I load them to the longest crimp groove COAL of 1.735". They shoot real good as well.
I bought 2 of the Scouts over a year ago and they are 1-20 twist that is why I chose them over some of the other single shots.
http://www.cva.com/CVA-Store-View.php?id=758
I don't know why CVA does not have the Hunter listed for Twist, but they have always had the Scout listed.

[iplaywithnoshoes]

My first firearm was a CVA Accura V2 .50. Same experience with the trigger. 3lbs and the most crisp operation I have ever experienced. Quite accurate and weather resistant as well. Good to know the rifle worked out well; I always wondered what the centerfires were like.

shoe

[Elias Graves]

My brother now calls it "Destructor."
It's way accurate and the giant slugs make targets fly to pieces.
It turned a frozen gallon jug of water into crushed ice in one shot. :)
Plus it's way cheaper to shoot this than anything else as destructive for the price.