CVA squirrel rifle

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DanL

Hunter-Shooter
MLF Supporter
Joined
Aug 20, 2004
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Location
Alabama
Who among you has or had the old CVA SQUIRREL Rifle? I have owned a new old stock kit for a while now which has two complete interchangeable hooked breech barrels in .32 and .45 calibers with one stock. The barrels are labeled "SQUIRREL RIFLE". These barrels have a hooked breech. However, I have seen a model of the rifle with the "BUTTON" breech. I do not believe that the Hooked breech and Button breech are interchangable.

The Squirrel rifle is perfect for someone with a bit shorter length of pull (LOP) like myself or perhaps kids/ladies. Also, it is very light weight (maybe ~5 lbs) with a short over all length. Easy carry for a day in the field. Sized most excellent for a young-un to get into muzzleloading.

I have heard that people love them and some folks not so much.

I have heard rumor that there may have been a .50 and a .36 barrel made for the Squirrel rifle, although I have never seen one in person. Has anyone actually seen these elusive caliber barrels for the Squirrel rifle.

What is your story with the CVA Squirrel rifle?

Thanks for your story and Happy trails,
DanL
 
I owned a 32 Traditions Crockett rifle. My best loads were with 10 to 15 grains of 3f Swiss, .310 ball and .010 cotton patch.
I could shoot 10-15 times before I swabbed the barrel.
 
They are ok guns, I have had a few of them. I much prefer a Cherokee.
 
I had one. It was plenty squirrel head accurate out to 40 yds with 15-18 gr of 3f. The l.o.p wasn't to bad but the little drop was a pain. Had to pull my head way back to get on the sights. Sold it to a guy for his son, worked great for him.
 
My wife assembled the .50 kit in the mid 90's. Never did anything with the .36 barrel as she found she could not close just one eye. It is still here somewhere. I will try to remember to ask where she got it. I'm guessing Ron Shirk's Shooter Supplies, but it's been 30 years.
 
I had one in 32 kit and it made a very nice rifle but the lop was way to short for me so I traded it for something that fit me better and also it was a good shooter very accurate
 
I had a version called the "Grey Squirrel" in .32 caliber. It had blued furniture and a single trigger. I later found the LOP to be way to short for me, and the low comb straight stock made it hard for me to line up the sights. It was a great shooter with a somewhat rare 1:56" twist for a small caliber ball gun. Eventually, I sold the gun and replaced it with a Pedersoli Pennsylvania rifle in .32.
 
I have one in .32 caliber that I bought years ago to take my nephews hunting. It is very accurate with 25 grains of 3FFF. Too small for me to shoot but it just hides in the gun safe protected by a few non muzzleloaders.
 
@tjiann .... may I ask you to post the barrel measurements (and maybe some pics) for me? Since I have only heard of and never seen a .36 CVA SQUIRREL rifle barrel in the flesh, I would like to satisfy my curiosity and get the information for barrel width, length and whether it is a hooked or button breech.

Thank you, Dan
 
DanL said:
@tjiann .... may I ask you to post the barrel measurements (and maybe some pics) for me? Since I have only heard of and never seen a .36 CVA SQUIRREL rifle barrel in the flesh, I would like to satisfy my curiosity and get the information for barrel width, length and whether it is a hooked or button breech.

Thank you, Dan
Click to expand...

Sure, I'll do that today.
 
DanL said:
Who among you has or had the old CVA SQUIRREL Rifle? I have owned a new old stock kit for a while now which has two complete interchangeable hooked breech barrels in .32 and .45 calibers with one stock. The barrels are labeled "SQUIRREL RIFLE". These barrels have a hooked breech. However, I have seen a model of the rifle with the "BUTTON" breech. I do not believe that the Hooked breech and Button breech are interchangable.

The Squirrel rifle is perfect for someone with a bit shorter length of pull (LOP) like myself or perhaps kids/ladies. Also, it is very light weight (maybe ~5 lbs) with a short over all length. Easy carry for a day in the field. Sized most excellent for a young-un to get into muzzleloading.

I have heard that people love them and some folks not so much.

I have heard rumor that there may have been a .50 and a .36 barrel made for the Squirrel rifle, although I have never seen one in person. Has anyone actually seen these elusive caliber barrels for the Squirrel rifle.

What is your story with the CVA Squirrel rifle?

Thanks for your story and Happy trails,
DanL
Click to expand...
I have a .36 flintlock squirrel rifle
 
Hello,
Had a .32 CVA Squirrel Rifle in the early 80's.

Very accurate, pleasant little hunter, squirrel, rabbit and quail.

Always wondered about a .36 or .40 barrel for VA or WVA white tail.

Unfortunately let her go and been missing her since.
 
.36 squirrel rifle
 

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DanL said:
@tjiann .... may I ask you to post the barrel measurements (and maybe some pics) for me? Since I have only heard of and never seen a .36 CVA SQUIRREL rifle barrel in the flesh, I would like to satisfy my curiosity and get the information for barrel width, length and whether it is a hooked or button breech.

Thank you, Dan
Click to expand...

Didn't have time to pull the barrel today, but here's a few pics.
 

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