.32 Caliber CVA "Squirrel" - Rate of Twist

[Semisane]

My latest pawn shop find is a .32 CVA caplock marked "Squirrel". I've seen a post or two about this model on various forums but have never held one in my hand before.

It's a neat little sucker. The barrel is 25" long and 3/4" across the flats. The gun's total length is 40" and it weighs in at 5 pounds, 9 ounces.

What surprised me is that the rate of twist seems to be 1:60". I've measured it several times and keep coming up with the same result. I'm surprised because my .32 Pedersoli Frontier has a 1:47" twist rate, and Green Mountain .32 barrels were 1:48".

Is there anyone else out there with a CVA Squirrel who can you verify that twist rate?

 

[bpd303]

Just measured my CVA .32 Squirrel rifle. The twist on mine is 1:32 (rod comes out 8 inches with a quarter turn).

 

[bpd303]

Really glad you asked, because I haven't shot mine in over a year. It's deadly accurate with a .310 patched ball. Now that I know the twist rate is so fast, I'm of the mind to try some cast .32 sized boolits in her.
BTW, Mine was made in 1983 (I think) serial number is 83 020xx

 

[nkbj]

Got a couple .30 bore Numrich barrels with 48" twist and was thinking about setting up one for the lefty GPR. From what yall seen is that twist about right for round ball? Can't imagine it being fast enough for anything else.

 

[mooman76]

Yes, most (.32)I have heard of have a 1/48 twist. I have 3 and two of them are. I haven't checked the 3rd yet. They shoot the RB very well and I haven't had much luck with conicals but didn't really try that much either.

 

[Semisane]

Just measured my CVA .32 Squirrel rifle. The twist on mine is 1:32 (rod comes out 8 inches with a quarter turn).

That's closer to what I was expecting bpd.

Mine comes out 15" in a quarter turn. It was the same every time I measured it. I was using a rod with a ball bearing swivel handle and a good tight patch. I'm sure it wasn't slipping on the rifling. I could observe the rotation of the rod as I withdrew it and it was very consistent. I'm really puzzled over such a slow twist in a .32, and also that this one is different from others.

 

[mooman76]

Slow for a 32 but who knows. Might still shoot good.

 

[Grimord]

I Have a CVA "Grey Squirrel" 32. It is similar to yours but without the double set triggers. I bought mine new in 85 and the paperwork with the gun listed the twist as 1:56. It shoots great with PRB and 20grs of BP with a .310 ball with .o15 patch.

 

[bpd303]

Mine looks identical to yours, right down to the aluminum ram rod. Mine has the stocks original finished stripped and an oiled finish with a nice grain showing through.

 

[George]

Slow for a 32 but who knows. Might still shoot good.

I have a .30 caliber with a Bill Large barrel, twist rate is 1:56. and my .40 has a Douglas barrel with a 1:66 twist rate. Both guns have always been tack drivers at any distance, no matter the charge.

I'm not sure where the idea that smaller roundballs need faster twist came from. It's true that longer conicals do, but does anyone know why would that be true for spheres?

Spence

 

[Semisane]

I Have a CVA "Grey Squirrel" 32. It is similar to yours but without the double set triggers. I bought mine new in 85 and the paperwork with the gun listed the twist as 1:56. It shoots great with PRB and 20grs of BP with a .310 ball with .o15 patch.

Thanks for that Fyrstyk. Mine must be a 1:56 also. I was "eyeballing" the quarter turn of the rod when I measured the bore and could easily have been a little off. Mystery solved.

Does the paperwork give a max load? I assume something like 30 grains FFFg.

 

[Semisane]

Mine looks identical to yours, right down to the aluminum ram rod. Mine has the stocks original finished stripped and an oiled finish with a nice grain showing through.

It won't be too long before this one gets stripped and stained with a dark oil finish bpd. I don't care for that shiny orange factory finish at all.

Also, I have a good supply of 1/4" brass rod that will be replacing the aluminum ramrod. After all, a little weight won't be a factor. :wink:

 

[Grimord]

The max load listed is 40grs of 3F. I went as high as 30grs, but accuracy went out the window and I saw no need for the extra power for small game like squirrels and rabbits. I get 3/4" groups at 25yds with 20grs. I can't hold that good offhand, but I have taken alot of squirrels with the load out to 40yds. I try for head shots, but at the longer range I'll aim for a chest shot.
Good luck with your gun.

 

[thecoyote]

I have a CVA .32 2-trigger rifle from the early 80's. Great little gun......So fun to shoot....Far end of the spectrum from my T/C .50 Hawken....

 

[jferguson]

I have a CVA .32 2-trigger rifle from the early 80's. Great little gun......So fun to shoot....Far end of the spectrum from my T/C .50 Hawken....

I have read people saying the small bore like this will gum up quicker (than a .50, say) if you shoot it very much in a given day, which means more swabbing, cleaning, etc., and there goes some of the fun in the limited abount of time we have to shoot some rounds. If not, you will not be able to keep pushing the loads down pretty soon. Do you .32 shooters find that to be pretty true? Thanks.

 

[azmntman]

Yep...gotta swab about every 3 shots (so I just do every shot).

 

[Lonegun1894]

It depends on the gun, temperature, humidity, powder load, lube, etc, but that goes for any of my guns regardless of caliber. I just got in the habit of wiping after every shot regardless of which one I am shooting so it is just a habit and doesn't bother me in the least.

 

[mooman76]

I do find that in one of my 32s. Not all people do and it isn't really a big deal to run a swab down the barrel occasionally. Cleans up the same at the end of the day. Still a fun little gun to shoot.

 

[Semisane]

I too swab after every shot, .32, 45, 50, 54 & 58. It's no big deal and adds what - five or ten seconds to a reload?

 

[jferguson]

At our local rendezvous there is a camp member who provides a .32 as a loaner for the kids competition. The kid's parent has to do the loading for the kid, six shots per kid. I have done this several years, for my THREE boys (do the math!) and we never swab it or seem to need to---that's why I was surprised to see here that this is a "Need" to do all this swabbing, when our experience shows us otherwise. Haven't seen the other "Dads" swabbing it either. As a relatively new guy, it's confusing a bit.