Can anyone give me a little history on this rifle?

[JetTech582]

Hey everyone, this is my first post here and I was just wond if anyone could help with the history of this gun for me? It's a CVA 32 cal squirrel gun, but it also comes with a 45 cal barrel as well. Now, I know pretty much nothing about muzzleloaders, but my grandfather gave it to me and I've been wanting to shoot it for a long time, and decided the other day that I wanted to go and try to clean it up and see if I can't shoot it. The only thing I know about it is that my grandfather used it when he was a kid, (he was born in 1952) and idk if he bought it or if someone else gave it to him, I really just have no idea. I haven't been able to find much info online either, so any help appreciated. I guess I don't really need to know everything about it but I'd at least like some kind of time period or something. Thanks in advance!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

You have a vintage CVA half-stock "squirrel rifle". Your .32 barrel is intended for small game, and because fortune smiles upon you, your .45 barrel is for deer and hogs. The curious thing is the patch box which may have been an early feature discontinued in later years.

That barrel looks like it was "plum brown" when finished, and your grandpa may have built it from a kit. The ramrod was once wood, but Grandpa swapped it out for a more durable rod; looks aluminum.

FIRST, remove the rod and stick it down the barrel and be SURE it's not still loaded. Do this with BOTH barrels.

Once that is done, remove the barrels and rub them down with a rag and some oil. The barrel on the rifle in the photo looks like it has some surface rust. The oil will stop that.

Now the early CVA's sometimes had 1:48 twist barrels, but some had 1:66 twist in the .45 barrels, and yours might be one of those.

To shoot the .45 you will need .440 all lead round ball, some .15 cloth patches, some #11 size caps, and some black powder.

LD

 

[tallPercshooter]

Seems like CVA guns appeared around 1970, your grandpa would have been 18 then.

 

[RiverRat]

Those guns are great shooters! My first ml was a CVA Mountain rifle. You are lucky to have that from your grandfather.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

To shoot the .45 you will need .440 all lead round ball, some .15 cloth patches, some #11 size caps, and some black powder.

LD

SORRY some .015 cloth patches. NOT .15...dang decimal points

LD

 

[JetTech582]

You have a vintage CVA half-stock "squirrel rifle". Your .32 barrel is intended for small game, and because fortune smiles upon you, your .45 barrel is for deer and hogs. The curious thing is the patch box which may have been an early feature discontinued in later years.

That barrel looks like it was "plum brown" when finished, and your grandpa may have built it from a kit. The ramrod was once wood, but Grandpa swapped it out for a more durable rod; looks aluminum.

FIRST, remove the rod and stick it down the barrel and be SURE it's not still loaded. Do this with BOTH barrels.

Once that is done, remove the barrels and rub them down with a rag and some oil. The barrel on the rifle in the photo looks like it has some surface rust. The oil will stop that.

Now the early CVA's sometimes had 1:48 twist barrels, but some had 1:66 twist in the .45 barrels, and yours might be one of those.

To shoot the .45 you will need .440 all lead round ball, some .15 cloth patches, some #11 size caps, and some black powder.

LD

Wow, thanks! I especially appreciate the size caps, pads and ammo to use. I did get it all cleaned up and put some oil on it (he have me some bore butter, which I know not everyone likes but it's what I got so that's what I'll use). I'm going out with some of my friends today and we're gonna shoot the .32 and see how it goes. Also, that little compartment in the stock has a few caps, balls, and patches in it which all look like that haven't been touched in forever but it was a pleasant surprise seeing that it could open.

 

[ETipp]

Good on you for obtaining such a cool little rifle with an extra barrel.

Considering the surface rust on the barrel pictured, and if you haven't already done so, I recommend getting either a lighted nock for arrows, a small fishing glow stick for bobbers, or a small bore light and checking the condition of the bore for rust.

 

[bpd303]

The attached CVA Sidelock manual should help you. Happy shooting...

 

[sethwyo]

.

To shoot the .45 you will need .440 all lead round ball, some .15 cloth patches, some #11 size caps, and some black powder.

LD

hahaha .15 inch patches

 

[Loyalist Dave]

hahaha .15 inch patches

As I wrote in my follow-up post, DANG DECIMAL POINTS

LD

 

[reddogge]

Get some Big Frontier 45 metal cleaning pads and Kroil and scrub those barrels to get that surface rust off. They will not harm the browning or scratch it like 0000 steel wool.

https://www.amazon.com/Big-45-Frontier-Metal-Cleaner/dp/B07RM692X8

 

[Leatherbark]

That combination CVA squirrel gun with the .45 barrel is from the 1980's.

Bob

 

[tom in nc]

My only .32 caliber rifle is a CVA Squirrel gun. I love it. I've never squirrel hunted with it but I can hit a target the size of a squirrel's head all day long at 30 yards.