cva 12 gauge double barrel

[Wv_mingo327]

first off i hope i’m posting this in the right place if not i do apologize. i’m looking for some options and help been thinking about getting a shotgun for squirrel and small game and such , there a cva double barrel 12 at my local pawn shop. looks to be from 1985 or 86 can’t remember for sure the date code stamped infront of the serial #. my questions are what’s everyone’s opinion on them and does a .760 sound right on the choke ? the owner measured it with a gauge and told me it was a 76? he said that’s improved cylinder but from some reading online looks to be full-x full if i’m reading the chart right on shotgun bore measure. i don’t have any pics but it’s overall really clean the bluing is wearing somewhat but it’s crisp and smooth on the action and barrel are mirrors on inside price is 599$ may be able to get him to budge on it a little. should y’all consider this a decent price range for one of these or is he way out in left field with price ? didn’t appear to have been fired a lot has two new stainless nipples also. the stock is in really great shape. thank you for any help you may be able to throw my way

 

[Trigger]

I think .760 is IC.

Have you looked around much? New and used market?

That's sounds like a good price for the condition you say. I search shotguns often.

 

[Blackpowderart]

Here is a chart describing bore diameter and choke diameter. .760 isn't a 12ga anything. That's a mod 10ga diameter. Your numbers are off presumably

 

[2 shots]

i would look for a pedersoli or pietta at that price or less . just picked up a 10 ga. pietta at a show for $400.00 they are out there.

 

[Blackpowderart]

The cva locks are rough and the springs weak and basically non existent if one breaks. I second pedersoli because you can still get parts and are one of the only companies still making new sxs shotguns. Anything you need can be had for one. I personally own 3 pedersoli sxs

 

[Trigger]

https://www.highbyoutdoors.com/Moss...g-M835935-Flush-Style-Choke-Tube_p_78506.html

I just searched it. I think your right but I don't get why that is ic
.760 now

 

[torpedo]

I picked up a CVA SXS 12 gauge about three years ago in excellent condition at a gun show for 200 bucks. The locks are not top shelf but they work. I think the seller just wanted to unload it and I was in the right place at the right time. That said 600 is a bit high. I have a Pedersoli 10 gauge that is an excellent gun plus there are parts available. The locks are good, not excellent as the main spring is very strong. Spend the extra money and you won't regret it. Be aware these SXS's are addictive, get one and you need another.

 

[TransYank]

I own 2 of the CVA 12ga's one was a kit gun other was factory build. These guns have no choke (cly. bore) You cannot compare modern gun bore diameter to muzzleloaders. I own 5 original English SxS that are all 12 ga's by their proof marks and all different sizes. I also have an Original proofed 10ga. that really is a 9ga. The CVA's do run larger bores than the English guns. But doesn't matter what the bore size is it doesn't have any constriction (choke). I have owned a 12 and a 10 Pedesoli and the bores where undersized.in the 12 had to use 13 wads. And the 10 was oversized had to use 9 ga wads. Buy the one that fits you the best. As far as locks. yea CVA need stoned and sear springs worked on to get them OK. Decent trigger pull weight. The Pedersoli trigger pull on both guns were in excess of 9lbs. I replaced parts in them from TOW to get down to 5lbs. as well. All of the originals I have replaced parts in locks that where broken or bend but always where a much, much smother lock to shoot. My go to Turkey guns is an Original English 12 wood and locks fitted to the CVA barrels that I have Jug choke and shoots #5 lead wonderfully using 3F BP. Original guns I shoot 1F because of less pressure.

 

[Century to late]

The springs are available and are pretty much the same on most CVA's the left locks seem to have the most trouble. The prices are all over the place on them. I have one I use for turkey hunting only and have a Express double bore rifle to drop in for fun. They are lots of fun for sure.

 

[ZUG]

The price on that CVA SXS is HIGH. The CVA is a low budget shotgun and I would not pay any more than $400 for it or any CVA SXS no matter what condition it is in.
I got two Pedersoli's one 12 and one 10 gauge and I paid $400 for the 12 and $500 for the 10 both used. They are both in VERY GOOD condition - used very little.
I also have a Pietta 12 gauge that I purchased new in 86 for $349.xx
I would rather spend the extra money on a Pedersoli or Pietta and have a better-quality shotgun that I can get parts for.

 

[Rebel bull]

The springs are available and are pretty much the same on most CVA's the left locks seem to have the most trouble. The prices are all over the place on them. I have one I use for turkey hunting only and have a Express double bore rifle to drop in for fun. They are lots of fun for sure.

i also have the express barrels and have never fired either set LOL

 

[Jay Templin]

I have a CVA double 12 and had another one I sold to a friend last year. Both have choked barrels- I have my best accuracy with patched or wadded .695 balls. One barrel typically patterns better with shot and the other is more accurate with ball. The misery is that the smoothbore range at our local rendezvous only allows us to use one barrel per match.
Jay

 

[Wv_mingo327]

Here is a chart describing bore diameter and choke diameter. .760 isn't a 12ga anything. That's a mod 10ga diameter. Your numbers are off presumably

thank you very much for that chart! I guess it could be possible that the shop owner either read the bore gauge wrong when he told me the measurements or he has it labeled wrong it’s labeled as a 12 gauge. did cva ever offer a 10 gauge or could it have been bored out ?

 

[Century to late]

thank you very much for that chart! I guess it could be possible that the shop owner either read the bore gauge wrong when he told me the measurements or he has it labeled wrong it’s labeled as a 12 gauge. did cva ever offer a 10 gauge or could it have been bored out ?

Probably not.

 

[Old Shepherd]

I have a CVA double barrel 12 gauge shotgun. They only made 12 gauge guns. Mine was purchased in 1983 for just over $300.00. The barrels are cylinder on the right and improved on the left. I hunted upland, shot trap (and kicked behind with it) as well as goose hunted with for years. I used steel shot cups with it from Ballistic Products and the patterns with both barrels are awesome. I got better ignition with “Hot Shot” nipples but other than that little bit of modification my shot gun has served me well. Keep the locks clean and lubed and don’t over tighten the lock screws or you can pinch the lock plate in to much and cause trigger release issues or make the 1/2 cock want to slip by. Don’t be afraid to buy one of these shotguns. They are a good utilitarian gun. Clean it, lube it and don’t abuse it. Mine is now over 40 years old and is the second most used muzzleloader that I own.
Old Shepherd

 

[Old Shepherd]

I wish to add that I use this shotgun for Sparrows, Starlings, Magpies, Crow and Rock Chucks throughout the season. It patterns best with #5 shot with just plain old over shot wad, fiber wad and overshot card. If I get a chance to Goose hunt again, I am going to try the Sky Chief load to extend my range.
Old Shepherd

 

[Century to late]

I wish to add that I use this shotgun for Sparrows, Starlings, Magpies, Crow and Rock Chucks throughout the season. It patterns best with #5 shot with just plain old over shot wad, fiber wad and overshot card. If I get a chance to Goose hunt again, I am going to try the Sky Chief load to extend my range.
Old Shepherd

They also made a .410 model. I've also got the 12 and love it. Been using bismuth with ok results. Has anyone shot round balls out of them? I'm currently building a cva .410 for rb's.

 

[Old Shepherd]

We never saw any .410 CVA shotguns in my part of the world. Had I seen one I would have bought it. A muzzle loading .410 double has always been on my wish list. I figured it would have to be a custom gun and therefore out of my league.
Old Shepherd

 

[Loyalist Dave]

thank you very much for that chart! I guess it could be possible that the shop owner either read the bore gauge wrong when he told me the measurements or he has it labeled wrong it’s labeled as a 12 gauge. did cva ever offer a 10 gauge or could it have been bored out ?

Actually he might have correctly read the micrometer. "Choke" is more of a ratio than a fixed measurement. The shooting industry has standardized stuff, but..., the actual diameter is still a bit up to the manufacturer (see last paragraph below) He also may have been wrong as he pronounced the .760 reading "improved cylinder".

The chart is has the key in the figures on the left side

IC should be .009- .010 smaller near the muzzle, than the rest of the length of the bore. So what he should've done is measure deep inside, which often requires a second tool.., and that should measure .769, give or take a thousandth or two..., and then at the muzzle it measures .760, so the bore tightened by .009, and THAT is an improved cylinder choke. IF however, the inner bore diameter was .779 and at the muzzle it was .760, then that barrel would have a modified choke.

I've seen shotguns which were meant to be for Joe Sixpack, and "one and done" meaning you wouldn't need another gun, and the IC choke on the right barrel was a tad more open than IC, and the left barrel was a tad tighter than Modified. Compared to an expensive upland gun with the same choking, the plain jane gun had a bit more open pattern on the right barrel than its high end brother, and a tad tighter pattern on the left barrel. WHY? Well I theorize that such a choking gave the user more success on things like quail and dove with the right barrel, and a decent chance at ducks and squirrels with the left barrel in the days of lead shot... but still was a viable all around bird gun.

LD

 

[Old Shepherd]

I have fired a .678 round ball out of the right (cylinder bore) barrel. Fifty yard target was about what you would expect. I didn’t take the time to work up a suitable load as far as anything considered semi-accurate. I have also shot Buck Shot successfully and even flacheets (sp) inside a plastic wad to protect the barrel.
Old Shepherd