CVA Bobcat

[Mr. Troll]

About 50+ years ago I had a H&A Underhammer in .45. I sold it and have not replaced it. I was thinking of getting back into long arms, and there were a couple of .50 CVA Bobcats on GunBroker. One of them is 80 miles away from me, and I'm seriously thinking about bidding on it. I read some online reviews and watched some youtube video...now I'll ask the group what they think...
Right now, the gun is sitting at $120. I know it has a composite stock, but from what I can find, the stock for several other models will fit...might even have to mount a picatinny rail and a pistol scope on it! :idunno:

 

[Zonie]

Well, aside from your blathering about some strange newly invented stuff you might mount on it, at that price it's a fair buy.

The gun was made by Ardesa in Spain like most/all of the old CVA's and new Traditions guns are.

It is a good low cost entry gun and about the only negative thing I can think of it (besides its plastic stock and sights) is it is very lightweight.

That low weight can result in some pretty stout recoil but a few people have added weight to their Bobcat's by putting stuff inside the hollow stock.

(The last time I tried adding weight to the stock, it's low position caused the muzzle to rise even more resulting in a cheek slap by the stock).

Anyway, if the barrel is in really good condition, give it a try.
I think you'll have fun with it.

 

[Swamp Rat]

My first was the CVA bobcat, It shot round ball real well. I thought I was wasting my money when I paid $60 brand new from Bass Pro at the time. But it was a good gun for learning about muzzle loading. Dang just think I could double my money I spent on it. I added rags a little lead and some oil in the stock to get rid of the hollow sound and added a couple brass tacks on the fore end to snazz it up a bit. As long as the barrel is good should work fine. Like zonie said fair price now days.

 

[timothy prouty]

Go for it and don't put railings for the scope mount except if you don't hunt with it.

 

[Mr. Troll]

I love to target shoot. It's what I have always done. I have never used a scope for it, but my eyes are starting to be less than responsive to my needs... I can still shoot pretty well at 100 yds, but beyond that, I can't see well enough to do what I want. I put a bolt-on rail on my tactical shotgun for a tactical flashlight (closet dweller), and it seems to be an easy, quick way to add components without having to drill and tap the barrel. Sorry to have mentioned the unmentionable, but they had scopes during the Civil War.... http://hi-luxoptics.com/blog/2013/...-building-a-civil-war-era-sharpshooters-rifle/

 

[crockett]

I guess $120 is okay but unless I'm out of date- that seems like a regular price. As folks have said, they sold brand new at Cabela's/Bass pro Shop, etc. For $60. I got a CVA mountain stalker for $69.
But....they are good candidates for restocking if you want to do it as a LEARNING experience by making a stock from scratch, making your own hardware, etc.

 

[Mr. Troll]

Yeah, I think you might be a little out of date. They don't have the Bobcat anymore, but the nearest model, which has a better rear sight, and otherwise looks and specs identically, it $269...As I remember, that H&A I bought back in....'65???, was like $50, or maybe less. I see the next model up from the one I had selling on GunBroker for around $400...

 

[hanshi]

I owned and hunted with a Traditions DeerHunter .50 (same gun) for over 20 years but it had a wooden stock. Yes it was light but I don't recall a recoil problem with heavy loads. They are very accurate and durable guns for the money.

 

[Mr. Troll]

These opinions have me, more than ever, hoping to win this rifle. It has to be better than the H&A I had, and it looks the part, rather than like a black pipe with a buttstock and a ramrod..If I get it, I can ride up to the place and pick it up in person, they are 82 miles away. I'm going to try and get it out to the range asap. By the way, what kind of tool do you, who own one, use to remove the breech plug?

 

[bubba.50]

you don't remove the breechplug.

 

[uno676]

I would hit pawn shops and look for a T/C or Cabela's better quality gun (IMO) but a bobcat would be a good starter.

 

[Howie1968]

I recwntly bought one n-mine is the mountain stalker same as a bobcat. its ,50 caliber 1-48 barrel. I did update the sights to cva hawken sights. mine shoots .490 rb with .15 patch behind 60 gr of pyro 3f very accurate. I found a :bull: nother in a pawn shop for 89.00 I gave 50.00 for mine

 

[Mr. Troll]

there is only one pawn shop around here that handles firearms of any type. They don't really ever have any black powder anything in the store. Sometimes I really question why I live in such an under served area...They all want you to spend your money locally, but there's usually nothing to buy...I'm looking at a Jukar .45, too...but the CVA seems to appeal to me a bit more. From what I can see, there are a lot of used wood stocks that would either be a drop in or could be made to work, on eBay..I was looking at Cabelas web site. They have the Hornady great plains bullets which might be a good alternative to the overly expensive powerbelts. World of possibilities!

 

[nwtradegun]

due to health I was not able to carry my 8 1/2 lb. musket, and 35 lb. pack for reenacting. short of it. I took in as part payment a cva bobcat . never shot it until 3 months ago. I would not hesitate to take it on a bear or elk hunt. wieghs 6 lbs. perfect round ball shooter.

 

[BrownBear]

Picked up one in 36 caliber so long ago that I don't recall what I paid for it. Wood stock, single trigger, plain as dirt. Accurate, reliable, balances well, and pretty much bomb proof.

Only one down side. Had a black-anodized aluminum ramrod. My wife took care of that issue when she got distracted and shot it downrange. Hit the bull about 1" out of the ten ring at 25 yards! Impressive accuracy even with such a long "conical," but the rod ended up bent like the crank on a Model T, so now it sports a much nicer hickory replacement.

Price and value? Dunno. Ask the family and friends who enjoy shooting it so much. Even at a dime a pound, it paid for itself long ago in sweet snowshoe hare.

 

[mooman76]

there is only one pawn shop around here that handles firearms of any type. They don't really ever have any black powder anything in the store. Sometimes I really question why I live in such an under served area...They all want you to spend your money locally, but there's usually nothing to buy...I'm looking at a Jukar .45, too...but the CVA seems to appeal to me a bit more. From what I can see, there are a lot of used wood stocks that would either be a drop in or could be made to work, on eBay..I was looking at Cabelas web site. They have the Hornady great plains bullets which might be a good alternative to the overly expensive powerbelts. World of possibilities!

The Jukar and CVA were one in the same. That's where the early VAs came from. If they look different, they were probably produces at separate times. They have made changes over the years. Either one in good shape should serve you fine.

 

[nwtradegun]

YOU NEVER REMOVE A BREECHPLUG THEY ARE NOT MADE TO BE REMOVED.

 

[Mr. Troll]

Ok...that's the kind of information and testimonials I needed. As far as the breech plug, I was wondering about that, since I downloaded the CVA sidelock manual and they talk about it in the cleaning pages...If you don't take it out, then I won't worry. I found a TC 54 cal carbine on GunBroker, too. We'll see which one I win. maybe both (?) Pretty interesting about the heritage, or should I say parentage, of these rifles...sounds like they are virtually interchangeable

 

[Mr. Troll]

that's funny...and surprisingly accurate! Kind of like a spear gun!

 

[Mr. Troll]

After a long wait, I won the bid for the CVA Bobcat I started this thread about. I was the only one who bid, and I got it for the opening bid of $120. I'm pretty sure the pawn shop was hoping for more, as they had a buy it now of $175...Been looking at eBay and there are a lot of nice and not so nice wood stocks available that seem like they would be a drop in...Some of them even have all the lock work and tang installed. I'm guessing that the owners simply did not clean the barrels decently and the rust took over, or maybe they just think they are too much work to shoot...either way, I see a source for custom parts :grin: