CVA Bobcat

[philo426]

I was in Wally World and I saw a Black plastic stocked-.50 rifle for $59.95!I asked the clerk to examine it and found it to be very bare-bones indeed!All of the steel was blued a satin black,including the lock and hammer(no color case-hardening).The black plastic stock was light ,but at least it had molded-in checkering.Heck,even the caliber and manufacturing marks appeared to be tampo-printed and not stamped!My question is,is this rifle a decent shooter or should I pass it up?I know that I should'nt expect much at that price -point but man I don't know.Opinions requested!

 

[trent/OH]

My understanding is that this is a fine rifle for twice the price. I suggest you buy all the store has, keep one, and sell the rest to finance your own.

 

[philo426]

Trent is that a joke dude? :grin:

 

[boar]

I have two,gave one to my grandson, tillhe can handle the TC hawken.All 50's , also have a panther 50. It is a little shorter. I even hunted with mine, like it's weight. We haven't killed any deer with them yet. I shoot 70-80 grs 3ff Goex and RB. Good 50yrd gun. Dilly

 

[philo426]

Welll since the price is so low I guess I'll pick one up and see for myself!

 

[jtmattison]

They are a decent rifle but you get what you pay for. I tried one. It was my first percussion sidelock. I was plagued by constant misfires and hangfires. I think with modifications such as hot shot nipples and maybe some drum drilling it could be a better performer.

Just my opinion.

HD

 

[chgraf]

I bought one, really like it. Only complaints would be the trigger is a little stiffer than I would prefer & the stock used to hit me on the cheek bone. Put on some different sights, solved that problem. For a cheap gun you cant go wrong. :thumbsup:

 

[marwat06]

The Bobcat was my first M/L. Great shooter. Now my son has it. I bought a T/C Hawkins, yes the bug bit me and I had to get another gun. I had no problems with misfires once I learned, as I said it was my first. I was able to use both Pyrodex and Real BP. Now I shoot BP only.

After about a 2 months of shooting the lock broke, shipped it to CVA and they fixed it. They paid for shipping both ways. Zero cost to me.

 

[RDavidP]

I have one of these myself. As the booklet says, DO NOT USE PYRODEX OF 777 PELLETS!!!! :haha: Trust me on that. Once I switched to real Goex FFg powder, have not had a problem with it going off. This weekend I am going to try shooting round balls in mine. I have been using PowerBelts, but no more, going to round ball. If you want to ensure that your gun will go off, just take the uncapped nipple off and put a little bit of fine powder in there. Put nipple back on, and cap the nipple, and BOOM everytime. Also that is the only way to get the gun to go off if you or someone else put pellets in instead of powder. I like mine, in fact will be hunting with it this year, but I am now ready to purchase a Pedersoli.

 

[walruskid1]

no joke, worth about 99.00. very utilitarian rifle. great to loan to the brother-in-law. add some weight to the stock in my opinion.

 

[jh45gun]

These are pretty much like the Traditions Deerhunter. I had one of them Tradditions) and it was a accurate gun. I sold it to a friend and he gave it to his kid because he wanted a 50 cal and mine was a 54. I then built a 54 cal ball shooter with a Green Mountain Barrel and a Left handed Jim Chambers lock kit from TOTW. From what I have seen the cheaper CVA and Tradition guns shoot just fine the problem is they do look cheaper but they shoot well so for little money you can get a shooter to start out with.

 

[Blackpowder Injun]

I love my bobcat so much, i havent shot either of my other m/ls since i bought it. dressed it up with a wood stock, and she's a great little rifle. a real tack driver at 50 yards...but I only use real bp, none of that sub manure...

 

[WV_Hillbilly]

They are an incredible deal if you consider the cost of everything else these days. If you use "real" black powder, patched round balls, fresh caps, and keep it clean with some TLC... it will not let you down. I've shot MANY of these, and my boys learned to shoot muzzleloaders with a similar (though older) CVA model.

They are also getting harder to find. I wouldn't wait around too long to buy one.

Regards, and shoot safely!
WV_Hillbilly

 

[Slamfire]

I'm gonna buy another one and use the barrel on my underhammer. Just try and find any kind of barrel for $60. :winking: Meanwhile 75 grains of FFFg and a prb will shoot cloverleafs at 50 yards, and the Buffalo Ballets nearly as well. :applause:

 

[mbw907]

Slamfire, I thought the same thing. If you bought one and did not like something about it, the parts alone are worth more than the whole purchase price. I don't care much for the stock, but I really like the large hammer tab. You can grab it really easy. By the way, I talked to the guys at Wal-mart in my area and they said that the Bobcat, as well as other BP rifles, are not selling too well and may be discontinued next year. So buy-up now if you like them. May be a limited time only.

 

[bwhoffman]

By the way, I talked to the guys at Wal-mart in my area and they said that the Bobcat, as well as other BP rifles, are not selling too well and may be discontinued next year.

I was under the impression that CVA got out of the sidelock arena over a year ago. I wouldnt expect wallyworld folks to be up to date on these issues, only based on the skill level of the folks at the wallyworld in my area. More than likely, walmart has a rail car full of them and is liquidating them, as reports are coming in that some stores have them and others dont. Seems to be geographical areas. None exist in the northwest nor on the internet site.

At 60 bucks, a guy should buy all he can and sit on them.

Brett

 

[Jim-Iowa]

By the way, I talked to the guys at Wal-mart in my area and they said that the Bobcat, as well as other BP rifles, are not selling too well and may be discontinued next year.

I was under the impression that CVA got out of the sidelock arena over a year ago. I wouldnt expect wallyworld folks to be up to date on these issues, only based on the skill level of the folks at the wallyworld in my area. More than likely, walmart has a rail car full of them and is liquidating them, as reports are coming in that some stores have them and others dont. Seems to be geographical areas. None exist in the northwest nor on the internet site.

At 60 bucks, a guy should buy all he can and sit on them.

Brett

:grin: As the smiling face behind the counter at our local Walmart 2 days a week.
I can say that it appears that CVA no longer makes these. So they are only available so long as We have inventory on hand. I think this explains the limited availability in some locations. As of last Saturday the store I work in had two on hand.

 

[Runner]

My 36 is a wooden stocked Bobcat. Tack driver with two match wins on it now.
The trigger is not target grade, but it isn't bad either. The lock has no bridle and needs to be checked prior to purchase. Cock the lock and then push side to side on the tip of the hammer. If the lock fires while you are doing that, leave that one in the rack and get the next one. Some of them are a little loose in the center hole of the lock plate. Hard to go wrong for 60$. I use a Tradition's Deerhunter Flintlock that is very much like the wood stocked Bobcat. With 70 grains of 3f Graf's under a 495 round ball, I took my first flinter deer with it. The Bobcat is a great intro gun for the deer hunters. Tradition's has a 32 caliber version for about twice what the 50 CVA runs.

 

[philo426]

Just one question,As my username implies I like to use Pyrodex R when I shoot my muzzleloaders.What is the issue that CVA recommends that you not use Pyrodex in the pellet form?I always measure my Pyrodex with a powder measure and use plastic tubes to hold the pre-measured Pyrodex.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

Pyro pellets are difficult to ignite in a sidelock without a very hot cap as the fire has to traverse the drum channel. When you load granular Pyro or BP, after you dump the powder charge give the breech area opposite the lock a few firm whacks with the palm of your hand to knock grains into the drum channel for fast and sure BOOM, then load PRB or slug. :thumbsup: