CVA Hawkens Questions

[bassncrap]

Just acquired my dads ol Hawkens today. I always thought it was a Traditions but to my surprise. Its a CVA.

Judging by the markings and numbers. Is there and info about this rifle yall can give me?

Like whats the twist rate? Is it just a regular ol Hawkens?

Is it worth the time to even shoot?


A big plus is I was able to take the nipple off this one by hand and the bore looks great rifling wise. Could use a good swab job. There is some corrosion on the outside of the barrel that will need a good scrubbin and re-blu. I need to get the light steel wool and rub her down and clean her up.

 

[SDSmlf]

Is it worth the time to even shoot?

Curious as to what you are concerned about? Visually, surface blemishes (that will easily clean up) about what one would expect for a gun ignored while being stored for an extended period of time. Can not imagine why you would think it’s a waste of time to shoot your dad’s old gun?

 

[64Springer]

If the barrel is like the Jukar/CVA Kentucky barrels, it will shoot fine.

Enjoy your dad's rifle.

And just my .02, leave her alone. Let her age gracefully. Don't gussy her up with new bluing.

Just a light cleaning with 0000 wool and oil.

 

[William Lincoln]

CVA is a solidly built gun. Today their Group produces the Bergara Brand Barrels. Take it out and shoot it. There are tons of posts on
here that will help you expand your knowledge and skill with your rifle. Appears to me to be a common CVA Hawken. These were also
offered in Black Chrome versions. In the right hands very accurate. Clean after each use.

 

[ElkStalker]

Twist rate for your rifle will depend on when it was made. If it’s older, it could have a 1:66 twist. But more likely, it’s a 1:48” Since you said it needs a cleaning, while you are at it, run a patch to the breach and mark the cleaning rod. (Make sure the jag is tightly screwed in as sometimes they can slightly unscrew when pushing to the breach and this will affect your results). Make a mark, or use tape to make a flag. Slowly pull the rod back out until it’s made half a turn and measure the distance from the muzzle to the mark you made. Multiply that by 2 for your twist. If it’s slower twist, you may have to use a quarter turn and multiply that by 4.
The “Made in Spain” CVA Hawken is a good rifle and I’ve heard that people who know CVA’s seek out the Spanish made rifles. The barrels flat out shoot. Read, “I should have kept the one I had” lol. Powder charge and projectile will be determined by your rifles rate of twist. I’m willing to bet it’s a 1/48 which means it will either shoot a PRB really well, or a Conical really well, and sometimes you luck out with a rifle that shoots them both equally well. As for the surface rust, a bit of Kroil and OOOO steel wool will clean that up real quick. Make sure the rifle is not loaded before you clean and load to shoot. If it’s loaded, remove the nipple and blow air into the firing channel with an air compressor. This will clear it out, especially if it’s a connical. If it’s loaded with a round ball and tight patch, you may need to buy a ball puller (you want one anyway), or buy a grease zerk with correct thread and push it out with grease. If you can blow air through it with your mouth or an air compressor, it’s likely not loaded. You can also tell by referencing how far the ramrod goes into the barrel, if you first compare the length of the RR to the barrel from muzzle to breach. Just make sure it’s unloaded. Then clean and enjoy dads old rifle.

 

[user 49399]

Just acquired my dads ol Hawkens today. I always thought it was a Traditions but to my surprise. Its a CVA.

Judging by the markings and numbers. Is there and info about this rifle yall can give me?

Like whats the twist rate? Is it just a regular ol Hawkens?

Is it worth the time to even shoot?


A big plus is I was able to take the nipple off this one by hand and the bore looks great rifling wise. Could use a good swab job. There is some corrosion on the outside of the barrel that will need a good scrubbin and re-blu. I need to get the light steel wool and rub her down and clean her up.

I have a .50 caliber CVA Gamester Hawken and it’s a dandy little gun. It’s probably very similar to yours. Could we see a full picture of your gun?

On March 10, 2022, in the percussion rifle section, I posted a thread (Gamester Hawken) about my CVA. It looks like it had once been owned by a gorilla, but it shoots just fine. From what I’ve been told, mine was drilled and tapped for a scope from the factory.

I say shoot it. You might be pleasantly surprised. Mine does well with 50 grains of 2f and a .490 patched round ball. In fact, I have other guns that cost a lot more, but none that shoot better.

 

[deermanok]

I have 2 vintage CVA Mountain Stalker rifles. Both have less than perfect barrels, some pitting from lack of proper cleaning by previous owners.
I've cleaned them up as best I could and they shoot surprisingly well with a patched ball over 60 grains volume of 3f black powder.

 

[Trot]

I'm generally not a fan of CVA guns, but have one of these and I like it. I did swap out the rear sight for a more traditional one though.

 

[necchi]

Is it worth the time to even shoot?

It's a better rifle then your other one

 

[bassncrap]

It's a better rifle then your other one

Haha honestly when I seen Connecticut Valley Arms on the barrel... a few bad words came flying out my mouth

 

[necchi]

CVA made a better rifle than Traditions the CVA Mountain Rifle, if anything Traditions spun off CVA.
In actuality the parts from both are nearly identical with many capable of being interchanged.
CVA began in 1971, Traditions in 1982

 

[necchi]

If you take a look you will see the double trigger hawken has a better bridled lock then the Fox River,, proper set-up of the 3 trigger settings and tuning the lock can make a fine trigger break for some real nice shooting.
As mentioned it's a toss up if the barrel is a 1-66 or 1-48,, they offered both through the years

 

[bassncrap]

If you take a look you will see the double trigger hawken has a better bridled lock then the Fox River,, proper set-up of the 3 trigger settings and tuning the lock can make a fine trigger break for some real nice shooting.
As mentioned it's a toss up if the barrel is a 1-66 or 1-48,, they offered both through the years

Appreciate that info!!!

 

[JohnnM257]

I have a .50 caliber CVA Gamester Hawken and it’s a dandy little gun. It’s probably very similar to yours. Could we see a full picture of your gun?

On March 10, 2022, in the percussion rifle section, I posted a thread (Gamester Hawken) about my CVA. It looks like it had once been owned by a gorilla, but it shoots just fine. From what I’ve been told, mine was drilled and tapped for a scope from the factory.

I say shoot it. You might be pleasantly surprised. Mine does well with 50 grains of 2f and a .490 patched round ball. In fact, I have other guns that cost a lot more, but none that shoot better.

I just bought this CVA Gamester Hawken Supreme 54cal from Gun Broker. It is pretty much mint condition, with a excellent mirror bore. I probably paid, way too much for it, $350 shipped, but I really wanted it. I can't find hardly any information on these, like barrel twist rate or anything. Do you happen to know what the twist rate of your Gamester is? I just ordered a lee round ball mould for it. But any information on these Gamester will be appreciated.