CVA Identification

[dan d]

Hello, this is my first post. I bought a Connecticut valley arms 45 caliber gun serial #0008153. It has a wooden stock that is the entire length of the gun, from the butt plate to the end of the barrel. Thats about all I know, can anyone tell me how old it is ? I do not see where it says where its made. it says Connecticut valley arms inc. 45 cal.on the barrel. I like what I have read and learned so far on this forum.Thanks

 

[Rebel]

Sounds like a CVA Kentucky rifle. They were made in Spain for the most part but some of the real early ones were made in the U.S. Most of them are accurate shooters. The barrel should have a 1-66" twist which is good for shooting round balls.

 

[Russianblood]

If the wood runs all the way to the end of the barrel, it sounds like a CVA Kentucky rifle. They were a 1:66 twist. That's about all I can tell you.

 

[dan d]

Thanks for answers, will this gun with round balls be ok for Michigan whitetails ? or should I try buffalo bullets (or something similiar) I now know with that twist I am limited to the style of bullet. Anyone have an idea of the age based on the serial number ? Thanks for the fast answers ! I like this forum

 

[Rebel]

Not sure by the serial number but probably the 70's amybe the 80's.

 

[boar]

Does it have a brass shim in middle of stock? The CVA Kentucky has this. I have in cap,sold one in flint. If it don't say made in Spain, is one of older ones. Mine is not marked Spain. I have 2 Junkars made in Spain, made same way. My buddy killed a deer with his using round ball. Id use at least 70grs 3fff. Dilly

 

[dan d]

Yes, it has the brass shim. I dont see made in spain nowhere. 3fff 70 grains is where to start at. I have some fff hodgdon pyrodex (with a P on the label) here to try out. What brands of powders are you guys using ? This Forum is great, I have already learned more here than 2 nights of searching the web, Thanks guys. Any other feedback on the age of my gun would be apreciated.

 

[Russianblood]

The predominant powder on this forum is REAL BLACK POWDER. A lot of shooters here use flintlocks and substitutes don't work well in them.
A .45 round ball will work for deer here in Michigan. Keep your shot to 50yds or less and you should have no problems (assuming good shot placement).

 

[boar]

To start at use 40grs,I would use at least70grs for hunting. I had forgot I killed a deer using 40grs in a TC Seneca. My other buddy killed a trophy buck with the same gun using 55grs. The TC wouldn't shoot Max-ball. These were both under 50yrds. Goex is real thing. Don't like the subs. We have shot the chinese powder called Lidi, 90 grs of it was equeal to 100grs Prodex. 10.00LB. Shipped right from China. Dilly

 

[flintlockmdj]

What you have is a second variation of the CVA Kentucky rifle. The first variation was in .44 cal but was soon changed to .45 cal as this was a more popular caliber. When a lot of states started having BP hunting seasons and the .50 cal became popular CVA again changed the caliber to .50 making the third variation.
At one time a father and his two sons came to our mounthly shoots and cleaned everyones plow shooting these rifles. They were good shots and one hole groops were not unusual for them at 50 yards offhand.
If you like this rifle you might want to start saving for a L&R RPL lock.

 

[Dale A. Cathell]

I have three such rifles, all shoot very nice. I start and 45 grains and work my up to my tightest group. That is what I hunt with, I prefer placement to power. Round ball will be you most accurate so I have found bullet tend to tumble over 30 yds. Used to shoot Pyrodex switched to black and won't go back. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Zonie]

I think the .45 cal roundball will do nicely on deer if you use 70-80 grains of FFFg or Pyrodex P and keep the range to inside 75 yards.

Be sure and do a lot of target shooting so you know where the gun is hitting.
It also gives you a chanch to find out how different powder loads affect the accuracy. Start with 25 yards range then 50 and then 75.

zonie

 

[dan d]

This forum is great ! Thanks for all the advice guys. I spent 2 nights searching the web for this type of info and found nothing, until I accidently stumbled on this site. Whitebear mentioned a L&R RPL lock, what is this, because I do like the gun. Is that the trigger assembly ? Im still waiting for someone to give me an educated guess on the year of the gun. Whitebear, you knew it was a second generation, I gave the serial number, It does not say made in spain, any educated guess on the year ? Also I was at Gander Mountain, they said I would be crazy to use fff in a rifle, I realize they cannot recomend something and if I get hurt, then I sue them, but a little more reassurence from you guys would be nice on the 3f pistol powder (I already have some 3f pyrodex laying around) Sorry for being so long winded, but its nice to "pick your brains" for advice, Thanks again Dan

 

[dan d]

Oh ya, thanks for verifying the round ball and yardages for whitetail hunting. Im also a bow hunter so I know how to get close, most of my deer are shot at 20 yards, even with a gun. But its nice to know that If I see a nice one at 75 yards, It is possible.

 

[Rebel]

3f powder is fine in a .45. A lot of us use it in .50, and .54 cal. Heck, i use it in my .62 cal smoothbore. Won't hurt a thing. Just start with around 45-50 grs and work up 5 gr at a time until you find the most accurate load. Don't worry about where it is hitting until after you get a good load. And the L&R replacement lock replaces the caplock assembly you have on it now.

 

[walruskid1]

now you guys have me wondering what i have. i have to see whats tucked in the back of the safe. i have a cva kentucky .45 that i have had forever. i don't bring it out very often. now i have to see if its marked spain or unmarked. dan d, hows the trigger pull on yours? my trigger pull is in tons! thats why it stays in the safe. i've done a little polishing but the pull remains heavy. possibly a result of trigger location. anybody wants to jump in with advice - go for it.
dan d, for a target load my kentucky likes 40 grains of 3 f with a .015 patch and a .440 ball. :thumbsup:

 

[dan d]

Walruskid, The trigger pull is very smooth and surprisingly light for a cva. I bought the gun used and that was part of what sold me on it was the light smooth pull.With that being said, Im not saying someone didnt do some smmothing out on it. I have it tore apart and I cannot see where someone did any polishing or sanding. Thats why I keep asking about how old it is, it seems to be a nice quality gun, not like the Wal Mart CVA's im used to seeing. Are the old CVA's a decent gun ? My opinion on the new one's is im not overly impressed.

 

[walruskid1]

dan d, its been rehashed and beaten to death but supposedly the unmarked barrels were douglas barrels. i still didn't check mine but i hope its unmarked. i have a douglas barrel on a garand and its a tack driver. my kentucky could be a tack driver if i can lessen the metric tonnage trigger pull. :grin: the cva guns were always entry level quality but nothin' wrong with that if it goes bang and hits where pointed.

 

[Smk50]

Here is an educated guess as to the year of manu. I have one, same as you serial number is 0018299, as near as I can tell this one was a kit and the builder/owner at the time wrote under the buttplate 1981-82. Thats as close as I can come. I emailed CVA on another rifle and they really couldnt give an approximate even with the ser. #. I have cut mine down(it was free) shortened the barrel 10 inches and the stack so far about an inch. I have a 6YO girl that Im building this for so it fits her better.

 

[dan d]

Thanks Walruskid I dont know if thats good or bad that I have a douglas barrel. But its fun to know, This gun is luring me back into this sport. I had an inline and sold it to a friend after I bought this one. Thanks SMK50 for the educated guess. I emailled CVA,what a joke, recieved and auto email back saying to give them at least 10 days.And after what you said it sounds like they will not know the date either. now you have me guessing, must be from the 70's Which was Rebels guess. The sixties would be real nice, just because in my mind there was not as much junk manufactured then and Americans took pride in what they built. Well now off to do a search on douglas barrels. Thanks Guys, anymore guesses on the date of the gun would be appreciated.