CVA Kentucky 45. Cal

[Keppy]

Hello to all. Its good to have the web site up and running.Well to the subject.
I have a 45. Cal CVA Kentucky rifle that I just picked up. Its seems to be an old one. Single trigger but adjustable. Was wondering about some loads for this rifle. I have the Lee (real bullet)mould. I thought that would be good enough for Mr. White tail. I had read the topic some time ago on this rifle. It was very interesting. I hope that it shoots well. And as most guns I have they shoot far better than I do. So any info on this rifle Nay or yea will be welcome to my ears.
Thanks Hacksaw

 

[Two Trails]

I've had a .45 CVA Kentucky for a long time built from a kit. I normally shoot round ball with a .010 linen patch and 60 grains of 3F or will use the .45 REAL 250 grain slug. Both take deer with no trouble with good bullet placement.
50 grains of 3F makes a nice target or woodswalk load. I'd start with 45 grains and work up a load that goes with the gun. They are fine shooters.
Two Trails

 

[aragorn]

I have a 45 cal Pedersoli Kentucky and agree more or less with previous - I use 440 ball, 015 patch and 50 gr 3F for 50 yd target shooting (though currently thinking 55 or 60 gr better at this range or greater). I started off using 2F but you need about 5 or 7 grains more to get equivalent loads to 3F, and 2F is a bit messier.

 

[walruskid1]

i have the same rifle, probably the same vintage (about 1978). 50 gr. 3f and a .440 ball, .015 patch. shoots pretty damn good.

 

[Keppy]

Thanks for the info. I have a inline 45 cal and shoot 70 gr. 3f goex, with the real bullet. I cast my own and they come out 225 grs. This Kentucky rifle has a real nice barrel. Matter of fact the whole rifle for its vintage isn't to bad. I would like to try it this season for deer. But I think I will wait til next year because muzzle loader season starts the 26th here. Do you know what twist this barrel has? I know how to check it but have not as yet. Thanks again

 

[Keppy]

Have you tried any thing other than ball projectors in your Kentucky?

 

[walruskid1]

i did try some buffalo bullets in it but they did not shoot as well. then again i'm not hunting with it. by they way, hows the trigger pull on yours? my rifle has a lousy trigger. very heavy pull.

 

[Keppy]

Well to be honest with you, I just got this rifle. I did check the trigger pull and it is real heavy. And I was a little hesitent about buying it. But the old black powder shop that I bought it from took it a part and it does have a set screw to adjust the trigger. He says the newer ones do not. My black powder friend says he had one years ago and he worked the trigger down so it was nice and crisp. I have not done anything yet. This will be my winter project.

 

[R. Miller]

I don't know if the real bullet is needed I have been dropping montana mule deer with a .440 rnd ball for years 60 gr of 3fffg seems to do the trick. stickwalker

 

[lockjaw]

...if i'm not mistaken that rifle has a slow twist 1:66? barrel...try some patched round balls

 

[walruskid1]

lockjaw - your right, its a 1-66 twist. i think thats why it favors a prb.

 

[Keppy]

Thanks Guys
I will try the 440 ball. I thought maybe it had a 1/48 twist. I have heard good reports on this rifle even if its a L cheap O. So thanks Again to all.

 

[mowolf]

I a traditions KY in 50 that I built from a kit (Opra) last year. It has an adjustable single trigger and it is adjustable, go slow it can get REAL touchy if you go too far . Mine is a grat shooter, yesterday at the range 6 out of 7 (the oine miss was mine mistake), 5 of 6 at 50 yards and 1 for 1 at 7 with no wiping between shots. Likes .490 prb, it is a 1:66 twist. It is pretty accurate out to 100 yards (3 inch group off hand). I use 70 grns 3f and 65 grns Pyro "P". Plant to use it this deer season, both firarms and ML.

Waya

 

[walruskid1]

make sure that when you adjust the trigger that you still have full sear engagement - don't turn the screw too far. partial engagement can chip the edge.

 

[WV_Hillbilly]

Howdy Doody!

My experience pretty much concurs with the others. Though I don't typically use the "ol' tyme rulz of thumm" I have found that 45gr of FFFg and a .440 PRB makes a right fine shooter. I have went on up to 60gr of FFFg if I my shooting is going to be beyond 50-60yds. I've also loaded 30gr and found that to make a nice little plinkin' load.

These are great rifles, and it's very sad (to me anyway) that CVA no longer makes them. I would like to find another one for my youngest boy before they all disappear completely. Maybe at a show...?

Regards, and Shoot Safely!
WV_Hillbilly

 

[graybeard]

I have a CVA Kentucky percussion with the two-piece stock. Bought it about 1980. Has a patched round ball twist and shoots very well with 50 grains of 3F. I did have the trigger smoothed out and the pull reduced a little. Makes a fine, light gun. graybeard

 

[John Wasmuth]

I have one, great little rifle. My deer load is a .440 round ball, 15 patch, and 80 grains of FFg. Killed many deer with it. They aint the prettiest rifle in the oaks, but they do what you need them to do. Have fun with it.

 

[donk]

I bought one of these for my oldest boy last year. It seems to be a great shooter. I have him shooting a .490 ball with a .010 patch and about 50 grains of fffg goex. This seems to be a good load for target shooting but I am loading him a little hotter (about 65 gr for hunting. He has only shot it this way a few times but seems to work alright for him. We have yet to see if he can drop a deer with it.

 

[mikelange]

Traditions markets the same rifle, though what they're going for these days I don't know. They also market rifles with the same barrel length but not the two-piece stock. Traditions and CVA are made by the same Spanish manufacturer, just marketed in slightly different configurations and under different names.

 

[mikelange]

Forgot to mention, I've built a few inexpensive rifles using CVA Kentucky barrels, and all of them delivered more than acceptable accuracy. For novice shooters of all ages, these guns are hard to beat. The percussion jobs are reliable (my experience with the flinters is limited and not so good, but that had a lot to do with the refusal of the owners to maintain their guns or pay for decent flints), accurate (by the standards of the average shooter), and inexpensive enough to be banged up, traded off, or set aside in favor of something fancier or more PC, without financial heart seizure setting in.