Single Shot Mountain Rifle Build: CVA Scout

[Long Cut]

Fed some more handloads through CVA Scout 6.5 CM 20”

Had barrel heating issues, temps 97F humidity 76% wind 0-5MPH
Viht N555
Lapua SRP
Hornady ELDM 143
Nosler BT 140
CCI 400

Top: Nosler 140’s (Had to adjust scope, hence the very low and right group)
Bottom: Hornady 143’s

Averaged right around 1.1-1.25” for 5 shot groups.
The barrel overheated top target right side and bottom target left side dots. I began waiting 6-8 minutes between shots and the groups tightened up.

No pressure signs.

 

[Afhunter1]

Sorry to interrogate you, but how do you like the Farrowtech grip? Does it mate up solidly to the action? How about grip size?

I'm considering getting the farrowtech to build a pseudo Hobbit Rifle for my kid. But I'm worried that the pistol grip might be too wide for a kid's hand.

No problem, that’s what this place is for. To ask questions and learn from other people’s experiences. There is no slop at all and the brace is rock solid. I do not find the grip all that comfortable and would not recommend for a young child. For a 12+ I’d say it would be fine. The grip isn’t bad enough that it detracts from accuracy or anything like that.

 

[Loper]

When I hunt MD swamp or OH reclaimed mines this is my treestand pistol. I haven’t weighed it. It is a 350 legend.

View attachment 557329

This looks awesome. What is the overall length?

 

[Geewhiz]

When I hunt MD swamp or OH reclaimed mines this is my treestand pistol. I haven’t weighed it. It is a 350 legend.

View attachment 557329

How do you have a stock on there since its only got a 14" barrel? Or do you have it registered as a sbr?

 

[Afhunter1]

How do you have a stock on there since its only got a 14" barrel? Or do you have it registered as a sbr?

It’s back to a pistol now. Hopefully we can have them back on soon for good.

 

[Geewhiz]

It’s back to a pistol now. Hopefully we can have them back on soon for good.

Was hoping you found a loop hole.

 

[Afhunter1]

This looks awesome. What is the overall length?

I forget but I think around 26”

 

[Geewhiz]

I ended up picking up the same rifle as the OP. You don’t even realize how little it is until you see it compared to something else. My initial impression is it is a bit heavier than I anticipated, but fit and finish seams satisfactory.

Took it to the range today, boresighted it and quickly zerod it at 100. Did some quick figuring and then put 4 for 4 on steel at 500 yards with federal blue box soft points. Never did check my group but so far I think there is hope for the little guy.

For comparison sake, that is a 16.5” bolt rifle on the right, and a 20” break action cva scout on the left and it’s still 3 inches shorter.

 

[bigeyedfish]

What caliber did you buy?

 

[stank.243]

Well this thread is dangerous for my bank account

 

[Long Cut]

First blood for the CVA Scout in 6.5
Quickly becoming my favorite rifle to hunt with. Extremely maneuverable, relatively lightweight at roughly ~7.6# if memory serves me correct.

75 yard quartering away shot. 140 grain Nosler BT, Lapua Brass & Viht N555 put him down in about 10 yards. Bang-Trot-Flop. Impressive for a rutted out buck.

 

[Geewhiz]

What caliber did you buy?

I bought a 6.5 creedmoor. Couldn’t care less about the CM hype but I was looking for a smaller caliber for recoil purposes for the smaller people in my family and it is only offered in a few chamberings. Went back and forth between 7mm08 and 6.5 but decided 6.5 due to seemingly better ammo availability.

It is funny spotting shots with this compared to my bigger magnum. The 338 rum goes DINGGGGGG when it hits the gong, this thing barely makes a “tink” haha

Here’s a little better pic. 26” bolt vs 20” scout

 

[Geewhiz]

After doing a bit of fiddling around with weights and "weighing" my options, I'm at a bit of a stand still trying to figure out what to do with it to shed weight/keep it light.

To start out its not terribly light to begin with buck naked at 6 lbs 4ish oz. The lightest and simplest I could make it would be simple talley lightweights (2.3 oz) and a swfa ultralight (9.5 oz) putting it at right about 7 lbs. I think I could lose maybe 3-4 oz on the butt stock (factory stock is 13.5 oz) but it will cost me $400 or so and thats without making it a folder.

I dont like to hit the hills without a bipod so theres another 12 oz and ad a suppressor (10 oz) and youll be about 8.5 lbs. Thats with a non folding and non adjustable stock.

I was lookig for lightweight and compact, it is compact but not light weight. Halfway considering hocking it and getting a howa superlite.

Evidently the TC is a significantly lighter weight action/barrel.

 

[Te Hopo]

After doing a bit of fiddling around with weights and "weighing" my options, I'm at a bit of a stand still trying to figure out what to do with it to shed weight/keep it light.

To start out its not terribly light to begin with buck naked at 6 lbs 4ish oz. The lightest and simplest I could make it would be simple talley lightweights (2.3 oz) and a swfa ultralight (9.5 oz) putting it at right about 7 lbs. I think I could lose maybe 3-4 oz on the butt stock (factory stock is 13.5 oz) but it will cost me $400 or so and thats without making it a folder.

I dont like to hit the hills without a bipod so theres another 12 oz and ad a suppressor (10 oz) and youll be about 8.5 lbs. Thats with a non folding and non adjustable stock.

I was lookig for lightweight and compact, it is compact but not light weight. Halfway considering hocking it and getting a howa superlite.

Evidently the TC is a significantly lighter weight action/barrel.

I 100% get you on this, I put together a Rossi single shot with 14" barrel and suppressor, makes an awesome compact truck/quad gun.
Bit it's still 1.5lb heavier than my Howa Mini

 

[Fatcamp]

Yeah, seems very silly to have to SBR a single shot rifle...

I think it's stupid to have to sbr anything.

 

[Unckebob]

Fed some more handloads through CVA Scout 6.5 CM 20”

Had barrel heating issues, temps 97F humidity 76% wind 0-5MPH
Viht N555
Lapua SRP
Hornady ELDM 143
Nosler BT 140
CCI 400

Top: Nosler 140’s (Had to adjust scope, hence the very low and right group)
Bottom: Hornady 143’s

Averaged right around 1.1-1.25” for 5 shot groups.
The barrel overheated top target right side and bottom target left side dots. I began waiting 6-8 minutes between shots and the groups tightened up.

No pressure signs.

Have you considered building yourself a bubba'd barrel cooler? I built mine using the instructions provided by F Class John on YouTube. I live in Texas and find it really helps on our hot days.

 

[Long Cut]

Have you considered building yourself a bubba'd barrel cooler? I built mine using the instructions provided by F Class John on YouTube. I live in Texas and find it really helps on our hot days.

I have not but will look into it.

Don’t think it would help much though. Between sweat in my eyes, the gnats & mosquitoes its hard to get a really precise trigger squeeze and follow through shot. That probably did more damage to my groups than the hot barrel.

 

[Long Cut]

After doing a bit of fiddling around with weights and "weighing" my options, I'm at a bit of a stand still trying to figure out what to do with it to shed weight/keep it light.

To start out its not terribly light to begin with buck naked at 6 lbs 4ish oz. The lightest and simplest I could make it would be simple talley lightweights (2.3 oz) and a swfa ultralight (9.5 oz) putting it at right about 7 lbs. I think I could lose maybe 3-4 oz on the butt stock (factory stock is 13.5 oz) but it will cost me $400 or so and thats without making it a folder.

I dont like to hit the hills without a bipod so theres another 12 oz and ad a suppressor (10 oz) and youll be about 8.5 lbs. Thats with a non folding and non adjustable stock.

I was lookig for lightweight and compact, it is compact but not light weight. Halfway considering hocking it and getting a howa superlite.

Evidently the TC is a significantly lighter weight action/barrel.

I think you need to step back and realize you’re comparing a ~$325 rifle to a $1,300 rifle (Howa Superlite).

Aside from chopping the barrel down to 16”, I wouldn’t invest much more into these guns. Their niche is a compact, affordable, accurate and relatively lightweight rifle. I don’t consider a 7-7.5# hunt-ready rifle “heavy” by any means. Others opinions may differ.

If you want to spend another $1,000ish to lose 2# on your rifle, go ahead. For me personally, that ROI isn’t as worthwhile as the ammunition, gas, tags and other gear I can buy with that money.

Even the TC’s are closer to that $800-1,000 mark. Again for the money, just to save a couple of ounces or even pounds, I’m still favoring the CVA Scout’s at the $300-400 price point.

My .02

 

[Geewhiz]

I think you need to step back and realize you’re comparing a ~$325 rifle to a $1,300 rifle (Howa Superlite).

Aside from chopping the barrel down to 16”, I wouldn’t invest much more into these guns. Their niche is a compact, affordable, accurate and relatively lightweight rifle. I don’t consider a 7-7.5# hunt-ready rifle “heavy” by any means. Others opinions may differ.

If you want to spend another $1,000ish to lose 2# on your rifle, go ahead. For me personally, that ROI isn’t as worthwhile as the ammunition, gas, tags and other gear I can buy with that money.

Even the TC’s are closer to that $800-1,000 mark. Again for the money, just to save a couple of ounces or even pounds, I’m still favoring the CVA Scout’s at the $300-400 price point.

My .02

I can’t argue with that a bit.

I went into it as a bit of an experiment beings as I hadn’t seen a ton of reliable numbers for the little cva as far as weights go. It does appear to be a sweet little rifle and I’d like to get a decent scope for it and spend some time with it as it does seam to have potential to be a shooter.

Part of it is I’m realizing that no lightweight rifle is going to be lightweight after adding a bipod and a suppressor which is pretty much required equipment for me.

Also one of the factors was the super lite was on sale yesterday for $900. Still almost 3x the price of the cva though.

 

[Long Cut]

I can’t argue with that a bit.

I went into it as a bit of an experiment beings as I hadn’t seen a ton of reliable numbers for the little cva as far as weights go. It does appear to be a sweet little rifle and I’d like to get a decent scope for it and spend some time with it as it does seam to have potential to be a shooter.

Part of it is I’m realizing that no lightweight rifle is going to be lightweight after adding a bipod and a suppressor which is pretty much required equipment for me.

Also one of the factors was the super lite was on sale yesterday for $900. Still almost 3x the price of the cva though.

I built out my CVA Scout with DNZ rings, SWFA 3-9 scope, paint job, stock pack, sling and SA Customs 2 round holder for less that $900.
Granted the SWFA was second-hand off the Classifieds, but still feasible.

Unless you really want an ultra-lightweight bolt rifle, I don’t see how the Howa SL or anything else for 3x the cost can compare.

I’m also biased towards the simplicity of a single shot. They’re stupid easy to clean and maintain.

At the end of the day it’s whatever you want. But for the $300-400 price point, I’d argue the CVA Scout is one of the best deer hunting rifles out there. Great “starter gun” or a loaner/truck gun application as well.

Again my .02