Single Shot Mountain Rifle Build: CVA Scout

[Long Cut]

So it begins.

Decided to get the CVA Scout Compact in 6.5 CM. Out of the box weights 6.3# with the 20” barrel.
I’m going to clean, break in and check the rifles accuracy before deciding to chop the barrel down to 16.5”

The purpose for this rifle will be a lightweight “Run & Gun” deer hunting rifle for 0-300 yard encounters.

Right now my Arken sits on the rifle, but I have an SWFA 3-9 on backorder. The Arken is merely to sight this rifle in as I’ve no clue when SWFA will ship my scope to me.

Initial impressions: Light. Crisp probably ~2-3# trigger, compact, simple with a Thick recoil pad. I’m very much looking forward to shooting this gun.

Stay tuned.

 

[KenLee]

Most of the CVA single shots are surprisingly good shooters. I have a pistol in 6.5 CM with 14 inch barrel.

 

[jbspec]

Who is building this rifle?

 

[Long Cut]

Who is building this rifle?

A mixture of me, myself and my local gunsmith possibly.

Being a single shot it doesn’t need much work aside from cutting and threading the barrel for a suppressor one day.

No it’s not a Tikka with a Manners stock and Pre-Fit Proof barrel I know... but when I dog this thing out and loan it for others to use I won’t worry about it.

 

[gspguy22]

Like the idea of a back woods single shot for deer. Have thought about doing the same myself. Especially for the price

 

[Long Cut]

What’s up mouth breathers,

Figured I’d update those who actually cared and maybe plant the seed for others to hop on this single shot train.

I cleaned and polished all the metal, gave the stock a little redneck camo paint job and added on some goodies..

DNZ Reaper Base
SWFA 3-9 scope
Triad Tactical stock pouch
SAP “Two Rounder”

Load development Round 1 : I cooked up some Nosler BT 140’s and Barnes TTSX 120’s on top of VihtVouri N555 with CCI 400’s and Lapua SRP. All seated .0200 off the lands and loaded in .5gr increments.

Nosler’s will move on to Round 2, up against 143gr ELDX’s and the Rokslide favorite... 130gr TMK’s. Whenever these new dies come in anyways.

~50 round impressions... For a ~$310 rifle or whatever I paid, the thing shoots and handles well. Even the TTSX’s had a ~1MOA ish average at 100 yards. I’m very curious to see with better custom dies, how well this little turd can shoot.

Overall I’m happy with how things are going. I’m seriously tough on my weapons and typically break a bow and or rifle/scope a season one way or another. I hunt a lot, these things sit in a truck and get tossed around often. The thought of me destroying a +$2k rifle/scope combo didn’t sit well with me as I’m a very blue collar American.

Rambling over. Stay tuned for more bullet holes & rambling whenever Forster sends me my dies.

 

[grfox92]

pretty badass little rifle. I was looking at them yesterday wishing there was more caliber options.

 

[Long Cut]

pretty badass little rifle. I was looking at them yesterday wishing there was more caliber options.

Agreed they’re very limited caliber wise. A .308 option with a 16-18” barrel that’s threaded would be sweet.

 

[grfox92]

Agreed they’re very limited caliber wise. A .308 option with a 16-18” barrel that’s threaded would be sweet.

Yea. I realized yesterday after going on their website that they do have a 7mm08 which would make a great all purpose rifle.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

 

[JCMCUBIC]

Yea. I realized yesterday after going on their website that they do have a 7mm08 which would make a great all purpose rifle.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

I picked up a 20" stainless 7-08 a year or so ago. The trigger really surprised me as it was very clean...like a lot of hammer guns. I'm not sure what the pull weight is but I had no need to touch it. I've put two loads through it, a reduced recoil load using 120 ballistic tips and a mid weight/pressure load with 150 ABLR's. Neither were worked up loads, just an off the cuff load and they both hovered just below 1.25" for 5 round groups. I'd guess it would do very well if I took the time to work up a load. It's not a true lightweight, but it's not excessively heavy either and the OAL with slim frame makes it very enjoyable to carry. The barrel weight makes it very steady offhand. I'm a bolt gun junkie but I have a hard time not liking the little gun.

Previously I'd had one in 35 Rem and it was incredibly accurate with factory Lever ammo. Limited range of the 35, and the 7-08 is certainly a better all around cartridge, but I wish I hadn't sold the 35.

Cool little setup Long Cut. Enjoy it!

 

[JCMCUBIC]

...one thing I should note. The screw in hammer extension broke when I was shooting the 7-08. I don't know if it was screwed in to tight, not screwed in tight enough, or it it had caught on something previously and been weakened. At the shot, the extension flew forward and the threaded section remained. I haven't tried to remove the threaded section yet. I need to see if I have a left handed drill bit small enough.

 

[Long Cut]

I picked up a 20" stainless 7-08 a year or so ago. The trigger really surprised me as it was very clean...like a lot of hammer guns. I'm not sure what the pull weight is but I had no need to touch it. I've put two loads through it, a reduced recoil load using 120 ballistic tips and a mid weight/pressure load with 150 ABLR's. Neither were worked up loads, just an off the cuff load and they both hovered just below 1.25" for 5 round groups. I'd guess it would do very well if I took the time to work up a load. It's not a true lightweight, but it's not excessively heavy either and the OAL with slim frame makes it very enjoyable to carry. The barrel weight makes it very steady offhand. I'm a bolt gun junkie but I have a hard time not liking the little gun.

Previously I'd had one in 35 Rem and it was incredibly accurate with factory Lever ammo. Limited range of the 35, and the 7-08 is certainly a better all around cartridge, but I wish I hadn't sold the 35.

Cool little setup Long Cut. Enjoy it!

Thank you!

I’ve become a huge fan of single shots ever since I switched over my turkey gun to one. I’ll own a Ruger #1 one day when I “slow down” and don’t turned every stock & scope into a scratch pad.

These little CVA’s are hidden gems. The triggers are crisp, they carry well and are very compact & economical. The gun may Weight 7# but feels more like 6# in my opinion. I wish CVA had more offerings in caliber, etc but I’ll take it. For the price, they’re shooters. Every single person I’ve spoken to said they had MOA or better groups from their Scouts from 45-70 down to .243..

I’m looking into adding a second hammer spur for my Scout. My thought is more real estate with gloved hands in the heat of the moment. If I forgot to cock the hammer back. Plus my OCD prefers uniformity...

 

[MAP1]

Thanks this is good info i’m looking at the same gun in 35 Whelen. I’m curious if the muzzle brake can be taken off the regular CVA scout?

 

[Bluefish]

Thanks this is good info i’m looking at the same gun in 35 Whelen. I’m curious if the muzzle brake can be taken off the regular CVA scout?

I believe it can. My neighbor just got one of the scouts in 35 Whelen and there is a thread cover in the box, so I assume it can be removed. Quite impressed with it. Shoots well.

 

[Long Cut]

Thanks this is good info i’m looking at the same gun in 35 Whelen. I’m curious if the muzzle brake can be taken off the regular CVA scout?

All of the V2 Takedown model Scouts are threaded and come with a muzzle brake.

The standard Scout (what I have) does not come threaded or with a muzzle brake.

 

[Geewhiz]

Decided not to chop the barrel? Curious how much weight you would lose by going to 16.5.

I am intrigued by these and am about to jump into an experiment. You can get a 6.5 cm pistol w/ a 14 in barrel that supposedly weighs 3.7 lbs. Per manufacture weight specs I could put a folding pistol grip/buttstock on the pistol, sbr it with a form 1, talley ring bases, swfa ultralite scope, tbac brake, and be sub 5 lbs all in. With a 9 inch suppressor and the stock folded it would be 25 inches long and be about 5 lbs 7 oz as near as I can tell. The reports that I am reading are saying 2500 fps or so with a 143 eldx. May be worth a gamble.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Decided not to chop the barrel? Curious how much weight you would lose by going to 16.5.

I am intrigued by these and am about to jump into an experiment. You can get a 6.5 cm pistol w/ a 14 in barrel that supposedly weighs 3.7 lbs. Per manufacture weight specs I could put a folding pistol grip/buttstock on the pistol, sbr it with a form 1, talley ring bases, swfa ultralite scope, tbac brake, and be sub 5 lbs all in. With a 9 inch suppressor and the stock folded it would be 25 inches long and be about 5 lbs 7 oz as near as I can tell. The reports that I am reading are saying 2500 fps or so with a 143 eldx. May be worth a gamble.

Sounds like a fun project, I'd love to see the result

 

[Long Cut]

Decided not to chop the barrel? Curious how much weight you would lose by going to 16.5.

I am intrigued by these and am about to jump into an experiment. You can get a 6.5 cm pistol w/ a 14 in barrel that supposedly weighs 3.7 lbs. Per manufacture weight specs I could put a folding pistol grip/buttstock on the pistol, sbr it with a form 1, talley ring bases, swfa ultralite scope, tbac brake, and be sub 5 lbs all in. With a 9 inch suppressor and the stock folded it would be 25 inches long and be about 5 lbs 7 oz as near as I can tell. The reports that I am reading are saying 2500 fps or so with a 143 eldx. May be worth a gamble.

The barrel is absolutely the heaviest part of these guns. More than likely I’d lose several ounces going down to 16” from 20”.

Honestly, I think you’re onto something here going with the pistol over the rifle version of the Scout.

Please keep me updated if you decide to pursue this venture as I’m very interested in building a .300blk pistol as you describe.

 

[Geewhiz]

The barrel is absolutely the heaviest part of these guns. More than likely I’d lose several ounces going down to 16” from 20”.

Honestly, I think you’re onto something here going with the pistol over the rifle version of the Scout.

Please keep me updated if you decide to pursue this venture as I’m very interested in building a .300blk pistol as you describe.

To me the most annoying part is the need to sbr it b/c of the barrel length. The tbac brake is 2.075" which would put the overall barrel length at 15.575 inches when pinned and welded which requires another $200 and a tax stamp. Be nice if the barrel was 1/2" inch longer to avoid that.

Unless anyone knows of a solution to get another 1/2 inch of barrel length and still be suppressor compatible.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

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