CPA (Stevens 44 1/2 Reproduction) Rifle

[ScottElliott]

Hey Folks,
I hope you are well! Figured I'd share a preview of an article I'm working on for The American Single Shot Rifle Association Journal, www.assra.com
The rifle is produced by CPA which is a reproduction Stevens Model 44 1/2.
Below are some pics of the rifle along with some five shot groups fired this morning at 100 yards. The group with SK Standard Plus is the first group ever fired from the rifle! The optics are a Montana Vintage Arms 10x scope.
-Scott

 

[cardman5448]

I also shoot several Shuttleworth CPA rifles. The .22 rimfire I shoot has a Douglas 1-16 twist barrel and a 36x Unertl for shooting off the bench and a 20x Unertl for offhand work. Never tried Midas but did give some center x and Wolf match a go. Ended up my rifle likes Ely 10x the best. Had a pic somewhere with a different scope, will see if I can find it.

 

[snert]

OMG. Awesome.

 

[Mills]

Get some !

 

[1shot]

Those are truly beautiful rifles!!

Lloyd

 

[NDAR15MAN]

ScottElloit … thanks for the great post and review. That is the gun I am Thinking about buying and scope too. Looks like it shoots a lot better than I thought. Can you share what the retail prices of the gun and scope is ? That is a nice looking set up. MD

 

[ScottElliott]

ScottElloit … thanks for the great post and review. That is the gun I am Thinking about buying and scope too. Looks like it shoots a lot better than I thought. Can you share what the retail prices of the gun and scope is ? That is a nice looking set up. MD

Thanks MD the rifle and scope make a great combination. (I was also using wind flags.) Here are a couple of links that you may find helpful regarding prices.

SCOPES - Montana Vintage Arms

montanavintagearms.com

CPA 44 1/2 Custom Rifles

All of our rifles are based upon the Stevens Model 44 1/2 action, the final action made during the high point of the single shot rifle. Fewer than 13,000 of these rifles were made during the period of 1902 to 1916, and they were certainly the finest of the factory single shot target rifles. The...

www.cparifles.com

www.assra.com also has a good forum you may want to check out.
I look forward to reading your future range reports
Scott

 

[NDAR15MAN]

Thanks will check out the info. Marty

 

[longbow]

Cant beat a CPA in price and quality..Nice gun1

 

[epc308]

I read your review/report in the ASSRA Journal. Your rifle is drop dead gorgeous, and seems to shoot equal to it's looks. Gary Quinlan had a couple Ballards advertised the recent Single Shot Exchange referred to as bottlecap rifles. They rifles were built to shoot old fashioned milk bottle paper caps as the folks couldn't afford targets. Based on the description and talking to Gary, your rifle is very similar in style, with the large, long barrel, old fashioned telescope, stocks, etc. I was going to buy one of those rifles, but it seems they had a lot of interest, and had been sold. I'm now on the hunt for something similar, or at least an action to work with.

 

[Ggmac]

^ me too .

 

[Rook 6]

Beautiful and tack driving CPAs guys! Still prefer 1885s but the 44 1/2 sure is hard to beat for shootability based on the ones I’ve been allowed to shoot! Thanks for sharing! I hope to own one myself someday!

 

[ScottElliott]

I read your review/report in the ASSRA Journal. Your rifle is drop dead gorgeous, and seems to shoot equal to it's looks. Gary Quinlan had a couple Ballards advertised the recent Single Shot Exchange referred to as bottlecap rifles. They rifles were built to shoot old fashioned milk bottle paper caps as the folks couldn't afford targets. Based on the description and talking to Gary, your rifle is very similar in style, with the large, long barrel, old fashioned telescope, stocks, etc. I was going to buy one of those rifles, but it seems they had a lot of interest, and had been sold. I'm now on the hunt for something similar, or at least an action to work with.

Thank you for the kudos I appreciate it. I've been shooting off of cross sticks lately and have been very impressed with those results also. There are some really nice Ballards out there and there is room in my cabinet for one

 

[ScottElliott]

Beautiful and tack driving CPAs guys! Still prefer 1885s but the 44 1/2 sure is hard to beat for shootability based on the ones I’ve been allowed to shoot! Thanks for sharing! I hope to own one myself someday!

I love my 1885 also it's nice to not have to remember to cock a hammer and man is is accurate!

 

[209jones]

Debating with myself over the last while on a CPA, it would be easier if the exchange rate was closer on Cdn buck. I'd do a 32-40 or a 32RKS, RKS bbl, likely a 24" bull octagon. Put a schuetzen butt stock on it and a benchrest forend, probably a ball & spur lever like that on the OP's 22. Debating if I want a benchrest butt for it as well. Biggest part of the debate is do I buy blanks and build my own wood or just buy unfinished, trying to decide how ambitious I feel.
I had a Browning 1885 I built into a 32-40 in 1992, sold it a 3-4 yrs back, have the urge for another one, had a lot of fun with that gun, shot it at last 3 yrs of Coors. Still have a 218Bee I built at the same time on a 044-1/2 action, 24" RKS octagon stainless, it's killed a pile of gophers, few yotes.
I shud have bought the CPA 10 yrs ago, when the exchange was within 5 points, bought a Krieghoff SxS instead, as I still had the 1885.

 

[epc308]

Debating with myself over the last while on a CPA, it would be easier if the exchange rate was closer on Cdn buck. I'd do a 32-40 or a 32RKS, RKS bbl, likely a 24" bull octagon. Put a schuetzen butt stock on it and a benchrest forend, probably a ball & spur lever like that on the OP's 22. Debating if I want a benchrest butt for it as well. Biggest part of the debate is do I buy blanks and build my own wood or just buy unfinished, trying to decide how ambitious I feel.
I had a Browning 1885 I built into a 32-40 in 1992, sold it a 3-4 yrs back, have the urge for another one, had a lot of fun with that gun, shot it at last 3 yrs of Coors. Still have a 218Bee I built at the same time on a 044-1/2 action, 24" RKS octagon stainless, it's killed a pile of gophers, few yotes.
I shud have bought the CPA 10 yrs ago, when the exchange was within 5 points, bought a Krieghoff SxS instead, as I still had the 1885.

If you find/have an action but need stocks, CPA Stevens will cut your blanks for a reasonable fee. Between a friend and I, we have had them carve a half dozen chunks of lumber for us, and have always been pleased with the results.

 

[epc308]

Thank you for the kudos I appreciate it. I've been shooting off of cross sticks lately and have been very impressed with those results also. There are some really nice Ballards out there and there is room in my cabinet for one

The best part of your rifle is dispelling the myth that single shot rifles with a 2 piece stock can't/won't be accurate. Using cross sticks? You know the barrel can't touch anything and still have any accuracy. Hahahaha!

 

[Cbashooter]

I have a similar CPA like the original post(but in a schuetzen style stock and Pope lever).its as accurate as any other match gun I own.
Here it is in the rack today with a couple other of my tack driving .22 rimfire rifles.

 

[URBAN1]

Beautiful rifle. I have wanted a CPA for years. I always find an excuse to buy something else.