Cva 35 Whelen accuracy

[Jonl]

I live in Louisiana and we are allowed to shoot single shot rifles with hammers of at least 35 caliber in our so called primitive season. I have a very accurate Remington muzzle loader but it is a lot of trouble so I purchased a CVA Apex in 35 Whelen. I am impressed with the overall quality of the rifle but it is so far very inaccurate. I first mounted a Nikon 3.5 - 14 scope and made up a batch of loads using 30-06 brass but the gun shot so erratically at100 yard that I thought the scope had broken. I then mounted a Leupold 3-9 and purchased a box of Barnes factory ammo ($40.00 by the way) lock tighted and checked all screws and my first shot at 100 after bore sighting was 2" low and the next was 9" high. I quit at that point and plan to call CVA in morning. It seems that the vertical grouping is good. All the shots line up very well up and down just a foot apart. I don't know how you bed a break open gun but something is screwy. I shot a 5 shot group on the same target with my TC 357 Herrett 14 " handgun and Simmons 2-6 power scope that was slightly under 2 and it has never given me problems. Any ideas what gives with the CVA?

 

[jonbearman]

Here is my opinion,send it back and then when it gets straightened out if ever ,sell it.

 

[leadburner]

Local guy having issues with a CVA. You might find the thread an interesting read of what to expect from them. Good luck.http://www.msgunowners.com/t54773-cva-problems

 

[shanghi]

I own two CVA rifles, a 222 rem and a 35 whelen. I have had no trouble with either and both will shoot under MOA with hand loads. I know the Bergara barrels are known for there accuracy and this is one of the reasons I bought them, that and the fact I am teaching my granddaughter on the 222 rem and feel it to be very safe only having one shot and having to cock the hammer, a great form of safety.

I do know the two rifles have different marking on them and when I did a search found the 222 rem to be called "Bergara Scout" whereas the 35 whelen is marked as CVA Scout, I think it may have some thing to do with the distribution or imports because here in Australia we have both markings.

I have include a photo of the two rifles so you may see the difference in markings, the 222 rem strangely enough came with open sights, where as the 35 whelen did not. The whelen is a heavy rifle with a heavy 26" barrel coming in at 10 lb, but it helps with recoil and I also fitted a Progressive Recoil Reducer which a guy here in Australia makes and fits, it is now a joy to point and shoot, very quick for the Boar Pigs I shoot with it, with a photo include.

 

[Jonl]

I talked to CVA this morning. Didn't have any problem getting through and the guy seemed knowledgable Said he owned one and it shot 2 moa? Maybe he got pick of the litter. He said they had some issues with the type scope base they sent me and would send me a better one. Also said the barrel was free floated and should only touch where the two screws were on foreend. I have problems believing the solid base with 4 tight screws to the barrel and or forfend touching the barrel could cause a gun to shoot 12" groups but he also said if this didn't fix it they would send me another one. Oh well I guess I can use my Contender pistol to primitive hunt with since it shoots a heck of a lot better. Don't think I am getting anymore CVA products.

 

[shanghi]

Sorry Jonl to hear of you bad luck with your rifle, the rifle you have the Apex is a lot more expensive than the Scout I have, your rifle being able to swap barrels I believe.

Maybe CVA sent us the good ones here in Australia knowing it would be a pain in the arse to have to swap a bad one , but mate in a seriousness I would not swap either of the rifles I have.

Good luck with yours and hope you get it sorted OK.

 

[Jonl]

You are right about the Apex being a lot more expensive than the others CVA's that I looked at but it was heavier and seemed higher quality than the others and I still sometime naively believe that you might get what you pay for. My sister lives in Perth so if you see her say Hi. The family disowned her when she married one of you Australian criminals. Just kidding, I am the only family member that hasn't been to see her and it is on my bucket list. How does that 35 Whelen do on Koalas?

 

[shanghi]

Being a type of Bear with heavy bones you have to make the right bullet choice and shot placement is critical, but the Whelen will handle what ever animal we have here in Australia. Our own Australian bullet maker Woodleigh"s had developed such a bullet, being a 310 gr RN SP specially for that purpose.
Your sister must be a pretty smart girl to have married an Australian and to live in Perth is a beautiful part of Australia.

It is funny you say the Apex is heavy because when I ordered my Scout and I looked at the specs it was supposer be a light rifle with a 22" barrel, but when it came it was 10 lb with a heavy 26" barrel, I some how think I may have got a Apex barrel on a Scout frame : if that could have happened, oh well I not complaining
is shoots so well I am a happy man.
All the best to you Jonl,
shanghi.

 

[Mike c.]

Being a type of Bear with heavy bones you have to make the right bullet choice and shot placement is critical, but the Whelen will handle what ever animal we have here in Australia. Our own Australian bullet maker Woodleigh"s had developed such a bullet, being a 310 gr RN SP specially for that purpose.
Your sister must be a pretty smart girl to have married an Australian and to live in Perth is a beautiful part of Australia.

It is funny you say the Apex is heavy because when I ordered my Scout and I looked at the specs it was supposer be a light rifle with a 22" barrel, but when it came it was 10 lb with a heavy 26" barrel, I some how think I may have got a Apex barrel on a Scout frame : if that could have happened, oh well I not complaining
is shoots so well I am a happy man.
All the best to you Jonl,
shanghi.[/

I live in Louisiana and we are allowed to shoot single shot rifles with hammers of at least 35 caliber in our so called primitive season. I have a very accurate Remington muzzle loader but it is a lot of trouble so I purchased a CVA Apex in 35 Whelen. I am impressed with the overall quality of the rifle but it is so far very inaccurate. I first mounted a Nikon 3.5 - 14 scope and made up a batch of loads using 30-06 brass but the gun shot so erratically at100 yard that I thought the scope had broken. I then mounted a Leupold 3-9 and purchased a box of Barnes factory ammo ($40.00 by the way) lock tighted and checked all screws and my first shot at 100 after bore sighting was 2" low and the next was 9" high. I quit at that point and plan to call CVA in morning. It seems that the vertical grouping is good. All the shots line up very well up and down just a foot apart. I don't know how you bed a break open gun but something is screwy. I shot a 5 shot group on the same target with my TC 357 Herrett 14 " handgun and Simmons 2-6 power scope that was slightly under 2 and it has never given me problems. Any ideas what gives with the CVA?

I had the same problem. I tried the Nossler Trophy Grade 225 grain Accubond bullets and the problem went away. Now shooting a 2 to 2 1/5" group at 100 yards using sand bags. Shot 3 hogs in January, very hard hitter.

I live in Louisiana and we are allowed to shoot single shot rifles with hammers of at least 35 caliber in our so called primitive season. I have a very accurate Remington muzzle loader but it is a lot of trouble so I purchased a CVA Apex in 35 Whelen. I am impressed with the overall quality of the rifle but it is so far very inaccurate. I first mounted a Nikon 3.5 - 14 scope and made up a batch of loads using 30-06 brass but the gun shot so erratically at100 yard that I thought the scope had broken. I then mounted a Leupold 3-9 and purchased a box of Barnes factory ammo ($40.00 by the way) lock tighted and checked all screws and my first shot at 100 after bore sighting was 2" low and the next was 9" high. I quit at that point and plan to call CVA in morning. It seems that the vertical grouping is good. All the shots line up very well up and down just a foot apart. I don't know how you bed a break open gun but something is screwy. I shot a 5 shot group on the same target with my TC 357 Herrett 14 " handgun and Simmons 2-6 power scope that was slightly under 2 and it has never given me problems. Any ideas what gives with the CVA?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Get an h&r handi rifle in 45-70. Cva has never been known for quality. Back in the good ole days every time i heard of a muzzle loader not going off or hangfiring it was inevitably a cva. Ive never seen one able to stay on paper at 100yds