If the maxi balls are too hard also then you may have gotten an under bored barrel. From what I have heard that isn't uncommon with CVA. Going down to .45 would be too much more than likely. I know nothing about that model CVA but if it has a removable breech plug, then I would pull the barrel, remove the plug, and push a slug from the back then measure the slug. If it doesn't have a removable breech plug then you need to take it to a smith or someone with a inside mic to measure your bore size. There are some rifles that are hard to start but once started they slide down easily. I have a few of them.