CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Well the little Brown Truck finally found his way back into the woods to my place. I have been waiting for my new rifle. New as in new in the box, but according to the serial number on the rifle it was made in 1992. According to the Manual with the rifle it was shipped in 1994.

This is a CVA (made in Spain) Stalker Carbine. The rifle has a 24 inch blue octagonbarrel and is a .50 caliber. They also came in .54 caliber which would have been a real trip to get.It even surprised me. With a 1-32 twist I believe this will be a real conical and sabot shooter. In fact in the manual for loads they offer different conical and sabot suggestions.

I also most wonder if this was not an attempt by CVA to bridge a traditional rifle with some inline qualities. This rifle does not lock down with a wedge pin. Instead there is a locking lug through the bottom of the stock, like my other inline rifles. Also the excellent sights on the rifle, a real trip from the old fashion CVA standard field sights. And this rifle is drilled and tapped for a scope mount. Perhaps a nice red dot scope would be in order on this since I have one laying around.

My impressions of the rifle are very impressive. It is thefirst time I came across this model, but a lot of nice features were put on thisrifle. The rifle comes with a very high quality wood stock with the Monte Carlo cheek piece on it. The stock is a very thick wood pistol grip and a wide base for the stock. The barrel to stock fit is excellent. Nice and tight with little gap. It has a button locking breech.

In my inspection of the barrel, I note it still full of packing grease with no sign of any rust. The only thing I found that needs to be fixed is the ramrod. The groove through the wood stock needs some sanding as it is still very ruff. It looks like a machine routered it in and then nothing was done to smooth the surface. The ramrod fits very tight.

Later tonight I will clean the barrel and check it again further. I will then shoot it in the near future as soon as I am able. I have some ballets (which are suggested in the manual... that kind of threw me) to try and some different conicals...

I also need to build another gun wall rack as I have all the others full to the brim. Lets hope I don't win a bid on another rifle I have been after this week...:D

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

cayugad

Gosh that is a beautiful gun. And I think agree with your statement about it being in between the traditional and the newer inline styles.

I just bet you are going to spend quite a bit time pamering your new tool and will certainly getthe best treatment in the world.

Post some targets when you get a chance...but most important have fun...

mike

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Wow cayugad!

I like. This is a perfect swamp gun for heavy conicals. I would like it in .54 but would buy one right now if they offered it in .58. If you don't mind my asking. How much does it weigh? And what does have to pay for it?

Please let us know how it shoots.

Happy Hunting, Phil

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

It's not all that heavy, around six pounds. I got it in auction for $99.50

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Awesome! Hope you enjoy it. :D

Happy Hunting, Phil

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

cayugad

that's a steal... good going.

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

AHEM, Well How did it shoot?:D

It looks much better than the box pic you posted last week. Good job on finding another bp value. It always suprizes me what we can find for short money nowadays.

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Great buy! My CVA with a 26" 1-32 barrel really likes the Great Plains 385gr HBHP. Give 'em a ride.

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

I have not shot it... Believe this or not I have not been able to shoot all week. I am going into withdrawals. [:@] Old men don't bounce like they used to when we were young. Be a good title for a book.. Old Men Don't Bounce. I had some misfortune with ice,and because of a fall I injured my left shoulder so bad that I have not been able to raise my arm.

I have cleaned the rifle tonight and if I have to sandbag it and shoot one handed, I am going to shoot it tomorrow unless we get the freezing rain they claim is coming. Then I am not going out of the house.

I have some at the house. What kind of powder charge are you pushing them and are you using a sub base at all?

thanks

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Well with that note I will make sure I do not ask the old fart any questions for a while so his body can heal.:D Don't want to make him type to fast or something....

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

That is an interesting rifle Cayugad. Might do well with some REALs or Maxi-balls?

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Looking over the suggested projectiles you might try, they seem to suggest LARGE conicals. I would have thought that a 1-32 would be good for small conicals. Although this is the first 1-32 twist I have owned. I have some R.E.A.L. conicals, maxi ball, three different Great Plains Conicals, and some No Excuse Conicials to try out of it. It should be an interesting first shoot....

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

I've been using 70gr 3f 777 with very good results. I posted a target with a 3 round group a few weeks ago when I was working up a load.2 rounds were touching and the other was about 1" away. No sub base or wad used.

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

thanks.. I will give that a try.

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Yes heavy conicals sound right to me because it has a fast twist. The faster the twist the longer the bullet. Thats why the lighter REALs work good in the 1:48 twist rifles they have a slower twist.

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Cayugad,
That is one mighty fine looking ML. I hope you heal up fast and your weather allows you some hammer time.

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

cayugad

Hey! it is 8:00 Pacific time so I am wondering???? Have you shot it yet????

I am out the door in about an hour - told Terry I was shooting stainless today. Beautiful day sunny bright 28 degrees right now going to high 30's

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Nice gun Dave!

Those were the days when the old CVA made guns/stocks with more quality. The old company got into trouble when they cheapened their first inlines (Apollo). I still haveaccess to anold $109 CVA Plainsman 1-66" from the early 90s that has a nice, solid, nicely grainedwood stock. I sold it recently - but I'm sure I could find a trade-value MLrifle laying around & snatch it back someday.

There are rumblings that the new CVA company (BPI)is having "quality/safety" problems & may be gone in the near future.

Anyone want to buy BPI cheap? Haveseveral million inside your piggy-banks? (guess).:D
Two buildings and inventory not included in that price....:D

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Excuse me did someone call my name? I read
pitsburhunter post about the CVA Stalker. And
he said something about an old fart & not
being graceful :D:D So I figured he was talking
about me....LOL A fine looking ML I bet it will
be a good shooter. Danny

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Unfortunately Danny I think he was referring to me and my new ice dancing routine. I looked outside and it was a beautiful day, 49ºs and bright sun, but very windy. Also the back yard was an ocean of ice from all the melting snow. So common sense told me to stay inside, away from the ice where it was safe.

Good thing my mother always told me I had no common sense.



Although this is only from the 30 yard station, shooting one handed off a bag rest, the rifle ignition was flawless. The trigger could definitely use some work. It has to be about nine pounds I would guess. When the wing heals more I will take a look at fixing or smoothing that out a little more.

The 320 grain R.E.A.L. conicals seemed to be flying. I was shooting them with 70 grains of Goex 2f, so next time out, I will kick the powder charge up and put a wonder wad under them to see if I can not make them behave.

The 245 grain Ball-et made by Buffalo Bullet company show some promise. I think a lot of the group was caused by me trying to get used to the trigger. I was shooting them with 80 grains of Goex 2f and not swabbing between shots. I noticed, this is a tight barrel. You have to be careful even swabbing the bore or you can get a wet patch stuck. Patch size with this rifle is very important. Of course it is new and time will smooth a lot of that out. If it don't I will.

I then got out some 300 grain Hornady XTP's with their own sabots and noticed it was going to be next to impossible to even load the things, so we put them away. No use fighting the rifle with one arm tied to your side. I then got out some Harvester Crushed Rib sabots and some of the Speer 454 Casull .452 diameter 300 grain GDHP (Gold Dot Hollow Points). I kicked the powder charge up to 85 grains to see if it would bring the groups down a little and was kind of pleased with the group it shot.

A better trigger, and a better address of the rifle, and I am sure I can make this one shoot real well...

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Just a quick update. I shot the rifle yesterday and as the day before, the ignition was flawless with the RWS 1075 caps, and the rifle was shooting 370 grain maxi ball into a nice tight group using my homemade lube and wonder wads, other then it was high and right a little. I have not made any adjustment to the sights yet. The first shot on a clean barrel hits very nearDead Centeron the bull for the two times I have shot the rifle at the 30 yard line. I also shot five 240 grain XTP's with a Harvester sabot and they shot under a 1" group at 30 yard but again, high and to the right. The one complaint still is the terrible trigger.

So last night I e-mailed CVA about the trigger along with some other comments. Dave Meredith the general manager of customer service e-mailed me back today andadvised me to send them the rifle minus the barrel and they would see what they could do about the trigger pull. Not only was I very impressed with their kind offer (since the rifle was made in 1992) but the fast response to my e-mail. Once the blizzard lets up that we have going here, I will send the rifle back to them for the repair.....

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Cayugad,
I remember the days when you could e-mail T/C Customer Service Center and get a reply. It's nice to know that CVA offers this option for their customers.
I'm surprised with your vastknowledge that you don't tackle the trigger yourself?
If you ever see anotherCVA Stalker for sale, let me know. I'd like to buy one...it's a good looker.
I'm glad to hear your shoulder's feeling better:)
Keep us posted.

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

vast knowledge.. I'm flattered to say the least. But a gunsmithI never claimed to be. Granted I've mounted my share of scopes and worked over some barrels that couldn't be hurt much more then they already were, but triggers are another thing. One little slip and you are buying parts.

Besides, CVA offered to do it, they have the gun smiths on premise, and they have the warranty. This way all bases are covered.

I will watch for one, and let you know if I see it...;)

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

Cayugad,
I know that you've never claimed to be a gunsmith but from the post I've read by you, you seem to melikea do it yourself type person.
I'm in no waysa gunsmith and would never claim to be one either, but I do work on my own triggers. The hardest that I can remember was onmy Encore and I was glad I took digital pictures before I started working.
You are taking the safest and smartestroute bysending it back to CVA. I should be so smart:eek:

RE: CVA Stalker Carbine
 

I re-worked a trigger on aSavage.22 WMR. Was a $99 dollar rifle about 17-18 years ago. The trigger was so hard it bruised my trigger finger. I noticed that there was a ledge on the trigger that was all rough so I polished it with very fine emory. I noticed then it was "too easy". It worried me so I cocked my rifle, unloaded of course, and just allowed the butt firmly bump the floor. Every 2nd or 3rd bump the trigger released. So i had to go back in and "roughen it". While the rifle is now a pleasure to fire, in the back of my head, I have a worry and I always think about my trigger modifications when I hunt or shoot with it.

Something "HAD" to be done about the trigger, but looking back, I wish I had thought to call Savage and see if they would do the modifications. So all in all, I think the piece of mind you will get by letting CVA handle it for you, will be worth whatever it takes to send it to them.

Its good to hear your rifle is shooting well.

Happy Hunting, Phil