[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Bobcat Rifle by CVA
 

The Bobcat is a real surprise. I have a Mountain Stalker which is the same thing as a Bobcat as close as I can tell. They are both made by CVA. Mine is a .54 caliber and I got it on sale for $39.95 at Bass Pro. They still or did have them in .50 caliber a while back.

This rifle is a fine shooting rifle without a doubt. I took three deer with it this year alone. In fact I own six other black powder rifles, but I started working up a load in this Stalker and it was so accurate I decided to see if it would earn its wings hunting.

The rifle has a few drawbacks. It is very light. 5.5 pounds I believe. You will know this when you have a heavy charge in it and pull the trigger. You will also appreciate this after you have walked the woods all day with it. Some people do fill the hollow stock and make it weigh more and balance out better. I have no problem with it. I knew it would kick a little when I bought it.

The sights could be better and a lot of people change them over to fiber optics. I kept the ones that came with it. After a little work, at 30 yards off shooting sticks I will shoot a ragged hole with it and a round ball. I also took some florescent model paint and painted the front site and back blade so they show up better at dusk. Worked like a charm this deer season. I have also been shooting conicals out of it with real good results. I have not worked a load for the conicals because I really think I will leave this as a round ball rifle.

Some of the rifles were reported to have misaligned hammers. Mine did not. It strikes the caps square and ignition is real good actually. Those that had the hammer off a little, bent them into place.

The single trigger is crisp and light actually. I really like the pull on the trigger. And the trigger guard is generous enough that a gloved hand can still fire the gun without problem.

My friends who I shoot with were having a good laugh over the $40.00 rifle until they saw the way it shot. And there is no more laughing about it after deer season was over. I really like the rifle. Face it, walk through the woods and bang it into a tree, it does not hurt so much as scratching your $400.00 Hawkins. It is a nice addition to my collection, and I really enjoy shooting it.

For the money, it is one of the best starter guns I could recommend, and have. It is a shame that all the .54 calibers are gone or I would have bought a second one for my nephews to shoot when they visit.

The rifle shoots best with 85 grains of Triple Se7en (which is a maximim load by the way) a wonder wad and a patched round ball. Be prepared for the recoil. In fact I took a black stretch sock put it over the stock and padded under it which helped solve the recoil problem for the most part.

Don't let the price fool you. It is a good fun gun for the money.....

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Bobcat Rifle by CVA
 

The Bobcat is a sidelock and therefore cleaned in a water bath. Pull the ramrod, knock the wedge pin out, remove the nipple, and give the barrel a water bath.

Because I was shooting triple se7en, believe it or not I was giving it a water bath in a large insulated mug. Put the breech end in there and run a few patches up and down the barrel to knock the T-7 out, then a could of solvent patches and oil it up. The barrel is done. After I wipe out the composit stock with a cloth and wipe all the cap flash powder off the side plate and bolster area, I scrub the nipple up real good and have the rifle back together in no time at all, clean and ready to shoot again.

Who ever said an in line was easier to clean then a sidelock is crazy. Granted you can take the breech off an in line and be sure you have it spotless, but I would much rather clean a sidelock, drop a bore light down it to check it, and not be wiping out all those parts and such.....

It is a piece of cake to clean. Especially if you shoot triple se7en. If I had a .50 caliber (and have throught of buying one, I see Bass Pro has then for $59.00) I would shoot about 70 grains of Triple Se7en and I think it would behave just fine.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Bobcat Rifle by CVA
 

I am a firm believer in the fire it off at the end of the day and clean the rifle type person. I do this for a number of reasons. It lets me know if my cleaning and loading techniques are good or if they need work. If at the end of the day on the way out of the woods you pick out a stump and touch it off and it goes BOOM then I know that I have a good method of waterproofing the gun and loading it for a hunt. If it fails to go off, I want to know why. This way I learn all the little quirks of the rifle.

Also I like to start out each morning with a fresh loaded rifle. I cleaned it the night before and it is all ready to go for another day. If it fired the night before, there is a real good chance it will fire today when the buck or what ever I am after comes in front of me...

I also do not believe in pulling the bullet. I think too many people pull bullets with out killing the charge in the barrel. Granted there probably will not be an accident when they do that, but I am not taking a chance. I have watched them pull a projectile out of a live barrel and it makes me cringe. When I point out they should kill the charge, then they complain it makes a mess and they have to clean the gun then. So does washing the walls and ceiling....I can afford to shoot off a projectile and 80 grains of powder.

I have never played with the Co2 unloaders. I am sure they would work fine. If that is how someone wants to empty the rifle fine. It would not hurt to have one if you forgot to do something and needed to get a projectile out of a barrel, but there are ways to clear a projectile without a Co2 unloader...

This is what I shoot out of my Stalker and an indication of how accurate it is at 25 yards.... good luck

RE: Bobcat Rifle by CVA
 

I bought a Bobcat in July of...2001. I have shot about 200 rounds through it, but have not killed anything to date. I love this little rifle. I have carried it in the field and it is a wonder at the end of the day! I have finally found its sweet load... 80 grs of RS and a 245 gr Buffalo Ball et and a CCI #11 mag cap. I can print 2" groups at 50 yds offhand, which should give me about a 65-70 yd max range for up to elk. Plan to use it this fall for that purpose...If I draw a tag. Will do some chrono testing here soon, to see what this combo is doing at the muzzle and 25 yds. I would recommend getting one of these fun little smokepoles. The only one I have and probably the only one I will ever need!

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Bobcat Rifle by CVA
 

Charlie Brown, that would be real interesting to see what it clocks out at. I am guessing from your data that you shoot a .50 caliber? I have always wondered what I was pushing out of that .54 caliber this season with a patched round ball and 85 grains of Triple Se7en. I would have guess around 1700. All I know is they sure did damage to the deer they hit....

If you want a real traditional look Ifferd, they do sell the Bobcat with a wood stock. I have the black composite stock but actually I am getting to like these stocks. For years I would never get a rifle that had one, now I own three of them.

Good luck with your Bobcat. I really think like Charlie Brown, you are going to really like the rifle..

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]