Been looking for a rifle to be used as a truck gun, or throw in the SxS when out and about. I have a good shotgun for this, we take it with us in the fall when its grouse / upland game season. For summer, I've wanted a rifle, something to shoot marmots or other varmints we'd sometimes run across... the type of things there's no season for. I looked for a used 30-30 but good grief those start at $600 and go up from there... for a used gun. I just wanted something I don't care if it gets dusty, muddy or whatever. Just need it to be 2MOA or so, but also wanted it to be budget friendly

I got lucky and found this gem in the local gun classifieds. Its a break action CVA Scout in .243 which I have a ton of ammo for. Plus its powerful enough to hunt deer in a pinch. It as a 20" barrel which makes it even more convenient to fit in a vehicle.

Its pretty good shape. I see some wear on the outside of the barrel edge from going in and out of cases, but the rest looks really good. Break action is nice, simple and most importantly, reliable. the guy said he got it for his son to learn to shoot with, as he was kind of ambidextrous and they weren't sure what his dominant had was going to be. This gun was good for him as you can shoot it either handed easily.

Pretty happy with it. The guy threw in two half used boxes of different ammo and a 1-5x Konus scope (I've had bad luck with those) I immediately put a different scope on the gun, a 3x9 Nikon Buckmaster II I had laying on a bench. Its a semi-beater I've used on muzzleloaders and been ok, should be fine on this scope for the random rabbit or marmot... or squirrel etc etc.

All that for $270 USD. For that price, I'm super pleased with it. Will go shoot it tomorrow evening and get it rough sighted in.

-DallanC

perfect rifle for that job... 243 is no slouch either... with the newer fast twists they really getting versitile and a 80grn mono from all accounts is something special too. not that there is anything wrong with bog std 100grn corelocts etc... been one heck of a lot of deer shot over here with that combination.

Took a canyon ride yesterday and shot it. This cheap gun has one of the best factory triggers I've ever felt. It's extremely nice, no creep, clean break. Seems to be set around 4lbs. Just a great feel.

I rough sighted it after putting the scope on, centering a stop sign through the bore and adjusting the crosshairs to center on that. First shot off hand at 25 yards was 1" low, dead center. I shot it a few more times just playing and its well behaved. Tad more recoil vs a heaver Rem700 but still comfortable and a very fun little gun.

When I got home it was covered in dust, even though it sits in a gun rack right above the driver next to the windshield, so I'm really glad I went with a break action over a lever or something else. The break action seals up nicely. Sure I get some dust around the hammer area but I can blast that out with some break cleaner from time to time.

-DallanC

Dallan, you could use a finger cot over the muzzle to help keep dust out of the barrel. When needed, just shoot and the cot won't have any effect on accuracy. Our camp does this when hunting.

www.amazon.com/s?k=fin..._sb_noss_1

You are right, I've used those in the past. They also make specific ones for muzzleloaders, but I find a small piece of black electrical tape works just as good. I might dig out my old Hawkin muzzleloader "Calf's knee" to wrap around the action to further keep out dust.


-DallanC

RePete wrote:

Dallan, you could use a finger cot over the muzzle to help keep dust out of the barrel. When needed, just shoot and the cot won't have any effect on accuracy. Our camp does this when hunting. www.amazon.com/s?k=fin..._sb_noss_1

When I was in the Army, I saw guys using condoms on the muzzle of their rifle…worked a treat…and we had a good supply of them for nothing through the medical system.

Well done on scoring a good cheap rifle for your truck mate. Can’t say I’m familiar with the CVA brand, but it seems you’re on a winner.

I load Hornady 87gn HP in my Weatherby .243 and they are great. Can’t remember the exact load (AR2208 - Varget from memory), but they shoot into .7” at 100 yards, nice and accurate. A mate ragged me about my rifle, load and shooting ability, so I blasted a Coke can at 210 metres with that load.

CVA is more know for muzzle loaders (their line with Bergara barrels is widely well liked), but they used their technology and tooling to also make single shot rifles and pistols. I very nearly bought a .243 pistol, saw one on a gun auction site that sold for just over $330. But i'm much more happy with a rifle.

As for ammo, my wife primarily shot a .243 for most of her hunting career, only last year I stepped her up to a 7mm-08 for deer. I hand loaded most of her ammo and have a dozen boxes of everything from SP's to Nosler Partitions. I never really loaded up varmint rounds for it, but I do have several boxes of 70gr varmint loads. So it will be a while before I need to even think about loading for it. But when I do, I'll keep your load in mind.

Thanks

-DallanC

the 87grn hornady has a large following over here for fallow and sika deer...taken more than a few reds too,been used for fourty odd years by folks...