Another CVA day

So, yesterday was 47*, cloudy and almost rain but no wind at 7 a.m..

Here are some thoughts before I go into what I shot today:

Let me say, there are many powders (of various charge weights – including duplex load) and bullets of different profile, composition and weights. I have been doing a lot of testing/shooting over quite a few years and mainly with the heavy barreled Benchrest quality Brux .45………I only have access to this CVA Scout for a couple of months……the first three weeks being a learning curve for me. The rifle is very light, the barrel profile is thin and not of custom quality (but not bad). The trigger is 5+ lbs. and not 7oz. as my Shilen trigger. The scope is a 3 – 9 Burris Ballistic Plex. (vs. 12 x 42 NF) It would be impossible for me to compare all the loads I have shot over the years with the few I shot with this rifle. There is probably a wealth of different combinations that could be tried……….particularly if one was looking to develop a specific hunting load. Even with my poor form the first three weeks, I can say that the saboted .40 bullets performed way better than the ones shot sabotless. Even once I got the rest properly set up, the saboted 228 gr. Pittman Hardcores and the 250 gr. Fury star tips gave me some of the best results. I think the 275 AccuMax along with the 300 gr. Fury gave me some of the best sabot less results.

My thoughts are, for anyone planning on getting one of these rifles,is to look at a few of these bullets and then pick one to work with. Now you can concentrate on different powders, sizing….with wad and with out wad…………wool or veggie? No doubt in my mind they make a great “shorter” range “lighter” weight (9 lbs.) compact hunting rifles.

I will probably spend another week or so playing with this rifle but by new gun is rapidly coming together and I have to get it ready for Kentucky in mid April.

200yds

First off, I put one sighter down range at 100 yards and nicked the 2” dot with with a saboted 228 Pittman (all smooth blue Harvester sabots) over 60 gr. of H-4198. Next, I went to my 200 yard target and used the first Plex dot under the X hair. (did not know how much elevation was needed). It hit slight high and right. Note: I am hanging that 6 ½ lb. bag over the scope mount. Second shot in the dot…..forgot to put the bag on for the third shot and it went wide right. Bag on for the last two which made for a 1.3” group. Not too shabby for this light gun with a 9x scope. 2582 fps/16 fps ES

100 yds.

Group #2…250 (.40) Fury star with the same 60 gr. of 4227. 2661 fps/9 fps ES putting three shots in .395”



Group #3.. 250 Fury over 62 gr. of IMR-4227 for 2727 fps/21 fps ES. Three shots well centered at 1.3”.



Group #4..300 Fury star (.45) w/wad and 63 gr. of 4198 for 2541 fps with a 23 fps ES (very loose seating-could only get them just so tight?) (these had been previously sized smaller for my Brux barrel). While the group was a little bigger, it was still fairly roundish. Here again, If I had been starting with new previously unsized bullet, things could have been different? Not bad, just not great! A duplex might also be in order?

200

#5…Same load. Used the same first Plex under the cross hairs and the shot went 8” low. For the next two shots, I used the second Plex they went a tad high. Again, these are very promising but need more scope and new proper sizing.

100

#6..250 gr. XPB w/wad and knurled (but still very loose) 63 gr. of 4198 gave me 2610 fps with a 15 fps ES for two shots…………one way left and one higher right! Based on these two shots I bailed out!



#7…250 FTX w/wad and tight loading over 63 gr. of N-120. 2682 fps/7 fps ES. GREAT ES but did not shoot worth a S^%#! The way they loaded I would have thought they shot better…………NOT! Maybe another powder or maybe a duplex.



#8..275 AccuMax w/wad and 65 gr. of 4198 (very tight loading-this bullet needs to be sized a bit smaller). Av. vel. 2648/22 fps ES. I sort of discount the first shot when changing bullets or powder but shot #1 went a tad low then 2,3,4 and 5 grouped in 1.5”.

This would be a bullet that I would be playing a lot more with if the rifle was mine. Along with the 228 hard core and the 250 Fury saboted.

Again, these are just my opinions from the little shooting I have done with the rifle. Were I going to keep it, a power boost in the scope would be the first order of business along with the trigger being tweaked.
  (at least for bench shooting)