1858 Remington and CVA Squirrel

[Searcher1911]

I'm an old collector and shooter, mostly pistols and rifles, surplus and new, military and civilian. I decided it would be good to try black powder again; I have not shot it in years. My Renegade and .45 BP pistol have been safe queens. Anyway, after reading the BP forums I ordered a old/new CVA squirrel rifle kit from Deer Creek Products and a case hardened/laser grip 1858 New Army Remington from Cabela's (Pietta). The old CVA kit was surprisingly well made and the parts kind of fell together. The lock assembly even is adjustable so the trigger can be made manageable. The Remington is truly a work of art. I read Pietta has upgraded to CNC machines and this pistol sure looks like that is true. The finish and workmanship is great and the trigger pull is quite good for a low priced pistol. It is amazing the bargain that BP guns are when compared to modern ones. Of course, then, I have never met a gun I did not like! I thank the guys on these forums who give real assessments of what works and what does not.

 

[Duncaninfrance]

ENJOY!

Duncan

 

[arcticap]

Congratulations! Here's a thread about the same rifle, and includes quite a few pictures of another's Deer Creek CVA project. All of the pictures can take several minutes to load:

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/195717/

Here's a referral link to join the above forum if you're interested and aren't a member already. They have "The Gun Builder's Bench" forum where the folks can offer very helpful advice:

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/fusionbb.php?referral/4225/

Small caliber rifles are loads of fun to shoot, welcome back to makin' lotsa' smoke!

 

[Plastic Cowboy]

I recently bought a Pietta 1858 Remington Target model from Cabelas too and I am very impressed with the quality and craftsmanship from such a low priced gun. The wood grain in the grips is nearly as nice as that in my big $$$ citori shotgun. I have fired it hundreds of times now (always with the chambers filled right up to the rim with 45 grains of 777) and it keeps chewing up and spitting out these magnum loads like a real trooper. It is surprisingly accurate too. I am getting 4"-5" groups at 25 yards which is pretty good for my skill level.

Oh yes-- if a game of poker goes bad in the saloon, I will definately be able to defend my self!!!

 

[drdirk]

Enjoy the Pietta. From you name I assume you are also into 1911's. Funny, almost all Black Powder shooters are also 1911 fans. Wonder if there is a correlation or just a coincidence???

 

[DutchmanDick]

Enjoy the CVA, too! I built one of the squirrel rifles from a kit when I was 13 (back in '84!). It wasn't my first blackpowder gun - that being a CVA "English belt pistol" flintlock that was given to my by one of my uncles as a Christmas gift when I was 9 - but it was my first kit, and I had a lot of fun putting it together and shooting it. I still have it, too!