CVA scout VS Henry single shot?

Obturation

Obturation

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2018
Messages
3,991
Location
Northern illinois
Hey all,
Hope everyone's feeling good.

I looked but couldn't find much on this forum as far as a comparison but I'll admit my searching skills are weak, forgive me if it's been covered .

Here goes-
As most of you have heard, Illinois has decided to allow straight wall rifle cartridges after the new year. Everyone here's glad to hear it but there are some significant restrictions. Either way, while I could fanagle around a rifle I have to be within the law, figured I'd just get something clearly legal. Single shot in 45-70 . not many choices that are priced like a hunting rifle , I'm basically looking at Henry or CVA with my current interest leaning toward the CVA. Simple reasons being a muzzle break and a stainless finish . I really like Henry but I think the CVA may be better suited to the elements and isn't a rifle I would care if it gets beat up in the woods, the Henry looks nicer and I'm sure is a darn fine rifle.

What would you pick? Any major drawbacks between the two? Either one stronger than the other?

Haven't been able to physically put hands on either, I'd have to buy one to see it.
 
I think the Henry has better fit/finish. However, I see your points on the CVA and think it would serve you well.

There is a company reaming the Henrys in 357 to 350 "legend" or .357Max if those appeal to you any. May be able to do that with a CVA also if they make a base one in 357.

Could get a Contender and put either a 357Max or 45-70 barrel on it also.
 
Ohen Cepel said:
I think the Henry has better fit/finish. However, I see your points on the CVA and think it would serve you well.

There is a company reaming the Henrys in 357 to 350 "legend" or .357Max if those appeal to you any. May be able to do that with a CVA also if they make a base one in 357.

Could get a Contender and put either a 357Max or 45-70 barrel on it also.
Click to expand...
45-70 is just easier for me, I've got a ruger 77/357 that I technically could use if I left the magazine at home and just used it as a single shot . I considered it as I have an excellent 150 yard load . I think dedicated hunting single would be a good investment ;)
 
I have the stainless CVA Scout TD and it is a completely fine rifle. Mine is .44 Magnum. Accuracy is plenty for the intended purpose, a 100 yard deer/pig rifle. The trigger may be the best I have used for an OE trigger. The hammer is kind of heavy to pull. My rifle was stiff to open when new but has broken in nicely. I like the trigger guard break open, much like a Contender. It is a tough and somewhat heavy rifle. Comes with a rail mounted and no open sights. Best thing, maybe, these are take down rifles and require no tools to do so. Boyds makes stocks for them too.

IMG-2288.jpg
 
Last edited:
Ohen Cepel said:
I think the Henry has better fit/finish. However, I see your points on the CVA and think it would serve you well.

There is a company reaming the Henrys in 357 to 350 "legend" or .357Max if those appeal to you any. May be able to do that with a CVA also if they make a base one in 357.

Could get a Contender and put either a 357Max or 45-70 barrel on it also.
Click to expand...
Henry is now making their single shots in 350 Legend.

OP, I'd go with that if I were you. Just my personal opinion of course, but I'm not fan of single shot rifles that have the opening lever/control on the bottom of the receiver. My experience was that the lever would catch on stuff and open sometimes when the weapon was slung, dumping your round out in the mud.

Also, FWIW, you could legally use a bolt action. Just leave the magazine at home. From the Illinois DNR, "A gun shall be
considered single shot if there is no magazine in the possession of or
in close proximity to a hunter in the field and the gun can only hold
a total of one round."
https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/publications/documents/00000923.pdf
 
Since I haven't loaded any legend
ammunition, I can't say for certain,
but it's my understanding that legend
ammunition uses a 355 bullet whereas
357 magnum and maximum both
use 358 bullets ( which I've loaded
and used both)
The legend is also a rimless round
which may or may not make a difference
in your area
 
bearcreek said:
Doesn't matter in Ill. I wasn't aware that there were any states that had a rimmed vs. rimless rule. Which one/ones have that?
Click to expand...

I don't know that any actually do as I'm
most familiar with the rules here locally.
Every place is different, and I read posts
from all over about the peculiarities of
different region's rules and regulations.
Here I can use whatever I deem necessary
to poke a hole in the desired animal
during general season, and not
have to worry about running afoul of
the game wardens
 
The CVA is better suited to be a "working rifle" with its stainless steel action and tough composite stock. The CVA also has a much better trigger out of the box and the stock is the correct height for a scope. The henry is a better looking rifle but the stocks are all made to iron sight height, which is a big turnoff for me and the triggers on the examples I've held in the store were pretty disappointing.

I have a CVA, a couple contenders, a couple handi rifles, and an encore. I like my handi rifles the best but of course they are no longer made. The CVA is a great gun although it is heavy and is the least refined of the bunch. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another for a hunting rifle, however I would get it in 444 marlin rather than 45/70. Assuming you are handloading, 444 marlin is superior in my opinion to 45/70 as a hunting cartridge on non thick skinned game. A 444 marlin loaded with a 270-325 grain cast gas check bullet is flatter shooting than 45-70 and less abusive to the shooter, and is dynamite on deer and bear. If you don't handload then 45/70 does have a lot more ammo available.
 
I would go with the Henry. Muzzle break instantly removes any gun from consideration. Especially one for hunting.
 
bearcreek said:
Henry is now making their single shots in 350 Legend.

OP, I'd go with that if I were you. Just my personal opinion of course, but I'm not fan of single shot rifles that have the opening lever/control on the bottom of the receiver. My experience was that the lever would catch on stuff and open sometimes when the weapon was slung, dumping your round out in the mud.

Also, FWIW, you could legally use a bolt action. Just leave the magazine at home. From the Illinois DNR, "A gun shall be
considered single shot if there is no magazine in the possession of or
in close proximity to a hunter in the field and the gun can only hold
a total of one round."
https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/publications/documents/00000923.pdf
Click to expand...

Does that mean you could technically use a .350 Legend AR?
 
JCooperfan1911 said:
Does that mean you could technically use a .350 Legend AR?
Click to expand...
Sure reads that way to me. Regs don't say anything about what type of action the gun uses, just that you can't have a magazine with you in the field. Loading an AR as a single shot is rather annoying though......
 
Bill Raby said:
I would go with the Henry. Muzzle break instantly removes any gun from consideration. Especially one for hunting.
Click to expand...

See, I'm the opposite. I'd pull the break off and run my suppressor on it, but being factory threaded is a huge plus for me.

If you otherwise like the gun, the muzzle break can very easily be swapped for something less offensive like a flash hider or plain thread protector for $20 or less.
 
someguy2800 said:
The CVA is better suited to be a "working rifle" with its stainless steel action and tough composite stock. The CVA also has a much better trigger out of the box and the stock is the correct height for a scope. The henry is a better looking rifle but the stocks are all made to iron sight height, which is a big turnoff for me and the triggers on the examples I've held in the store were pretty disappointing.

I have a CVA, a couple contenders, a couple handi rifles, and an encore. I like my handi rifles the best but of course they are no longer made. The CVA is a great gun although it is heavy and is the least refined of the bunch. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another for a hunting rifle, however I would get it in 444 marlin rather than 45/70. Assuming you are handloading, 444 marlin is superior in my opinion to 45/70 as a hunting cartridge on non thick skinned game. A 444 marlin loaded with a 270-325 grain cast gas check bullet is flatter shooting than 45-70 and less abusive to the shooter, and is dynamite on deer and bear. If you don't handload then 45/70 does have a lot more ammo available.
Click to expand...
Already have 45-70s and load for them, I don't dabble in 44 caliber anything anymore. I've never heard of the 444 out performing the 45-70 in any loading but I guess it might , either way they're both overkill so no need for dies, bullets and brass when I've already got all those things for the 45
 
I wouldn't mind having a CVA in 45-70 with the brake. Already have two rifles in 45-70, might as well have three. Nothing wrong with a Henry I suppose. They are very nice looking rifles. Just not that into them.
 
Obturation said:
Already have 45-70s and load for them, I don't dabble in 44 caliber anything anymore. I've never heard of the 444 out performing the 45-70 in any loading but I guess it might , either way they're both overkill so no need for dies, bullets and brass when I've already got all those things for the 45
Click to expand...

Gotcha. To clarify what I mean, 444 marlin cannot compete in terms of power just because 45/70 can shoot much heavier bullets, but if both are loaded with bullets in the 300 grain range, the 444 will match or slightly exceed the velocity of 45/70 lever action loads, and the .430" bullets have a better ballistic coefficient compared to similar weight 45/70 bullets so it is flatter shooting with less wind drift. My 444 load is a 320 grain hard cast LFN at 2200 fps. In any case, carry on.
 
It is a muzzle “brake”. Not break. That minuscule bitch aside, my guns, ready to go in the central IL “golden triangle” for trophy bucks(late season is antlerless only) are a Henry 357, an H&R 44, and whichever I choose to plug: Old Marlin 336-444, Rossi 45-70, Winchester 92 rifle rebuilt into 357,or Win 94 or Mar 1894 in 44 mag. Can’t go wrong. My farm, my rules.
Going with the Henry. Lehigh bullets inbound. H&R as backup in “Oneboys” hands.
 
PapaG said:
It is a muzzle “brake”. Not break.
Click to expand...
I know. It's funny that I mix the two words up regularly because I'm an auto mechanic and write "brake" so often that I used that spelling for every situation and purposely corrected myself so many times I think I subconsciously use "break" for anything that isn't a car part. Or something like that . I knew what I meant dang it !
 
Obturation said:
I know. It's funny that I mix the two words up regularly because I'm an auto mechanic and write "brake" so often that I used that spelling for every situation and purposely corrected myself so many times I think I subconsciously use "break" for anything that isn't a car part. Or something like that . I knew what I meant dang it !
Click to expand...

Oh well
At least I didn't nag about it.
My word is usually "vice" in place of "vise"
( the squeezy thing) when people say
" . . I clamped it in a vice . . " when they
should say vise. It's my biggest vice :rofl:
 
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