Single Shot 44 mag.

Bearcat1982

Bearcat1982

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Mar 3, 2023
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There isn't many options for new production 44 mag rifles. Excet lever actions and single shots. Started looking at the stainless CVA. $3-$400 seems pretty reasonable. Any experience here or other single shots?
 
Bearcat1982 said:
There isn't many options for new production 44 mag rifles. Excet lever actions and single shots. Started looking at the stainless CVA. $3-$400 seems pretty reasonable. Any experience here or other single shots?
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I have a New England .44 Mag and love it. That was my deer rifle for the last few years I lived in Ohio after they legalized straight wall cartridge rifles. Really bummed out that they went out of business. If you can find one, I recommend it.
 
I prefer my 44 rifles with magazine tubes... but I sure would like to get an older NEF. I had one in 357 for a while and swapped it like an ignoramus. Be an interesting report on the CVA, from anyone who does have one, whether or not it does well with cast bullets.
 
I have a Ruger No 1 in 44 mag. Shoots very well. It set al most 2 years at a gun shop with the price creeping lower. Finally I couldn’t stand it any more. They said no one even picked it up and it looked so lonely. Lol.

Henry makes a single shot. I have only shot one and my impression was good. Trigger was a bit stiff. They do have a good reputation.

The old Handi rifles were good. My 22 hornet had 5 or 6 thousand round thru it and never had an issue. If you can find one made by H and R , or Nef, take a serious look.
 
The only ones that I know of in current production are CVA, Henry and Traditions. I had a CVA, but it was prone to ridiculous fliers with multiple scopes, so I sold it cheap with full disclosure. CVAs are said to have the best trigger of the bunch. Henry often has very nice wood. Traditions can be had for less money. https://www.whittakercountry.com/product/traditions-cr441130-outfitter-g3-44-mag-syn-black/ I really wish that they'd make them with barrels closer to 16 inches. You aren't really getting any velocity gains beyond that length.
 
dranrab said:
The only ones that I know of in current production are CVA, Henry and Traditions. I had a CVA, but it was prone to ridiculous fliers with multiple scopes, so I sold it cheap with full disclosure. CVAs are said to have the best trigger of the bunch. Henry often has very nice wood. Traditions can be had for less money. https://www.whittakercountry.com/product/traditions-cr441130-outfitter-g3-44-mag-syn-black/ I really wish that they'd make them with barrels closer to 16 inches. You aren't really getting any velocity gains beyond that length.
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Yep I'd have every intention to shorten the barrel if I did pick one.
 
stringnut said:
The old Handi rifles were good.
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I've got an H&R Classic Hunter in .45 Colt... if I was a .44 man, I'd be searching high and low for one.

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Where are the CVA's made? The Henry's are Chinese.

Edit: Sorry, I was thinking of the Savage NEF clones. Those are made in China. Don't know about the Henry's.
 
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bearcreek said:
The Henry's are Chinese.
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How do you figure that? Not a Henry fan-boy by any means, but I'm 99% sure that all Henry firearms are made in Wisconsin unless something has changed in the last couple years.

Back to the OP. I wouldn't mind having a CVA or Henry single shot in 44 or 45, or even an H&R (which might be my pick over all). But for the money either of them cost I'd rather add a little to it and buy a Rossi lever action. As @Bazoo said, I prefer mine with tubes.

Mac
 
MacAR said:
How do you figure that? Not a Henry fan-boy by any means, but I'm 99% sure that all Henry firearms are made in Wisconsin unless something has changed in the last couple years.

Back to the OP. I wouldn't mind having a CVA or Henry single shot in 44 or 45, or even an H&R (which might be my pick over all). But for the money either of them cost I'd rather add a little to it and buy a Rossi lever action. As @Bazoo said, I prefer mine with tubes.

Mac
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You're right. I was thinking of the Savage NEF clones. I edited my post.
 
I have three single shots, a Henry 357, a CVA 44, and a NEF 45-70. Henry is accurate but with the added comb riser, mount, sling and swivels, it is heavy. Good trigger. CVA is shooting well out to 100, has a great trigger and is going with me to deer camp Thursday. NEF is something I'm going to work on for next year. I've Bern a 45-70 shooter since the '60s but this fell into my hands too late to work up loads, much less cast bullets to work up those loads. I might even duplicate my old black powder recipes.
I think the CVA might be Spanish. Other two are US made. Or were, in the case of the NEF.
 
I have a CVA scout in 44 mag. I shortened and threaded the barrel and put a suppressor on it for shooting subsonic. It is a pretty nicely built rifle for the money. The stock is pretty cheap feeling but its fine and the quick release forend is great feature. The trigger is excellent. Only real complaint is they are very heavy.
 
I have two Contender carbines but the 223 and 30-30 are not IL legal and I’ve found no straight wall chamberings that I’ll pay an arm and a leg for. Barrel prices have gone nuts. Heck, I paid $350 for the 223 complete and got a handgun grip, a 22 pistol barrel and tuneup parts. 30-30 barrel was about$260 a few years ago from Natchez and a complete 22 carbine I bought from a neighbor for $250. Not now, however.
Only paid $450 for Henry, $360 forCVA and $350 for the NEF. Get lucky sometimes. Still watching for a 44 Carbine barrel.
 
My first rifle deer was with a '66 Ruger semi auto sporter.
Stock split not uncommon down the road, and other parts availability, rather than run the risk........sold.

TC barrels are pricey. Best bet is to find used on a forum or in a shop/gunshow.
Could avoid the hassle and just order new from MGM or EABCO.

I don't mind a break open pistol but am not a fan of it in rifle.
 
dranrab said:
I really wish that they'd make them with barrels closer to 16 inches. You aren't really getting any velocity gains beyond that length.
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I believe 18" is the sweet spot for the .44mag, as far as velocity gain over shorter barrels. That will deliver 300fps (generally) over a pistol. 16" on a single shot is a little too stubby, doesn't look good. Remember that a single shot is quite a few inches shorter than any repeater. A single shot with a 18" barrel will still be an inch or two shorter than a lever gun (for instance) with a 16" barrel.

The Henry single shot looks good to me, but I've never seen one in "real life".
 
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