CVA squirrel build

So I just received my CVA Squirrel.32 kit that my son and I are going to build from Fastleo. Let me just say that he is probably one of the best people I have ever purchased anything off of. If you ever have a chance to get one of his guns you will be very pleased! So the gun is an original CVA kit from the early 80s I would say. Its a percussion but my son and I are making ours a flint, we got the little L and R lock a day before we got the kit so timing was perfect! Iv never built a kit before so we are really enjoying it! I like how it didn’t come together and how we get to put some work into it. I am limited on tools but a mora knife can do just about anything! So here is our progress so far, I will continue to post till we finish.

Here’s some more

Awesome what a great father and son bonding project.

Rebel jim said:

Awesome what a great father and son bonding project.

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He is really enjoying it and I am too. I told him someday he will be older and walking through the woods with it hunting squirrels thinking how we built it together.. he gave me a crazy look he couldnt imagine 5 minutes into the future much less 30 years hahaha he won’t get it now but oh he will someday.

One question if any of you might know, what size sights would I need for this? I really do not like the ones that come with it and would like more traditional sights of possible. I just wouldn’t even know where to begin size wise

Congrats on your kit and look forward to following along. The grin on that young man's face says it all! A great memory in the making!

He looks so excited. I’m sure you are too.

Great experience for both of you. Congratulations!

@lbothell, does your new CVA kit have the new CVA breech style or the traditional breech style. The diagrams pictured below show a flint touch hole. The percussion breech has a drum that is threaded through the breech and into the other side. The conversion can be made from percussion to flint, and Track (IIRC) has the replacement flint CVA touch hole. Do take care that you do not weaken the breech by removing the drum and leaving a void across from the touch hole.



The CVA Percussion Breech exposed:



For CVA, there is no longer any warranty.

Make sure you have the traditional breech and not the new CVA/Traditions style.


Track will also have any number of replacement sights.

I took a second look at your pictures. Your rifle appears to have the flint touch hole already installed. Ignore the above post except for the sights.

Grenadier1758 said:

I took a second look at your pictures. Your rifle appears to have the flint touch hole already installed. Ignore the above post except for the sights.

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So I actually have the New CVA style breech. It is the same one as in the colored picture so the drum goes through the breech. I have a replacement screw for it and I could leave the drum in, grind it off and thread it for a liner. Would that work??

That would work.

lbothell said:

One question if any of you might know, what size sights would I need for this? I really do not like the ones that come with it and would like more traditional sights of possible. I just wouldn’t even know where to begin size wise

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Track of the wolf will be able to help you with the size of sights you need. You might wanna give them a call. I would go with a small buckhorn personally.

Grenadier1758 said:

That would work.

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Okay thanks!!

lbothell said:

So I actually have the New CVA style breech. It is the same one as in the colored picture so the drum goes through the breech. I have a replacement screw for it and I could leave the drum in, grind it off and thread it for a liner. Would that work??

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I went back through the photos and noticed that the bolster had been removed. Personally, trying to re-index that drum and re bore back is simply looking for trouble. Try to find a manufacturer that can supply you aliner. Secondly, if you may want to consider having the barrel bored to a chambered breech .

tgfrench said:

I went back through the photos and noticed that the bolster had been removed. Personally, trying to re-index that drum and re bore back is simply looking for trouble. Try to find a manufacturer that can supply you aliner. Secondly, if you may want to consider having the barrel bored to a chambered breech .

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That would be awesome to have it bored to a chambered breech just to keep things simple.. I just don’t want to send it away if I could remove the breech it wouldn’t be that hard to do

So I did find an actual CVA conversion bolt to turn my gun into a flint. I still have to drill a hole in through the threads and get it to line up just like the hole on the drum. The other nice part is it’s already tapped for a liner I’m assuming it would take the cva style liners. I just need to see what’s Easier doing that with the replacement bolt or using the old drum and then retapping it for a line

Okay we have an update on the squirrel rifle! My son and I have been working hard and it came out better then I could have imagined! Have some things I need to finish but the gun is assembled it was a fun first build I think we’re going to build more

We wanted to give it a worn look, Elijah said he likes how old it looks ha. I actually browned the barrel first with LMF and hated it, looked like copper and I followed the directions just as they said. As I steel wooled it off this nice worn look came about and we stuck with that

lbothell said:

We wanted to give it a worn look, Elijah said he likes how old it looks ha. I actually browned the barrel first with LMF and hated it, looked like copper and I followed the directions just as they said. As I steel wooled it off this nice worn look came about and we stuck with that

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Over lapping or rubbing will cause that effect. Looks good as is , now get that boy out and pop some tree rats.