CVA 35 Whelen

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Wendyj

New member
I'll be quite honest. I didn't even know CVA made a center fire rifle. I was going to order a 35 whelen barrel for my Encore pro Hunter. I was getting some powder this morning and guy showed me a 35 whelen in a CVA for $275.00 with Millet rings and base. I can barely buy the barrel for my encore for that price. Gun was a little heavier than Encore and shouldered up nice but I don't know anything about CVA except muzzleloaders. Anyone own one in any caliber and how do they shoot?
 
They shoot like the Encores. Some are wonderful and some are dogs. The Bergara barrels on the CVA are of very good quality. If the rifle locks tight, it should shoot well. If it locks sloppy, it will shoot awful.
 
I appreciate that. It was a real tight rifle. I think the stainless barrel for encore was around $325.00. Looks like the CVA price may be better. I better check the twist rate on it. Hoping to shoot 250 grain bullets.
 
They're 1:14 twist barrels which should run 250 grain bullets just fine. Unless restricted to 250 grains or heavier due to primitive season regulations in some states, I'd be hard pressed to switch from the 200 grain Accubonds I shoot in my Whelen. The only reason I can see for going to 250 grains is if I were hunting large bears in Alaska with my Whelen. The 200-225 grain bullet options available are more than enough for deer and elk.
 
If you're gonna shoot 200's in a 35 Whelen you'd be better off shooting the same bullet weight in a 30-06. A 200 gr Accubond in a 35 whelen can be started 50-100 fps faster, but the 200 gr Accubond in a 30-06 will be faster within less than 100 yards. By the time you get to 300 yards the 30-06 shooting the same bullet weight is 200-250 fps faster with more energy, better penetration, and flatter trajectory due to far better aerodynamics. And with less recoil.

I sold both my 35 Whelen and 338-06 after carefully evaluating the real difference between them and what is possible with heavy bullets in a 30-06. Both have their place, but I can't see owning either unless you need or want to shoot 250-300 gr bullets.
 
It's like everything else. It's just a great old caliber to have. Do I need another rifle. NO. Want one. I guess. Anything to put on the reloading table. I'm about full. Just want to add a 204. Few hand guns and a self defense shotgun.
 
Well jmr40 isn't correct his numbers at all. A 200 grain Accubond in a .35 Whelen will leave the muzzle almost always 250-300 fps faster on average than a 200 grain Accubond in a .30-06. Does the 06 overtake the Whelen? Yes it does, but with 200 grain bullets that doesn't happen until you are at 300 yards, and with 225 grain pills its closer to 400 yards.

For most people 300+ yards is an extreme long shot, and the Whelen is really going to shine inside those distances. That doesn't mean that the Whelen isn't a capable cartridge beyond 300 yards as well. Some people are just more hung up on numbers than others, I'm a lot less concerned about numbers these days and have a bunch of fun using different things to do the same job.
 
I have a CVA Hunter that came in .35 Rem. I solved the non-existant ammo problem by reaming it to .358 Win.

The only loads I shoot are cast bullet. The RCBS 200 gr. going 2,000 fps is a very accurate load and will take anything down, that I am likely to hunt. The trigger on mine is very good. As good as the $125 trigger job on my H&R Handi. It came with scope base and very good rings. The stock is very solid and has an ambidextrous cheek piece. It also comes with a hammer extension which is needed.

However, you do not get a Bergara barrel until you go two more levels up to the Apex, which is in the $600 range. The barrels are not interchangeble on the Hunter, Scout and Stalker models.

I am very satisfied with mine and am waiting for them to offer it in .357 Mag.
 
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At the moment, I am not all too sold on Bergarra Barrels. My super premium supposed to be so freaking wonderful Bergarra Apex barrel in 7-08 is currently turning in super impressive barely sub 4MOA groups.
 
I usually hunt with bolt actions myself. Sometimes semi autos. I bought the break action for my son. I want to teach him to make his first shot count. If it continues to shoot as crappy as it does now, I doubt that will ever happen.:rolleyes: I am about to again try to contact CVA customer service. Contacting them seems to be harder than getting this barrel to shoot.:mad:
 
I had a Encore prohunter in 35 Whelen. Recoil was harsh. Encores have a reputation for not handling heavy recoil well. And a full power 35 whelen is not something to be taken lightly with energy numbers right there with 338 win mag. I had shot a rem 7600 in 35 whelen and the recoil was nowhere near as bad as the TC. Hopefully the added weight of the cva helps. After reading up a little more on sectional density. I've come to the conclusion that .358 bullets aren't that inherently good. Some calibers have it (6.5). Some dont. I agree with the previous poster and would now rather have a .30 bullet over a .35 cal.
 
For not much more you can get into a brand new Ruger American and have a whole different class if rifle. Not sure if they come in a 35 though, but you could get a .30/06 and have it re-barreled at some point down the road?
 
I wouldn't really call a Ruger American "a whole different class of rifle" Its a fine rifle, very accurate. But its one of the cheapest bolt guns you can buy and its evident in every way.
 
I misunderstood your use of the word "class" as to mean quality, not style of rifle. People dont buy break action rifles for their price. Heck just the reciever for my encore cost more than a Ruger american. Some states have primitive rifle seasons, some people want the option to add a muzzleloader barrel or different caliber. Some just like them for their simplicity. But bottom line, if you bought a break action its cause you wanted a break action. And no, they don't chamber Rugers in 35 Whelen.
 
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Ruger has cambered the M77 in .35 Whelen. I have one.Whether they still do though is another matter.
As far as twist rate goes, the proper twist should be 1 in 12". Why Remington and Ruger chose to go with the 1 in 16" twist is beyond me. No matter really. A 1 in 16" twist will stabilize bullets up to 250 gr. weight with out a problem.
I have a Ruger M77, 1 in 16", a Remington M700 Classic also a 1 in 16" twist and a custom mauser with a 1 in 14" twist. Yes, I really like the .35 Whelen. Right now the Ruger is my cast bullet rifle, the Remington is used with 250 gr. bullets and the Mauser uses the 225 gr. Barnes TSX bullets, a very nice elk slaying combination.
I only have a very few of the long discontinued Hornady 275 gr. bullets (15 :( ) so haven't tried them on anything. I hear of them popping up every once in a while and would buy a few more if they weren't priced like diamonds.
I have taken elk out as far as 350 yards with the Mauser.
Paul B.
 
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