Took this one today, opening day here in Ga. It is a CVA Scout V2 in .357mag with 14" barrel. Got this gun NIB, delivered off gunbroker for $295 including FFL fee. Got on Craigslist and bought the practically new Weaver Classic 2.5-8x28mm handgun scope from a guy in Colorado for $100 delivered. I put the 2 together and loaded up some 180gr NOE FP cast bullets and sat down to see how it played. It put them inside 1" at 75yds and that is about the max range that I will use it. Chrono said the bullets are exiting at nearly 1600fps...a potent dose for deer. It will put that bullet through both shoulders of a deer without any problem. I tried 296 and got 1700fps...but the group opened up a little, so I reverted to the 2400 load.

I didn't see anything this morning, but this afternoon's hunt found me with 2 spikes and a beautiful 4 point in front of me inside 50yds. I could have taken any one of them on several occasions, but I was in a Quality Deer Management county and it requires a buck have at least 4 on one side to be legal. So, they got a pass and I will keep hanging around for one that is a little larger...to break the ice with this sweet shooting outfit.

This is as much hunting handgun combo as I have ever put together for less than $400.

BTW, the Nikon scope that I have in the classifieds was bought for this gun and after seeing the potential for accuracy that the gun exhibited...I decided that my old eyes would benefit from a variable. Hence, the Nikon 2X being posted for sale.

A heck of a deal there. Nice looking rig to boot. Wish you luck!

Nice combo. I have the CVA Optima V2 muzzle loading pistol and love it. It will do 1 inch groups at 50 yards when I do my part. I thought a lot about buying the pistol you have but had just bought a used contender so I decided not to. I may end up wishing I did.

You can get the same gun in 243 and 44 mag. What made you choose the 357? I do believe it would be a great gun in 357 but was just wondering why you choose it instead of something else.

I am considering the same gun in .243 Winchester. Just waiting to see someone's range report in that cartridge before I jump.

Well, as to why the .357...it was at a great price with one bid and the auction was about to end. I have Contenders and barrels for a bunch of different calibers...I shoot some .357 in single actions, so I thought that I would just give this a try. I have .357max in the Contender and I like it a lot...and actually was thinking that after playing with .357mag this deer season, that I would probably "maximize" it. And, besides all of that...I didn't have one. After all is said and done, I am a typical gun nut.

I really like the gun, a little too heavy for .357mag...but that weight is nice for bigger boomers that it is available in. The trigger is pretty good out of the box and it is much easier to open than any of my Contenders...and again, price is always a consideration when I do things and this is a lot of gun for the money. I will also try some lighter bullets before I rechamber...just to see how it does with them as I might just keep it like it is, to play. I was hoping that it would have a little more generous chamber length so that I could use a good bit of new DW360 brass that I have, but nothing doing there...pretty close to saami spec on the chamber.

All in all, I am tickled with it and I really look forward to having the opportunity to get a deer with it. To be honest, this gun is ample for a lot of the places that I hunt...close cover, 125lb deer and you can really thread the needle with it...put the bullet right where you want it.

Went back this afternoon to try to bloody the Scout...nothing but a spike showed.

I will persist until it happens.

Also, if anyone knows where to get some Lil'Gun online, please let me know as I would like to give it a try in this gun.

Be sure and let us know when it does.

Very nice! I was initially considering that gun in .357 or .44, but decided on my Super Blackhawk Hunter instead. I could see the black powder version in my collection soon.

I first considered this gun in BP early last year and really didn't know that it was offered in centerfire until seeing this on gunbroker. I don't shoot BP...so I just let it go with that version...but when I saw this one, I decided that it would be a good one to just give them a try.

Thanks everyone, for the positive comments and I hope that I can post a pic of a deer...and that includes a doe...fairly soon. We have doe days the entire season...but, unbelievably, I did not see a single doe this past weekend.

Anyone reading of the hunting exploits of Dan Wesson and his S&W 357 Magnum should never underestimate this cartridge...He took every big game animal in North America with his 357...Whitetail Deer are our smallest Big Game

sw282, I agree, the 357 has potential that a lot of folks poo poo.

And, I suspect that,on average, the antelope is smaller than the whitetail...but your point is well taken.

Tried again this morning...another buck that was not legal to shoot.

Where are the DOES?

good luck to you, sir. It'll happen

Well...still have not been able to put one down with the Scout. I will be off Wed thru the end of the week and I intend to give it another go. I have not been in the woods for nearly 2wks now...ready to go.

Good luck!

Just keep at it, and you'll get one eventually.

Got there this afternoon...they came...but it was too late...couldn't get them in the scope.

Will try them again tomorrow AM.

I missed a doe yesterday morning with my CVA muzzleloader pistol. It was legal shooting time but I was hunting a pine thicket with poor light. Had problems seeing the crosshairs. I do not think I had the crosshairs centered in the field of view. I think I shot over her. It was a clean miss.

Lesson learned. I will wait for better light or pass next time. I have made that shot many times with a rifle but this is so much more fun and rewarding when you get it right.

RH1954, I did exactly the same as you last year with a revolver and it was a close, easy shot...or should have been. At 55, my eyes are not as good as they once were...so I have realized that I need to take a little more time and make sure that I am seeing things as they are and not just the way I want them to be.

I will be hunting the major feeding time tomorrow...kind of in the middle of the day...so light shouldn't interfere with me...if I can just see a legal deer.

jwarren, have you had any luck yet? Have not heard from you on this subject in several days and am wanting to know how this gun performs on deer.

I did connect on two deer last Staurday with my CVA muzzleloader. I have heard nothing but good about these guns.

Not yet, only illegal bucks...no does or shooter bucks, yet. Seems as though my son must be the "buck whisperer" as he has 2 bucks, already. He must be sending all of the smaller bucks down to me.

I will try again, in about 6hrs...will stick with it until it happens.

Good Luck this morning. Your son sounds like mine. He killed a big eight pointer Monday morning about 300 yards from me.

Well, as things sometime go...

My hunting this morning got derailed...and, yep, he is legal ...and he is standing 35yds from my stand.

Not a great buck...but I ain't hunting a great buck...only a legal one.

Murphey's law....

That has been happening to me all season. Wrong place right time.

That tends to always happen to my family, although we seem to have been averting it this season.

Your family is having a great season.

jwarren, we have not heard from you lately. Any luck yet?

jwarren, have you been able to connect with a deer with your CVA yet"