CVA single shot rifle guide: why one shot is enough

A CVA single shot rifle holds one round. That sounds limiting, but for most deer hunting it isn’t. You get a lighter rifle, a simpler action and a lower price. CVA’s single shots are the Scout family, and we stock 31 of them from $269.

Why hunters choose a CVA single shot rifle

A break action is easy to check: open it and you can see whether it’s loaded. That makes it a good teaching rifle. It’s also short for its barrel length, because there’s no bolt or magazine well behind the chamber, so it carries well in a blind and in thick timber. And it’s light, often under 6 pounds before the scope.

The trade-off is the follow-up shot. It takes a few seconds to reload, so you shoot more carefully. Plenty of hunters find that makes them better shots.

The best CVA single shot rifle for straight-wall states

In states that limit deer seasons to straight-wall cartridges, a CVA single shot rifle in 350 Legend, 450 Bushmaster, 44 Magnum or 45-70 is a cheap, legal option. Try the Scout Compact 350 Legend at $299, or the Scout 450 Bushmaster at $299. Always check your state’s current regulations; the US Fish and Wildlife Service hunting page links to every state agency.

Single shot vs bolt action

A bolt gun like the CVA Cascade gives you a 4+1 magazine and a faster follow-up. It costs more and weighs a bit more. If you’ll hunt elk at distance or shoot coyotes, the Cascade makes sense. For stand hunting deer, a single shot does the job for less money. Our Cascade guide covers the bolt option.

Takedown single shots

The Takedown models split into two pieces without tools, so they store in a small case. They’re popular as a truck or camp rifle. See the Scout V2 Takedown 450 Bushmaster or a scope package like the Scout V2 Takedown 350 Legend with KonusPro scope.

CVA Scout Compact 243 Win$299CVA Scout V2 Takedown 45-70$499CVA Scout Takedown 45-70$499CVA Scout V2 Takedown 44 Magnum Stainless$369

Ammo for a CVA single shot rifle

Because a single shot has no magazine, it doesn’t care about bullet shape or overall length the way a box-fed rifle can. That makes it easy to try different factory loads. For deer, pick a bullet built for deer-sized game: 150 to 180 grains in 350 Legend, 250 to 300 grains in 450 Bushmaster, and 300 to 325 grains in 45-70. Practice reloading from a buttstock shell holder so the second round goes in without fumbling.

Shotgun option

CVA also makes a single shot .410, the Scout Compact .410 turkey shotgun. It’s a light first shotgun for a young hunter.

CVA single shot rifle FAQ