My wife bought me a CVA Hunter 20 gauge last week. They come with a 24 inch barrel. I was thinking about getting the barrel cut to 20 inches when I get it threaded for chokes. Was looking for opinions on how some of y'all think a 20 inch barrel would pattern on a 20 gauge. Will be shooting Hevi-13 6s and 7s.
I would leave it 24 and thread the gun...lot less recoil...
I have considered recoil but I am shooting for a 5 pound gun. I hunt in some big hills. How do you think 20 inch will pattern?
I wouldn't go any shorter than 21 inches myself.. i know with the 870 youth 18 inch barrel it doesn't pattern as good as the 21 inch barrel... if i were you , i would call William at Sumtoy Customs and talk to him.. i think he has threaded some of these barrels CVA
It is on the way to Sumtoy. He says a lot of people are getting him to cut them to 20 but he doesn't know exactly how they are patterning. I want his FFIII mount on it and a FFIII to keep it light. I was hoping someone had pattern numbers with a 20 inch barrel on a 20 gauge. I have a 22 inch H&R 20 and it does high 130s. Just looking to do something different and light weight.
I have a Franchi 48al 20 ga
Cut barrel off at 20" had Carlson thread with TruChoke ( thin wall)
Got Skeet, IMP, Mod, and Turkey chokes
Made for grouse hunting
Great for turkeys and rabbits, I ve even shoot pheasants with it, comes up fast
The chokes make the difference
Just make sure you pattern to get the right shell and shot size
It'll be lightweight for sure, it may kick like a rented mule but I bet it'll pattern just fine for ya. and PLEAS keep us posted on how it patterns when you get it back, I been toying with this Idea myself . my 21 " 870 youth 20ga patterns really good so I hope you have the same results.
Thanks for the help. It probably will kick pretty good. I just need a lighter gun to carry in the hills. My youth 870 with a scope and after being dipped seems a little heavy but not too bad. When I shoot it I will let you know. I sent instructions to William to go ahead and cut it to 20. Do you think there would be that of much of a difference in recoil between a 20, 21, or a 22?
i don't think there will be much difference
Got it back today. Have to wait to be able to afford a FFIII. Weighs 4.8 pounds before the FFIII and that is with the FFIII base installed by Sumtoy. May get it dipped. May paint it myself and might just leave it black if surface rust doesn't get too bad. Will post picture when it is finished.
Finally got to shoot it. Dirty barrel. Heavy 13 #7 at 40 yards. Very happy with it and think it will do even better with tweaking and some more shooting and cleaning. It shot 138 in a ten inch circle with the heavy 13 7 and a Sumtoy 562-5. Will try with other chokes and Heavy 13 # 6 but I am pleased with this out of a 20 gauge with a 20 inch barrel. Recoil noticeable but not too bad. Noticeable muzzle rise but no worse than my other 20 gauges.
try some TSS and don't look back.
I don't want to shoot TSS at this time. Probably never will. I'm pretty satisfied with this and can probably get it a little better. I have a decent supply of H-13 6s and 7s and if they ever stop making it I will think about TSS.
Quote from: tnanh on August 14, 2018, 11:59:53 PM
Finally got to shoot it. Dirty barrel. Heavy 13 #7 at 40 yards. Very happy with it and think it will do even better with tweaking and some more shooting and cleaning. It shot 138 in a ten inch circle with the heavy 13 7 and a Sumtoy 562-5. Will try with other chokes and Heavy 13 # 6 but I am pleased with this out of a 20 gauge with a 20 inch barrel. Recoil noticeable but not too bad. Noticeable muzzle rise but no worse than my other 20 gauges.
That looks like more then 137. I would have lost that money lol. That is a nice even 10 inch.
Thanks for the good work William. I am very happy with it. It at the shop getting dipped in new bottomland now.
Finished gun in Bottomland with FFIII mounted. I am very pleased with how it turned out.
Good deal who dipped it for you?
Thrashers in Corinth Mississippi.
I just bought one of these cva's and I'm seriously considering doing this. This is a awesome looking gun.
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Thanks. It is a pleasure to carry for sure. With the thin claw sling I hardly even notice it on my shoulder sometimes. I killed a turkey with it back in April and i have taken a couple of kids and let the hunt with it. I was hesitant on the 20 inch barrel but am very glad I did it. The pattern numbers are the most consistent of any gun I own and I have probably shot 20 hevi 13 7s out of it. The CVA hunters have the best factory trigger of any shotgun I have had but I dont own any upper end shotguns.