CVA Stalker 444 Marlin

papershotshells · March 23, 2014, 09:36 PM

Gentlemen,

For the first time ever, my state (Ohio) will allow straight walled cartridges fired from rifles for deer hunting this fall (up til now it's been handgun, shotgun or muzzleloader only). Technically they'll allow pistol caliber rifles, but as the rules are written, any straight walled cartridge over 1.10" long that was ever chambered in a handgun (such as a T/C Contender or Encore) will be legal.

So, I'm thinking of buying a CVA Stalker chambered in 444 Marlin. I've owned 444 Marlin lever actions in the past and I really like the cartridge, but I have no experience with the CVA Stalker rifles.

I'd like some experiences/opinions from anyone who has or had one of these rifles. Specifically how is the trigger? How is the recoil if you have one in 444 Marlin? Accuracy?

I realize these are budget priced rifles and aren't going to shoot like a custom bolt gun, but I'm only going to be shooting whitetailed deer at less than 150 yards. Plus, I've had great luck with several H&R Handi-Rifles in the past (with bottle neck cartridges mostly), which are also budget priced rifles. I just like the look of the CVA a little better and the stock looks better suited to the recoil of a 444 Marlin.

Opinions??

Thanks.

Papershotshells

FrankenMauser · March 23, 2014, 11:56 PM

I haven't even handled one, myself; but I've only heard good things about them.
When CVA was selling them for under $240, there were many serious discussions in the gun world about CVA potentially putting H&R out of business. It was a better rifle for the same price, or less.

papershotshells · March 25, 2014, 06:35 PM

Thanks for your thoughts FrankenMauser,

It does look like a decent rifle. It appears a bit nicer than an H&R, although I have owned and had good success with several H&R/NEFs in the past.

Right now, Bud's gun shop has the CVA for about $265ish, so it seems like a good buy.

Anyone else used/handled/fired one?

Thanks

Papershotshells

FrankenMauser · March 25, 2014, 10:19 PM

That's not a bad price.
That's almost worth upgrading from my H&R .444 Marlin. (It's a Remlin-era rifle, and was put together by a drunken monkey with a malfunctioning sledge hammer.

)

coldbeer · March 31, 2014, 12:31 PM

I had a stainless steel CVA Optima Elite 45-70 I bought new for $269, but It had light primer strike issues so I sold it. It seems to be a common issue with that particular model.

reynolds357 · April 1, 2014, 08:20 PM

Never owned one, but have handled them and they seem like a "get what you pay for" rifle. I have taken deer at over 250 with my lever action Marlin in 444.

Redrider93 · April 14, 2014, 05:21 PM

I have a Stalker in 30-06 and I feel like it's an extremely good rifle for the price. I took my first deer with mine last year and it put the shot where I wanted it . I like mine so much that I got a CVA Hunter in 7mm-08 for the 2014 deer season and my son will get my 30-06. Both have a solid lockup when you close the barrel . All in all I thing I have two good rifles

Lemmon · April 14, 2014, 09:35 PM

Never used a CVA Stalker 444 Marlin, but I did have a Marlin 444 lever action. Bought it at the gun shop directly across the street from the Darlington Race track.. Very accurate. I used IMR 4198 max load with a Hornady 265 grain soft point. One of those regrets I traded it for an Icom HF rig.... I do have a modified TC 44mag bored out for the 444 Marlin. Nice set up...

Lemmon from Rural South Carolina

savagecornmuffin · April 16, 2014, 09:13 AM

I have several H&Rs and 1 CVA. The CVA Hunter is a lot better out of the box. Just better everything. I also have a 444 lever. The 444 is plenty accurate. I've never had the opportunity to stretch it further than 200 yds, but I can tell you out to 200 mine is right on. If I didn't already have a 444, I wouldn't hesitate to get a CVA in 444. I'm trying to sell my 7mm-08 CVA hunter and track down a 30-06 CVA Stalker. Really too bad they don't make a Hunter Model in 308.

Jack O'Conner · April 19, 2014, 06:45 AM

I have zero experience with the CVA Stalker rifle. But I've had excellent luck with my CVA Optima muzzle-loader. Fit and finish are quite good. The trigger is also good.

444 is sort of like the 44MAG on steroids. It's also a good choice for larger animals like moose and elk.

Jack

51.50 · April 30, 2014, 11:50 PM

I really want a Marlin 444 lever in stainless if they ever start making them again. I don't want to knock NEF/H&R but their triggers are stiff enough to pull my aim off target-----too stiff IMHO. I have owned several, never had one with a 3.5 lb trigger. Although I did recently buy a youth model 20 guage for my wife. She likes it just fine. I am considering the CVA 444 in stainless against a shotgun with a rifled slug barrel if anyone has an opinion on that? Thanks

reynolds357 · May 3, 2014, 08:58 PM

I do not let "crappy" triggers deter me. A file, a few stones, some snips or possibly new springs, and you can have as light a trigger as you want.

scrap man · May 6, 2014, 04:12 AM

I have a husqvarna in 444,leupold 3.5-10x50 m4. good for 280-300m,my favourite rifle by far.have never seen another one,by the way hello from new zealand. has anyone else come across one of these at any time ?.

BoogieMan · May 6, 2014, 06:21 AM

Why so much cartridge for whitetail at 150- yds? 44mag carbine would easily do the trick. Also no argument could come up as to the use in pistols.

Unlicensed Dremel · May 6, 2014, 10:12 PM

Get the .45-70. As good as the .444 is, it's a lot harder to find ammo for. But if you're willing to reload for it, the .444 is fine.

But what about the .375 Win (.38-55)? Or .357 Maximum? These would give you a smidge more range than a .4-something.

tdoyka · May 6, 2014, 10:20 PM

444 marlin with a tc encore 21" mgm heavy barrel and a bellms muzzle brake, its all i ask for!!!

take the 444, you may have to spend a little on the trigger, and hornadys 265gr fp will take everything.

March 23, 2014, 09:36 PM	#1
papershotshells Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2013 Posts: 134	CVA Stalker 444 Marlin Gentlemen, For the first time ever, my state (Ohio) will allow straight walled cartridges fired from rifles for deer hunting this fall (up til now it's been handgun, shotgun or muzzleloader only). Technically they'll allow pistol caliber rifles, but as the rules are written, any straight walled cartridge over 1.10" long that was ever chambered in a handgun (such as a T/C Contender or Encore) will be legal. So, I'm thinking of buying a CVA Stalker chambered in 444 Marlin. I've owned 444 Marlin lever actions in the past and I really like the cartridge, but I have no experience with the CVA Stalker rifles. I'd like some experiences/opinions from anyone who has or had one of these rifles. Specifically how is the trigger? How is the recoil if you have one in 444 Marlin? Accuracy? I realize these are budget priced rifles and aren't going to shoot like a custom bolt gun, but I'm only going to be shooting whitetailed deer at less than 150 yards. Plus, I've had great luck with several H&R Handi-Rifles in the past (with bottle neck cartridges mostly), which are also budget priced rifles. I just like the look of the CVA a little better and the stock looks better suited to the recoil of a 444 Marlin. Opinions?? Thanks. Papershotshells

March 23, 2014, 11:56 PM	#2
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	I haven't even handled one, myself; but I've only heard good things about them. When CVA was selling them for under $240, there were many serious discussions in the gun world about CVA potentially putting H&R out of business. It was a better rifle for the same price, or less. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

March 25, 2014, 10:19 PM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	That's not a bad price. That's almost worth upgrading from my H&R .444 Marlin. (It's a Remlin-era rifle, and was put together by a drunken monkey with a malfunctioning sledge hammer. ) __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

April 14, 2014, 09:35 PM	#8
Lemmon Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 2009 Location: Rural South Carolina Posts: 445	444 Marlin Never used a CVA Stalker 444 Marlin, but I did have a Marlin 444 lever action. Bought it at the gun shop directly across the street from the Darlington Race track.. Very accurate. I used IMR 4198 max load with a Hornady 265 grain soft point. One of those regrets I traded it for an Icom HF rig.... I do have a modified TC 44mag bored out for the 444 Marlin. Nice set up... Lemmon from Rural South Carolina

April 19, 2014, 06:45 AM	#10
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	I have zero experience with the CVA Stalker rifle. But I've had excellent luck with my CVA Optima muzzle-loader. Fit and finish are quite good. The trigger is also good. 444 is sort of like the 44MAG on steroids. It's also a good choice for larger animals like moose and elk. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

March 25, 2014, 06:35 PM	#3
papershotshells Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2013 Posts: 134	Thanks for your thoughts FrankenMauser, It does look like a decent rifle. It appears a bit nicer than an H&R, although I have owned and had good success with several H&R/NEFs in the past. Right now, Bud's gun shop has the CVA for about $265ish, so it seems like a good buy. Anyone else used/handled/fired one? Thanks Papershotshells

March 31, 2014, 12:31 PM	#5
coldbeer Junior member Join Date: February 21, 2012 Location: Woodhaven MI Posts: 477	I had a stainless steel CVA Optima Elite 45-70 I bought new for $269, but It had light primer strike issues so I sold it. It seems to be a common issue with that particular model.

April 1, 2014, 08:20 PM	#6
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Never owned one, but have handled them and they seem like a "get what you pay for" rifle. I have taken deer at over 250 with my lever action Marlin in 444.

April 14, 2014, 05:21 PM	#7
Redrider93 Junior Member Join Date: March 7, 2013 Posts: 1	I have a Stalker in 30-06 and I feel like it's an extremely good rifle for the price. I took my first deer with mine last year and it put the shot where I wanted it . I like mine so much that I got a CVA Hunter in 7mm-08 for the 2014 deer season and my son will get my 30-06. Both have a solid lockup when you close the barrel . All in all I thing I have two good rifles

April 16, 2014, 09:13 AM	#9
savagecornmuffin Member Join Date: December 5, 2013 Location: SE USA Posts: 66	I have several H&Rs and 1 CVA. The CVA Hunter is a lot better out of the box. Just better everything. I also have a 444 lever. The 444 is plenty accurate. I've never had the opportunity to stretch it further than 200 yds, but I can tell you out to 200 mine is right on. If I didn't already have a 444, I wouldn't hesitate to get a CVA in 444. I'm trying to sell my 7mm-08 CVA hunter and track down a 30-06 CVA Stalker. Really too bad they don't make a Hunter Model in 308.

April 30, 2014, 11:50 PM	#11
51.50 Member Join Date: December 1, 2010 Posts: 66	444 I really want a Marlin 444 lever in stainless if they ever start making them again. I don't want to knock NEF/H&R but their triggers are stiff enough to pull my aim off target-----too stiff IMHO. I have owned several, never had one with a 3.5 lb trigger. Although I did recently buy a youth model 20 guage for my wife. She likes it just fine. I am considering the CVA 444 in stainless against a shotgun with a rifled slug barrel if anyone has an opinion on that? Thanks

May 3, 2014, 08:58 PM	#12
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	I do not let "crappy" triggers deter me. A file, a few stones, some snips or possibly new springs, and you can have as light a trigger as you want.

May 6, 2014, 04:12 AM	#13
scrap man Junior Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Location: BAY OF PLENTY NEW ZEALAND Posts: 6	444 I have a husqvarna in 444,leupold 3.5-10x50 m4. good for 280-300m,my favourite rifle by far.have never seen another one,by the way hello from new zealand. has anyone else come across one of these at any time ?. Last edited by scrap man; May 6, 2014 at 02:11 PM.

May 6, 2014, 06:21 AM	#14
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	Why so much cartridge for whitetail at 150- yds? 44mag carbine would easily do the trick. Also no argument could come up as to the use in pistols. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

May 6, 2014, 10:12 PM	#15
Unlicensed Dremel Junior member Join Date: February 13, 2014 Location: Flathead Valley, MT Posts: 2,187	Get the .45-70. As good as the .444 is, it's a lot harder to find ammo for. But if you're willing to reload for it, the .444 is fine. But what about the .375 Win (.38-55)? Or .357 Maximum? These would give you a smidge more range than a .4-something.

May 6, 2014, 10:20 PM	#16
tdoyka Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2013 Location: windber, pa Posts: 300	444 marlin with a tc encore 21" mgm heavy barrel and a bellms muzzle brake, its all i ask for!!! take the 444, you may have to spend a little on the trigger, and hornadys 265gr fp will take everything.