Gun Of The Week: CVA Cascade SR-80

Connecticut Valley Arms (CVA) has been in the gun business since the early 1970s, and while the company maintains its supply of old-school-type blackpowder rifles, today’s CVA has an array of modern guns, which include single-shot centerfire rifles and shotguns, as well as turn-bolt rifles. Watch our video above to see CVA's scout rifle, the Cascade SR-80, in use on the range.

The CVA Cascade SR-80, as seen here, is a scout-type bolt action. It features factory-fitted sights with provisions for optics, muzzle accessories and detachable box magazines, which is a far cry from the company’s sidelock front-stuffer of yesteryear. While traditional muskets defended this nation in its beginning years, it is guns like the SR-80, thanks to the Scout Rifle Concept conceived by Colonel Jeff Cooper in the early 1980s, that provide practicality for general-purpose use today, whether it be for home defense, range plinking or in the field gathering food.

In working with Cooper’s concept, CVA crafted its SR-80 to be a close representation, sans stripper-clip loading: The .308 Win.-chambered SR-80 measures 39.75” and weighs 7.3 lbs., which makes for a compact and lightweight configuration, just as the colonel ordered. An 18” medium-contour barrel comes standard, too, which is fitted a radial muzzle brake that can be removed in favor of other designs or swapped out for a suppressor.

As with any Scout-type rifle, CVA includes a section of Picatinny rail attached to the barrel, not the receiver like most of today’s bolt actions, for use with Scout-type specialized optics. This provision allows for a heads-up view for enhanced situational awareness while running the gun. In addition, a premium peep sight by Williams is included at the rear along with a wing-protected front post near the muzzle.

Our testers appreciated CVA’s SR-80 in that it was smooth and fast handling. The synthetic stock, with double studs up front for slings and bipods, and removable spacer in the rear, offers added versatility to the already versatile platform. Although the SR-80 is designed for use with a proprietary 10-round magazine, our testers hoped for a stripper-clip notch in the receiver; but that’s okay. The SR-80 has proven itself to be a do-all platform, both scout rifle fans, hunters and home defenders alike can appreciate.

CVA Cascade SR-80 Specifications
Manufacturer: Connecticut Valley Arms
Action Type: bolt-action, repeating, centerfire rifle
Chambering: .308 Win.
Receiver: 4140 steel
Barrel: 18" medium-contour steel; threaded 5/8x24 TPI
Magazine: 10-round detachable box
Sights: fully adjustable Williams rear peep, adjustable wing-protected post front; forward-mounted Picatinny rail
Stock: synthetic; adjustable, Flat Dark Earth finish with painted-web texturing
Trigger: single stage
Overall Length:
Weight: 7 lbs., 4.8 ozs.
MSRP: $920 (starting)