Page Index Toggle Pages: [1] 2 3 4 Send TopicPrint
Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall? (Read 3969 times)
rnnhntr
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 38
Joined: May 18th, 2014
.22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Feb 19th, 2025 at 12:44pm
Print Post  
I am going to purchase a dedicated .22 BPCR rifle and have narrowed the choice down to either a CPA 44-1/2 or a C. Sharps Low Wall. Being able to use multiple barrels on one action is not a consideration for me. I am reasonably familiar with and like both. My wife and son both shoot C. Sharps Highwalls for BPCR so I have some experience with the C. Sharps rifles. Price is close enough to the same on both not to be a deciding factor for me. What I am looking for is feedback from folks who have competed with one or the other, or both on what they like and don't like about their rifles. For the CPA, what lever do you have, and what do you like or not like about it.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
watchthewind
Oldtimer
*****
Offline



Posts: 993
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Joined: Mar 10th, 2015
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #1 - Feb 19th, 2025 at 1:01pm
Print Post  
I’ve owned both and now just own the CPA. Better trigger and more accurate.
  

ASSRA Member # 11408
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
japcas
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 35
Location: Kingsport, TN
Joined: Feb 19th, 2022
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #2 - Feb 19th, 2025 at 3:22pm
Print Post  
I have a CPA that I ordered new in January of 2022.  It has the plain "S" shaped lever and a 28" Shilen barrel.  I shoot it most of the time with the Schuetzen sight from MVA, but it also has scope blocks.  I prefer to shoot with open sights if I can.  It has won its fair share of 100-yard benchrest matches at our local club.  I like the camming ability of the CPA, and it has good extraction.  I have no experience with the CSA low wall.  If you have any questions about the CPA, feel free to ask.  I'd be glad to answer if I can.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
830singleshot
Senior Forum Member
****
Offline



Posts: 437
Location: Texas
Joined: Feb 11th, 2007
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #3 - Feb 19th, 2025 at 4:05pm
Print Post  
Which ever you do, I suggest you have it set up with traditional scope blocks on 7.2" spacing & either a front dovetail or holes drilled and tapped for a scope block.  It's never as easy and cheap again to get it done and makes the rifle so much more versatile.
  

J. Scott McCash&&New Braunfels, TX&&830-237-2376&&jsmccash@yahoo.com
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
4570mike
Senior Forum Member
****
Offline



Posts: 410
Location: On the Peninsula
Joined: Apr 11th, 2013
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #4 - Feb 19th, 2025 at 5:00pm
Print Post  
Ditto on the CPA 441/2.  I have several between my wife and I. No experience with C. Sharps.  But to reiterate, the camming action is beneficial even on the .22 LR cartridge.  Most have the ball and spur lever.
FWIW, the scoped CPA's have #2,  20" barrels. I found the shorter barrels were steadier off hand, and the with the scope, there's no loss of sighting radius.
The peep sight .22's have 28" barrels.
Mike.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
.22Hepburn
Oldtimer
*****
Offline



Posts: 835
Location: Pennsylvania
Joined: Feb 18th, 2008
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #5 - Feb 19th, 2025 at 5:07pm
Print Post  
They are both quality rifles that are used in 22BCR matches. You might keep in mind that the chickens are shot off-hand, while the other targets are shot prone. Knowing this, the fit and balance of the rifle, including the length of pull and the configuration of the butt stock are very important. You will do better with a rifle that fits you. The weight and balance also come into play; barrel length and contour (full octagon, 1/2 octagon, full round, #2, #3, or #4 weight). At one time I had a rifle built with a 30” full octagon barrel. It was very difficult for me to hold it up while shooting chickens. I ended up having it cut to 26” and made 1/2 octagon. It made a world of difference. I think either is a good choice, but there other considerations to keep in mind.
I’d suggest going to a match, talk to the shooters, and hopefully you will find one of these rifles that you can look at and handle first hand.
  
Back to top
IP Logged
 
oneatatime
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 4050
Location: Rocky Mountains
Joined: Oct 30th, 2011
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #6 - Feb 19th, 2025 at 5:09pm
Print Post  
My CPA has a 28" Shilen #3 weight which gives me the same rifle weight as my 30" 32-40.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
texasmac
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 1996
Location: Central Texas
Joined: Aug 16th, 2004
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #7 - Feb 20th, 2025 at 12:15am
Print Post  
This is not a comment on which brand is better but on the barrel length for off-hand chicken shooting.  In late 2023 I had a Stevens 44 .22 re-barreled with a 20" barrel.  It made a world of difference.  Not only is it more comfortable (better balance) to shoot off-hand, since .22LR velocity drops in barrels longer than 16" to 18", velocity increased significantly over the original 26" barrel, resulting in tighter groups at all distances.  Depending on the ammo, the velocity increased from 30 to 45fps.

Wayne
  

Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Ranch13
Oldtimer
*****
Offline



Posts: 588
Location: East Central Wy.
Joined: Jan 20th, 2018
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #8 - Feb 20th, 2025 at 9:05am
Print Post  
I have one of each, it will boil down to which action you prefer or do you want the cpa just to broaden your horizons. My CPA is in sillouette configuration with a Douglas barrel
I would suggest you consider a barrel for the new build with a 14 twist. I had MCGowen build that twist for the lo wall, and it seems to hold better groups at the ram line ad in the 22 midrange matches than the standard 16 twist barrels we have
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
cellargun
Junior Member
**
Offline



Posts: 59
Joined: Feb 28th, 2022
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #9 - Feb 20th, 2025 at 11:20am
Print Post  
In addition to action type, barrel length, etc., put serious thought into the buttstock configuration. 
I have two 22RF Lowwalls I have shot in 100 yard silhouette competition. Both are factory original from the 1880s. 
With a scope on rifle #1, stock drop is acceptable, but not ideal for standing, and nearly impossible for prone. 
With an MVA Schuetzen sight on the back and a Shaver globe in front of rifle #2, that rifle works well in either position.
I also have an original Lowwall in 32/20. It has a Lyman 52 rear sight with the factory nickel silver post in front. It has a #1 octagon barrel 26" long, making for magic wand handling.
Honestly, it's the easiest to shoot of all three with the factory stock.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Ranch13
Oldtimer
*****
Offline



Posts: 588
Location: East Central Wy.
Joined: Jan 20th, 2018
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #10 - Feb 20th, 2025 at 12:47pm
Print Post  
Shotgun butt best from the 22 BPCR and midrange games due to the most shots being fired from prone
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
SchwarzStock
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 1247
Location: SchwarzWald
Joined: Mar 23rd, 2010
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #11 - Feb 21st, 2025 at 4:13am
Print Post  
texasmac wrote on Feb 20th, 2025 at 12:15am:
This is not a comment on which brand is better but on the barrel length for off-hand chicken shooting.  In late 2023 I had a Stevens 44 .22 re-barreled with a 20" barrel.  It made a world of difference.  Not only is it more comfortable (better balance) to shoot off-hand, since .22LR velocity drops in barrels longer than 16" to 18", velocity increased significantly over the original 26" barrel, resulting in tighter groups at all distances.  Depending on the ammo, the velocity increased from 30 to 45fps.

Wayne


Are you shooting a scope so the loss of sight radius is of no concern?
  

If your rifle is not in 7.62 and you can't hit what you are aiming at with de-linked machinegun ammo you are a pretender.
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
MartiniBelgian
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 1714
Location: Aarschot
Joined: Jun 7th, 2004
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #12 - Feb 21st, 2025 at 8:24am
Print Post  
The accuracy gains from the longer sight radius are pretty small, especially when compared to the gains in offhand when the rifle is well-balanced because of the shorter barrel. 
  
Back to top
WWW  
IP Logged
 
texasmac
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 1996
Location: Central Texas
Joined: Aug 16th, 2004
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #13 - Feb 21st, 2025 at 12:22pm
Print Post  

SchwarzStock asked, 
Are you shooting a scope so the loss of sight radius is of no concern?
=============

Yes, I use a 6X scope.

Wayne
  

Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
rnnhntr
Participating Member
*
Offline



Posts: 38
Joined: May 18th, 2014
Re: .22 BPCR Rifle: CPA 44-1/2 vs. CSA Low Wall?
Reply #14 - Feb 21st, 2025 at 5:56pm
Print Post  
Thank you for the input and keep it coming. I limited my initial information because I did not want to prejudice the conversation any more than necessary. I started out with a Cresnoe liner in my 1874 Sharps and am currently shooting BPCR matches with a Stevens 44 with a 24-inch barrel that I relined with a 1:16 twist TJ liner. Those rifles let me know that I like the game and have gotten me to where I can fairly regularly shoot high AA class scores. I usually shoot 2 to 4 on chickens and 9 or 10 on pigs, but fall off on turkeys and rams. I know that a new rifle does not make up for a lack of marksmanship, but it doesn't hurt. I mostly shoot scope, but also use the rifle in our local cowboy silhouette matches where I usually shoot in the high 20s. I do not find the shorter barrel to be a significant handicap with the irons. Most of the shooters at the matches I have attended here in Colorado or in Wyoming shoot CPA rifles, but the 1885 and clones are also popular, and both seem to be equally capable of winning matches depending on the shooter. I would like to have a low wall and a CPA 44-1/2, but can only afford one or the other. I have had good results using Lilja and Shilen barrels in centerfire rifles and will probably use one of the other on whatever, and probably with a 14-twist if I can do so. Since I am capable of doing so, I had originally considered buying an acton and building whatever myself, but I already have too many projects.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: [1] 2 3 4
Send TopicPrint