CVA optima magnum

[livnreklis]

I decided to get into muzzle loading for deer season, to take advantage of getting out in the woods a little sooner. I picked up the .50 CVA optima magnum, the price was right and the ease of cleaning a break open barrel appealed to me. The guy at the store (also a muzzle loader hunter)and the guy that owns the store (a veteran hunter). Both recomended that I use the triple seven pellets cause its less corrosive then pyrodex. They also said the power belt ammo works great in my 1-28 twist barrel, so I picked up the 245gn bullets. I picked up the triple seven 209 primers designed for muzzle loading (so it says). I was also told that using full 150gn charges most rifles tend to get spread out grouping, they told me that 130gn charges work great. Anyways I took all this new knowledge, and headed to the range today to sight in my rifle, and just to plain try it out. It was an indoor 50yd range, so wind and stuff like that are not a factor. Shooting was done standing with no rest using open sights, I took 3 shot groups, cleaning the barrel after every second round, cause the groups started to spread out after the second shot. I made two simple sight adjustments, and shot 15 rounds all together. After getting it sighted in all bullet holes either over lapped or were touching, and never left the 10 ring. I feel that if I can group that well with open sights and standing at 50yds, then it should be plenty good for a 100yd shot if im using a tree as a rest. I am a Northern New England hunter, so most hunting is in dense woods and 100yd shots will not come up to often. I have seen old posts around the net about the power belt ammo and people having bad luck with them. So far I have a good review with them, its the only ammo I have run so far but its accurate so I will give it a go this season. I did all my shooting in 70deg weather, when it comes time to go hunting I assume the weather will be in the mid 40's high 30's by then, do you think this will play a big factor in my groups with it being sighted in, in moderate warm weather? I would also like to get a poll of what other ammo out there most of you are using, cause so far thats all I have run is powerbelts. And if theres ammo out there that has a great track history of grouping well in most muzzle loaders then its worth a look see. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i9/livnreklis/muzzleloader001.jpg

[stick]

Re: CVA optima magnum

Congrats on the new gun, i also have the optima pro and I love it. I could not get the powerbelts to group at all in mine, and ended up going with the 250 grain shockwave with three 777 pellets and shoot a two inch group at 100yds. Also welcome to the forums There is a lot of info up for grabs here.

[Guest gt2003]

Re: CVA optima magnum

Test your groups at the distance you usually shoot. If they perform well, use them. If not, keep looking until you find something that performs well at the distances you usually shoot. Good luck, Greg

[hunterfisherman]

Re: CVA optima magnum

I also use the shock wave and I'll like the Hornady too. Both will work real well

[livnreklis]

Re: CVA optima magnum

I think the shock wave is the same exact bullet as the Hornady SST cause if you look at them they look identical, just a different color tip is all. I am not surprised cause Hornady makes bullets for many different companys.