CVA Accuracy Trouble

NMdoghunter

NMdoghunter

New member
I recently bought a CVA Optima .50 and am having a trouble getting any kind of accuracy out of the firearm. I have tried 3 different weights of TC shockwaves and 2 different Powerbelts in various combinations of pyrodex and 777 powders. One thing I have not tried is loose powder. I sure would like to stick with pellet powder if I can get the accuracy I am looking for.

At the range, in betweend each shot, I run a solvent patch followed by 2 dry patches. My groups are rarely below 2-3" at 100 yds. Maybe this is to be expected out of a muzzleloader. I have hunted rifle for years but due to reduced draw odds, have switched to the smoke pole the last couple years.

I'm looking for any load combinations or cleaning processes that would help with my accuracy. Like I said, I'm new to muzzleloaders and unfamiliar with the tricks of the trade.

Maybe I should have spent the extra $$ on the TC?
 
2-3" is not that bad for a muzzleloader really,they are not tackdrivers although you get some occasionally...

i use 90gr of pyrodex(3 30gr pellets if you can find them) and a 245gr powerbelt(and it didnt matter what 209 primer)and best i got was 1.5 maybe 2" at 100 and THATS if the stars were aligned
 
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2"-3" is the absolute best that I can get out of my TC Encore, on a very good day at 75 yds. At 100 yds that is a great group.
I don't think you'll get better than that in a muzzle loader no matter what powder you use. They pretty much shoot "minute of deer" And that .50 bullet punches a BIG hole.
IMO you're doing the right thing by cleaning after every shot, you'd be getting a lot worse than 3" if you didn't. I do use a brush in addition to the patches.
Some centerfire rifles throw fliers until the bore gets fouled, I don't even count the first 2 shots through a clean barrel, your muzzle loader is clean before every shot.
 
Go to Blackhorn 209 powder, it's very accurate won't attract moisture, it's not temperature sensitive, you can shoot 20 or more rounds without cleaning your barrel and then it comes clean with just a swabbing of bore cleaner.
 
Careful with Blackhorn...for some reason, they don't recommend using it with the CVA type breech plug. ???

I have several CVA inline muzzleloaders. My two 50's like 80-100 gr pyrodex pellets with 295 gr powerbelts, and shoot about 2" at 100. I think that's good for a muzzleloader.

My 45 cal I had all kinds of trouble with finding a load it liked. I was using 777 pellets, 100 grains, and couldn't find any loads with any bullets that shot better than pie plate accuracy. Finally, I figured it out.

777 powder burns faster/hotter than pyrodex. I was actually blowing the sabots and bases of the powerbelts off, not sealing the gasses and getting a good "spin" on the bullet. I backed down to 80 gr loose 777 and instantly got 2" groups or better at 100 yards. I even recovered some sabots and found they were indeed intact and functioning properly.

A couple things to note about muzzleloaders. You read all the hype about "magnum" muzzleloaders that shoot 150 grains of powder. First, sure the gun might be capable of handling that powder charge, but you have to be sure you use a magnum or strong enough sabot to withstand those pressures. Second, a lot of barrels aren't long enough to burn that entire charge, so in effect you're wasting unburnt powder out the end of the barrel.

Most muzzleloaders, either inline or old style, shoot best with lighter loads. Also note, 120 gr 777 is about equal to 150 grains of pyrodex. Never shoot 150 gr of 777, even in a "magnum" inline.

I would suggest trying to find a pack of 30 gr pyrodex pellets, and a pack of 50 gr. You can try 80 gr (50+30), 90 (3 x 30) and 100 (50+50) loads and still stick with pellets. Chances are, your gun will do good with one of these three loads.
 
Originally Posted By: 1badsheeMy accura really likes 110gr of loose pyrodex and the 250gr black sabot tc's from walmart.

From what Ive read on modern muzzle loader and a few other places the sabot is where the accuracy is at.

http://modernmuzzleloader.com/

right...just like the old patch and ball, you have to match the sabot to the barrel to fit properly. Once you get that, the accuracy will come.
 
It's finding the right combo . I tested and tried different combos ,then I hit on one that gives me rifle like groups at 100 yrds in my Thompson Omega . I ended up with 2 tripple 7 pellets with a Barnes TEZ 250 grn sabot , and get consistant 1 in groups at 100 yrds. I have to swab the barrel between rounds .
 
NMdoghunter ,one other thing I should have mentioned is that all barrels are not the same inner diameter and the CVA's seem to run on the larger end . I had a CVA Wolf that shot the Hornaday SST250 ' s very well at 1 1/2in at 100 yrds . Powerbelts are not a tight fit . For accuracy you want a tight fitting bullet sabot combo that will go down the barrel with some effort, not just glide in. I would keep it simple with 2 50 grn tripple 7 pellets as a baseline till you get it figured out , cleaning between rounds .Tighter is better .
 
My CVA never grouped worth a flip. Sold it and went to T/C. My first BP Encore was a tack driver. The second, not as good, but still very accurate. Now I shoot an Omega and the accuracy is very good! 100grains of loose 777 and a T/C 250 grain Shock Wave. The ones with the black sabot. Mine loads hard with a clean/cold barrel, but you only need one shot!
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You should be able to do better than you are doing. Are you using 209s designed for muzzleloaders. The ones for shotguns are hotter and actually move the charge and projectile down the barrel prior to the charge burning. That alone will kill your accuracy. Also check that sights/rings/bases are tight. Good luck!
 


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