As many know, I have numerous muzzleloaders. I decided to shoot the least expensive inline rifle I owned. That would be the CVA Staghorn Magnum.
Rifle: CVA .50 caliber Staghorn Magnum
Scope: Simmons 4x32mm Pro Diamond Scope
Powder: Pyrodex RS Primers Winchester W209
Projectile: Hornady 45-300 gr SST
Weather: 48 degrees, sunny, windy
Distance: 53 yards
Swab: Rusty Duck Black Off
I had not shot this rifle in some time. So I swabbed the bore with an alcohol patch and then popped two primers through it.
Shot one on a clean bore got my attention. Why it shot to the left, I blamed on the clean bore. I then swabbed and shot again, and #2 hit. Now I was confused as this rifle was sighted in dead on with a 250 grain XTP. I continued to shoot and swab and the next three started to behave the way I remember the rifle shooting.
I then made a scope adjustment for the next group. Since the Simmons scope moves 1/2 inch at 100 yards, it would move 1/4 inch at 50. So I moved it eight clicks up.
The next group made me kind of smile. That is the way I remember this inexpensive rifle with an inexpensive scope shooting. For a budget rifle, this thing always did flat out shoot. Also that 90 grains and the 300 grain SST seemed to be a good strong load. I could hear it ringing the steel bullet trap nice and clear.
So sometimes while a rifle might not have been expensive to purchase ($89.00) and the scope is not the top of the line ($39.00), that is no indication that a rifle will not shoot just fine. This one is ready to hunt.
I decided to shoot an inexpensive one
