With all due respect to Triple Se7en,

1- I have never heard of any properly cared for and loaded CVA/ Winchester muzzleloader failing because of "soft steel".

2- I have read many post from satisfied customers who own them. I infact own two CVA rifles both are percusion one is new the other has been through hell and back and still shoots fine after almost 30 years of use/abuse.

3- The proof marks on the barrel tell you that they met a minimum gov standard for the pressures rated.


The way some people talk about these rifles we would have hunters dropping like flies all over the shooting ranges and in the woods. Yeh they ain't a Thomson Center or Knight at all in so far as how well they are made or how heavy a charge they can shoot but they do shoot well enough to take any animal in the lower 48 with the possible exception of the great bears out west.

240-250g sabots or 300g powerbelts would be a good starting point with an 80g charge of FFF blackpowder or Triple Seven. I would not even bother trying the max loads recomended in your manual until you build up a load that is accurate and consistant. If like my CVA's sweet spot will be around 90g of powder.

Good Luck!! Your new rifle should give you years of great shooting.