ranger400ex1994, I bought a CVA Wolf a few years ago for my first muzzleloader and what a surprise it was to have it shooting so well. It's basically the same as a Optima (barrel twist rate) except the barrel is a few inches shorter. My Wolf shoots about anything I put in it fine. For target pratice I shoot Hornaday XTP's 250 and 300gr, black Crushed Rib sabots, 2 pyrodex 50gr pellets or 80-100gr loose Pyrodex RS, and a W209 primer. It shoots well with any combination of powder (I guess I just got lucky and got a good one). For deer hunting I use a 300gr Barnes Expander MZ, Crushed Rib sabot, 2 50gr Pyrodex pellets, and W209 primer. That load will flat out knock a deer down, I've shot at 4 deer since purchasing this gun and have 4 in the freezer. This picture of the one Barnes should be enough to convince you...