Good load for the CVA Optima .45?
 

Hello all, new to the forum but been hunting with smoke-poles for several years now. I've been lucky enough to take several whitetails, two turkey, two hogs and a coupla' nice mulies with my old CVA Kentucky rifle using the T.C. 240 gn maxie-balls that I cast at home.

I got an "Optima" .45 for Christmas (1:28 twist) and it won't shoot the Maxies for squat. Would like to try a 180 gn .40 hollowpoint in the tan sabots in this gun.

Anyone got any experience with this projectile/twist? I'll likely use loose powder and use pyro "P" in my .45s but would be willing to consider pellets.

Can I get a good sabot-load from someone out there for a .45?

Best Regards,
BrushPopper

RE: Good load for the CVA Optima .45?
 

welcome to the forum...

You might want to check out http://www.prbullet.com/ and see what they suggest for a .45 caliber with the 1-28 twist. There is some good recommendations there. You could also look at Powerbelts. I personally have no experince with a .45 caliber.

RE: Good load for the CVA Optima .45?
 

BrushPopper,
I do not own a 45cal. Optima, but I sighted one in for a friend of mine. There were several bullet/sabot combinations that worked well in this rifle. The 225gr HP Power Belt bullet and the 275gr. worked very well with 100-150gr. powder charges. The 220gr. and 240gr. Dead Center bulletsworked well also.
I played some with the 195gr.Barnesbullet and the accuracy was soso, giving me approx. 2 1/2" groups @ 100yds. I had no luck with the 175gr. Barnes bullet.
For something a lot cheaper to shoot, buy a box of 200gr. Hornady's 10mm XTP's. They shoot pretty darn good.
My best groups groups were shot using Pyrodex pellets and Triple 7 loose powder.
Have fun and welcome to the forum!

RE: Good load for the CVA Optima .45?
 

BrushPopper

Get thetan sabots from MMP for these bullets:

http://www.mmpsabots.com/

These may not be the prettiest bullet or even the fastest - but they are deadly...

Buying your bullets in bulk and the sabots separately is the least exspenive way to go - plus you can afford to shoot them at paper and in the field.

Good information fellah's...
 

Looks like I came to the right place!:)

BrushPopper

RE: Good information fellah's...
 

My brother has that rifle and he uses the 245gr AerotipPowerBelt over 150gr of pellets. I've never seen him shoot it so I'm not sure what kind of accuracy he gets. Probably be better at 100gr.

RE: Good information fellah's...
 

I shoot a cva in 45cal. The best load for me is
the 225gr. powerbelt aero-tip. I use 2-50gr. 777
pellets and the new Rem. kleenbore primers. It is
a real flat shooting load, but does not leave much
of a blood trail. But the powerbelt hollow-points they
are accurate & deadly. Hope this can help you getting
started with your 45cal.