.50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

Is anybody on here shooting this gun with Powerbelts from 2-300 gr. I am only interested in Powerbelts because I can buy them in every Sporting goods store I have been in. I am going to Colorado this fall in pursuit of a Mulie and hopefully Mulies and Elk next year. So with that said I need to shoot a .50 cal with open sights,loose powder and no sabots. I have no interest in shooting these 4-500 grain things I read about on here,I want to be able to shoot out to 150-175 yds without holding at the top of the animals back. I currently have triple-7 ffg,APP fffg and Pyrodex for powders to play with. I also have Powerbelts in 245-270-and 295 aerotips and 245 hollowpoints. I am using a scope to evaluate different loads. Currently my best group has been with 245 aerotips with 80 gr. of T-7. Anybody with this gun that can suggest there favorite loads would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Dave

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

295 grain aerotip powerbelt will work fine on a lung shot mulie. Ive found that powerbelts shoot best in my rifle with between 110-120 grains Loose pyrodex RS. They will hold around a 1" group @ 100 yards. Using a scope and all is fine to see what the rifle and load can do but seeing how you'll be hunting colorado, that scope needs to come off and you'll need to start practing those 150-175 yard shots. I can tell you right now that a mulie @ 175 yards is really tiny looking in the sights. Im not sure what kind of sights you have but if they are the Durabright sights or the plastic stuff, they need to come off and be replaced with the Truglo sights. I bought mine from cabelas for $43 and ended up using the ghost ring due to it allowing me to see my entire target and the surrounding around my target. But the 295 PB With 110-120 grains RS will shoot flat out to 150-160 yards give or take. What unit you hunting?

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

Hi frontier,
Yes I know the scope has to come off, I am just using it until I find the best load for my gun and then I will practice shooting with open sights to determine how far I feel confident shooting at a deer size target. I am thinking 175 max for Elk and probably 125-150 for Mulie. I am hunting 74, we found some great spots there. Some are as close as a couple hundred yards from the road to a 5-6 milehike and set-up a camp. I wish I had started doing this years ago.

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

For elk, you'll want atleast a 348 grain powerbelt. Practice lots for those 175 yard shots, On an elk im sure it'll be quite a bit easier. If you have both elk and mule deer tags, just sight in with the 348 grain powerbelt so you dont have to keep two bullets on hand. I think you can shoot the 348grainer comfortably with 110-120 grains RS. What rifle are you using?

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

Don't know about an elk load but I have been shooting a lot of power belts. I have an Optima, which the only difference, is your Pro is 2" longer. My Optima loves the 295g tip and hollow point. I am still using pellets and it likes 100g of 777. Can't afford to bang a lot of them at the range.

For the longer range you may need, look into the the platinums that power belt came out with. Good accuracy and they should stay together. Good luck with your hunt!

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

Frontier the gun is a CVA Optima Pro.Oldrookie the 270 gr. are the Platinums. Anymore ideas out there ?
Thanks

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

You can also get 300g and 338g in the platinum.

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

i checked out the platinums and it looks like 338 grain is the biggest that cabelas offers. Seeing how this supposedly has a harder coating, i'd pick up a couple packs to try out in your rifle. They are a little more expensive But when it comes down to using a bullet that offers you the best groups, sometimes you'll have to spend that little extra. If you decide against the platinums, Go with the 348 grain powerbelt. I'll be having my dad resight in his sidelock with a 348 grain powerbelt for this years elk hunt if he draws a tag. Another one of my choices is the 350 grain TC maxi hunters, my rifle loves them. Also a 385 grain great plains bullet is guaranteed to take that elk down. But the downfall on that bullet is the amount of drop. Over 24" drop from being sighted in dead on at 100 yards and then shooting 200 yards. Massive drop but a great bullet IMO. Harder to load, need to carry a short starter to load 'em.

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

From what I’ve read I assume you are not allowed to shoot a sabots. I have the same gun you do and I have never gotten any repeatable results with Powerbelts. I recommend Shockwaves all day. I would order something else online if you want quality. It’s kind of like fram oil filters they have the biggest and best ad campaign so you see them everywhere but are the worst in quality.

You might want to check your owners manual I think it says something to the effect that 300g is the maximum allowable bullet weight in your CVA.[:@]

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

300 grain Sabot limit with 150 grain pellets. You can shoot a 348 grain Conical with the 3 pellet load safely also. I think it due to the sabots creating more pressure than a looser fitting conical. But seeing how its colorado, no scopes, pellets or sabots. The powerbelts in my rifle like 110-120 grains Pyrodex RS to shoot the best groups.

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

Steve the Shockwaves are sabots,can't use them in Colorado. I checked the CVA manual and it says 400 gr. max. bullet weight.
Frontier I really do not want to use a bullet over 300 gr. because of the drop. I would rather use a lighter bullet that is still flying good than a heavy bullet that is tumbling to the earth like a fastball from my arm. Thanks to all,please keep them coming.

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

I am lining up bullets to test for elk in Colorado in 2008. I am starting my testing with Barnes 290g TMZ and Knight Ultimate Slam 285g, also made by Barnes. both are all copper, both have aerodynamic design. I intend to hunt inline ML in 1st rifle season, in Oct 08. Chap Gleason

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

You know, I just thought of it, but check out cabelas. I belive they have a 300 grain CVA Buckslayer conical. That should be enough for an elk.

Edit:

My Bad, Cabelas no longer sells them. Heres the CVA website to order some.

http://cva.com/products/access_shoot.htm

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

Chap,
The Barnes TMZ is a sabot which isn't legal in Colorado, and the Knight also looks to be a sabot and if it isn't how does it seal.
Thanks Dave
Or are you using the ML in place of a centerfire?

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

Being a CVA Optima Pro and needing to use an all lead conical, you might look at Powerbelts, Saber Tooth Concials, Maxi Ball, or Hornady Great Plains Conicals. One of them should shoot well in the rifle, but it will require some trial and error on your part. My CVA Staghorn shoots powerbelts, maxiball, and REAL conical pretty good actually. As long as I do not push them more then 90 - 100grains.

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

Tried shooting the 270 Platinums with 120 g of T7 and it was all over the place. Dropped down to 100 g of T7 and shot pretty good with the 270 Platinums and also shot some 245 gr hollow points with 100g of T7 and they were very good. Need to stock up again, this practicing is getting exspensive.

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

Not as expensive and heart breaking when you shoot an elk with a light weight 245-270 grain bullet and end up losing it. I'd give those 300 grain cva buckslayers a really good look.

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

BTW i forgot to mention. 120 grains Triple 7 is an overload and thats the reason the powerbelts scatter. triple 7 is 15-20% more powerful than pyrodex rs or blackpowder, Thats why thet started grouping better when you dropped them down in the 100 grain range. Im still learning with my rifle and triple7. I'd honestly switch to pyrodex RS if you're going to shoot powerbelts or conicals. Pyrodex seems to do the best with an all lead bullet like the buckslayers.

RE: .50 cal. Optima Pro loads
 

Also in case no one mentioned it.. when I used to shoot lots of powerbelts, I got better accuracy when I would, prior to loading, pull the plastic button off the bottom and put a little dab of bore butter on the lead spike. Oil or spit will also do. Then replace the button. The idea is to get that plastic button loose, so the conical will shed that faster. I have found some of them down range as far as 50 yards, which surprised me. I just seemed to shoot better groups with them. With 120 grains of Triple Se7en I am surprised you had any kind of accuracy. I get the best out of them when they are around 90-100 grains, but all rifles are different...

If you want an all lead projectile, try some of the maxiball (not the maxi hunter.. never could get them to shoot). They are 370 grain pure lead and if you were to punch that into an elk it should do a world of hurt on them. I buy mind from Black Jack Hill and then lube them myself with a home made lube. He also has REAL conicals. I just am not convinced that a REAL is a good choice for any distance over 100 yards. At least I have never proved that to myself.

http://www.blackjackhill.com/