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Just bought a CVA Optima Pro. Nickel barrel, black composite stock. I have never used a muzzleloader. Just looked like fun. Any body have any suggestions or comments on the new gun I bought. I guess I will just read the manual and get r done.

BigSarge

Quote:

Welcome to the forum for my money this is the best all-around forum you will find....

Congrats on your new purchase it will give you hours of enjoyment, excitement and even some frustrations - but it is all in the learning curve.

The first step is just what you suggested - read the manual From there and on here you will get a ton of thoughts and suggestions... He will not like this statement, but Cayugad is sorta "the Dean" of instructions on this site - he can get anyone started - he has them all and he is excellent at presenting them. He will find this post and post a response that will be honest straight forward and safe. All the rest of us will chime in with other possible thoughts and ideals - then you will have to pick and choose

There is a ton of information here attend regularly it is well worth it...

mike

Well you're off to a good start with the idea of reading the manual. Loads of tips, and good information in there.

I think they must be a quality rifle. People that purchase them sure like them. I have handled them but in all honesty, I did not like the shape of the stock. Too old fashion I guess. While they are a magnum rifle, shooting magnum charges is not always the most accurate, but all of this you will learn in time.

I read posts where they like powerbelts, XTP's even shockwaves. So it sounds like you have a lot of things to try. Start with about 80 grains of loose powder with some of the different bullets out there and work up from there. Most of the rifles tune in around 90-110 grains of powder. I have a CVA Staghorn Magnum. 90 grains of powder and that rifle is good to go.

Good luck with your rifle. Take care and be safe.

Quote:

ORIGINAL: cayugad

Well you're off to a good start with the idea of reading the manual. Loads of tips, and good information in there.

I think they must be a quality rifle. People that purchase them sure like them. I have handled them but in all honesty, I did not like the shape of the stock. Too old fashion I guess. While they are a magnum rifle, shooting magnum charges is not always the most accurate, but all of this you will learn in time.

I read posts where they like powerbelts, XTP's even shockwaves. So it sounds like you have a lot of things to try. Start with about 80 grains of loose powder with some of the different bullets out there and work up from there. Most of the rifles tune in around 90-110 grains of powder. I have a CVA Staghorn Magnum. 90 grains of powder and that rifle is good to go.

Good luck with your rifle. Take care and be safe.

Read the manual and try the book loads first, then you will know if you have a shooter or not. then branch out into other load combinations. I bought a Savage in May, and I shot the book loads the first 2 times out, got it sighted in and hitting well, then looked for a combination that was flat shooting and great penetration and excellent expansion. Chap Gleason

Welcome to the forum. Tons of great information on here. Read and learn.

Welcome to the forum. Listen to Cayugad. He knows his stuff

Well guys, I'm hooked. Just got through shooting my optima for the first time. I only shot 50 yards but I got a one inch three shot group with open sights. I used 100 grains of pyrodex pellets and a 245 grain copper powerbelt hollow point. I know its only 50 yards but I was just trying to get the feel of a muzzleloader. I realize know it takes longer to clean than to shoot. Thanks for the information. Hopefully I'll be able to send a picture of something killed with a muzzleloader instead of a truck.

Quote:

ORIGINAL: BigSarge

Just bought a CVA Optima Pro. Nickel barrel, black composite stock. I have never used a muzzleloader. Just looked like fun. Any body have any suggestions or comments on the new gun I bought. I guess I will just read the manual and get r done.

Check out the CVA and Thompson/Center web sites for some videos on muzzleloading. I think the Thompson/Center videos are a bit more informative and give you more 'how-to-get-started' info, but both are good to watch. (Hehe...and I don't even own a muzzleloader....yet.)

try loose powder and you'll beable to fine tune your load. I know my cva's liked a bit of a heavy charge. between 110-120 grains pyrodex is where my cva inlines did best.