Well, the season's over and I don't want to waste any time in finding the problem with my CVA Optima Pro. As you have seen, the gun is extremely unpredictable and I don't have the confidence in the gun that I should. I did harvest 3 deer with it this year but it took a lot of work to keep it maintained and I've aggrivated poor sabotloader to death about it. Is it just this gun or are they all high maintenance? The only way that I've been able to keep it zeroed is to give it a boiling water bath after every range session even if it's only a few shots. With my health problems, that's a tall order for me. There has to be an easier way. I've got a chance on an SS Omega that I really want but would like to figure this one out because I really like it. I have discovered one thing that I feel is signifficant. I ran out of primers and switched to wichester T-7s. When I run a patch down her, I don't feel that crud ring as bad as I used to. It's really a big difference. Perhaps I should start with the 25 acp conversion? Oh, and y'all were right about this being addictive. When I joined the forum I owned one and now I'm about to buy my fifth.

Have you considered a power change to avoid the crud ring? Pinnacle,American Pioneer, all of them burn a lot cleaner then most and leave little to no crud ring. Also clean up is a snap. The big question is accuracy. What powder will produce the best accuracy.

As for another rifle.. well I mean, why not another rifle...

Bigtimer, I had an Optima and now have a stainless Omega. The break open Optima was easier to clean in my opinion. I am not sure I would switch to an Omega if it is strictly for ease of cleaning

Pyrodex and a switch to conicals should get you where you want to be.