So after stiking out during opening day of turkey on saturday I decided to shoot the new CVA Optima. Not a bad result for never shooting one before. Was using 100 grs of WhiteHots, 295gr Powerbelts & CCI 209M's. The shots below were only taken @ 25yds but it's a good starting point. I gotto find a better powder though, the whitehots dirtied up the barrel considerably after just 3 shots and the crud ring (I never knew what a crud ring before was) was noticable after 2. I've read alot about the BH209, so gonna try that next time. Does anybody know what the crud ring forms ahead of where the nose of the bullet seats instead of where the powder is? I would think that the crud ring would form at the powder.... Overall, for the first time out... I am extremely happy!

That's a good start Alex. But if you experiment a little you will find a load for that gun that shoots much better than that. Those pellets are a limiting factor. Blackhorn is certainly one way to go. But don't rule out loose Pyrodex. It's a very flexible powder and may well do all you need done.

I never shot White Hots and probably never will. Do yourself a favor, get a pound of Pyrodex RS in loose form. Try those same bullets with 80 grains of measured by volume powder (use a powder measure not a scale). And then see what your groups look like.

Between shots, take a clean patch and spritz it with Windex. Then swab the bore. After that run a dry patch, swabbing the bore the same way. Pyrodex and as most other powders, do leave fouling in the bore, but it is softer and easier to remove. Swab between shots and try that.. then post a picture at 25 yards. I bet you see the difference.

My CVA Staghorn Magnum loves 90 grains of Pyrodex RS and a powerbelt. Just a real nice shooting load.

The CCI 209m primers are good for BH209, but may take away accuracy with all other powders. They will also give a bigger crud ring with all powders except BH 209.

Better to use muzzleloader primers.

go with winchester w209 or winchester 777 primers.