I purchased a CVA .45 cal Firebolt Ultra Mag last year before season. I had just enough time to sight it in before season. I thought it was shooting well enough with 150 gr. of pyrodex pellets and 225 powerbelt bullets to be comfortable taking a deer within 150 yds. But, when a buck walked out at 130 yds I steadied and shot very calmly but took out both front legs at his knees. I was fortunate enough to bag the buck, but it put a unsatisfying thought in my mind about my brand new CVA blackpowder. I decided to take it out and shoot around with it to see if it was me or the rifle. My first 3 shot group at 100 yds was great. I then cleaned my gun and from there on out it was very inconsistent. Then I tried several times with 100 gr. of pyrodex. The same thing happened, it was all over the paper, sometimes a foot difference from one shot to the next at 100 yds. I have a very steady rest and have no problem shooting 1 inch groups with my rifle at 100 yds. My rings and scope are mounted securely. I also tried running a dry patch down the barrel after every shot, still nothing changed. After every 3 or 4 shots I would thoroughly clean my gun and put bore butter in the bore after each cleaning process. I also tried to shoot at 200 yds with both 100 gr. and 150 gr. charges, they both fell about 2 to 2 1/2 feet low and my rifle is supposed to be sighted 3 inches high at 100 yds. One other problem, I purchased a Leupold var-x II for this blackpowder and had professionals mount it. I have to adjust the crosshairs as far left as they will go in order for it to shoot straight up and down with the target. I put the scope on a different gun to see if it was the scope and it wasn' t, the crosshairs were more towards the middle. So, here are my questions. What are some things I can do or try differently to get my gun shooting a consistent 2 inch group at 100 yds? Should I worry about my scope being cranked as far left as possible or should I just let it go since it is shooting in line?

There are a few things to consider as possible problems of accuracy. How windy was it the day you were shooting? From what you said your scope is probably not the problem. A few more things to think about, are you flinching at the shot and are you sure you are not jerking the trigger? One more thing to consider is to be sure you load the same every time. Hope this helps some and good luck to ya!!!

UCObaseball
What I would try is say good bye to the bore butter,switch to loose powder,and try a different bullet @ only a spit patch between shots followed by a dry patch.
Percision makes a good sabot bullet and a another bullet to look into is the new hornady sst sabot.
As far as the scope being cranked to the left all the way I would check to see if the action was drilled off center maybe a call to c.v.a. customer sevice will help.

UCObaseball

You never said " how you cleaned" !!!

Are you using a nitro-type solvent for the final cleaning?
Are you using a bore brush to clean? If you do not rid the riflings of old, hardened bore butter, your bullet will not engage the rifling properly. I suggest using bore butter as a patch/conical lube ONLY... if not, throw it in the garbage.

Another suggestion
Loosen the stock to barrel bolt(s) around 270 degrees (3/4 complete turn) -- then push down on the muzzle side of the barrel while the recoil pad/buttstock is squarely on the floor. Holding down with pressure, tighten the bolt(s).

Suggestion part-4

Your Powerbelts may be defective. The ol' plastic may not be disengaging after take-off. Try a similar weight sabot/bullet. Powerbelt " bullet" diameter tolerances at the base need to be more " exact" than other sabot/bullets or conicals. I' m sure Powerbelt Inc/BPI checks them like clock-work but you never know! If it turns out to be .001 plus or minus... accuracy shifts directions & the cup/base will either be too loose & disengage prematurely or end-up going for a long journey with the bullet.

where did you buy it. i got the same gun about the same time last year and its doing the same exact thing, scope,bullets and all. if you want,email me with your serial# and we' ll compare. if the #' s are close, we' ve got a problem that needs corrected. or ill send you mine. i shot my biggest buck last year with it, aiming behind the shoulder, and hit him behind the ear at 80 yrds!

UCObaseball & RAKTRAKR


Maybe I need to ask another question to both of you...

...What twist are those 45-Firebolts?

TRIPLE 7 YOU MAT HAVE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WITH THE BARREL TWIST

MISPELLED MAY I SHOULD TYPE WITH MY GLASSES

1:28, 26" barrel

I have the same gun and it didn' t like pellets at all. I had to switch to 90 grains of loose Pyrodex and 195gr aerotip Power Belts to get acceptable accuracy.