Decided to try something new for the 2018 muzzleloader season. I've been eyeing the CVA pistol for a while and finally decided to pull trigger and order one as a birthday present for myself. Everything arrived at my door this Thursday, so I spent this morning out in the shop giving the pistol a good cleaning and getting the scope mounted. I ended up mounting a simple Nikon 2x20 for now. There are several areas of dense cedar thickets that I hunt where i believe this setup is going to be ideal. I've already found some good information on different loads that folks are shooting with these pistols but was wondering if anyone on here has a similar setup and what have you found that shoots well. Thanks

That should be fun. I've been toting around a .54 cal caplock pistol for a couple years now along with my .54 rifle hoping for a close shot. I won't shoot any deer further then 35 yards with it.

I'm thinking 50-60 yards max, though I've read some are stretching it out to 100 yards with these pistols. Once i get it out to the range for some load testing and chrono readings, I'll have a better idea of what it's capable of. It'll definitely make for an interesting muzzleloader season.

Are you going to us full cal bulet or sabots with 45 cal. I think using full cal at max range of 50 yds would be a little more effective. Big 50 cal lead bullets make A BIG HOLE.

I'll be testing primarily saboted bullets but may push some conicals down range to see what they'll do.

I have been thinking about getting a 50 cal for my encore may be a full length and have if cut to 17 inchesa

here in ohio a muzzleloading pistol is not permitted for deer season. they claim it is not effective enough , not alot of knock down power. i have a traditions pistol which i use on deer damage permits which is legal because you can use whatever you want. including a 50 bmg if you wanted to!. i've got mine loaded with 60 grains of bh 209 & a 290 barnes e-z loader & i've taken deer out 50 yds. thats with the 14" barrel. seen 20" barrel's on north american muzzleloader hunts & they have shown shots out to a 100 yrds. but with more powder& alot more ft lbs of energy. great gun to use.

Black powder Revolvers are ok during our gun season in wis have to have 7 inch barrel and a 138 gr bullet. Not able to be uesed in Muzzy season but single shot guns loaded from the muzzle are ok. Wis got very liberal with Muzzys in the last decade

in oh it has to be @ least a 38 cal & up& rifles only

In Tennessee, muzzleloading handguns, .36 caliber or larger, can be used for big game.