I was wondering if you guys could help me. I am shooting a CVA magbolt 150 .50 cal. I am shooting powerbelt 295gr HP with 150 gr pyrodex. I had a new scope mounted on it and had my gunsmith boresight it. I took it to the range yesterday to sight it in at 50 yards. I was throwing bullets everywhere. It seemed like each bullet hit in a different spot. The pyrodex pellets I am using are 4 to 5 years old and I noticed that the seem a little fragile(parts breaking off). Do you think this could be problem? any ideas?

This is almost the same setup that I am shooting, with a couple minor differences.

CVA Magbolt 150 .50cal 295 grain powerbelt bullets with aerotip, and 100 (2 pellets) of pyrodex pellets. 1.5-5x bantam scope.

this setup is very solid, consistent 2-3 inch groups at 100 yrds, have taken many deer with it with no problems.

as to the problems you are experiencing. If the pellets are falling apart they are either to old or have at some point in time come into contact with moisture. trash em and get another box.

second of all, If i were you drop the 3 pellets down to 2, it is simply not neccessary to shoot 3 pellets. from what I have heard and read it is very unlikely that the 3rd pellet will even have a chance to burn in such a short barrel and additionally there may be some safety issues with the cva with 3 pyro pellets as they have not been "proofed" for that much powder.

check all the mounts for your scope and use some locktite on all of them to ensure that when you tighten them down they stay tightened.

additionally do not ram/pack the pellets in the bore. simply allow them to seat themself and then place the bullet on top of them with moderate pressure (make sure it seats fully, but no banging the ramrod down etc)

if these actions don't work, you either have a bad gun (it happens, return it and get another one, or you have a bad scope) In order to determine which of these is the problem I would see if it will group without the scope.

Best of luck to you!

Found that my Traditions shot all over with 150 grains. Dropped to 100 and bang nice tight groups. Heck of alot less kick from 100 also.

Yes, I'd recommend dropping to 100 grains total, of pyrodex pellets. I have a CVA Hunterbolt and am using 245 grain powerbelts and 2 - 50 gram pellets. Gun shoots well and still has enough power to kill deer. Also, use new pyrodex pellets, and make sure your barrell is dry. A spit patch, and then a dry one is all you need at the range, or in the woods.

I have yet to meet anyone that gets less than 3" groups with 150gr of powder at 100 yards in any of the mag muzzleloaders. I have a few muzzleloaders and want some more impact energy at 100yards. Might have to go with the Savage job.

I had to go back to loose powder and sabots, My Traditions would throw bullets everywhere with the pellets and powerbelts, nice tight groups with the loose powder and 240gr Hornady sabots.

If the gun isn't new then it might be plastic fouling in the bore. If you've regularly shot 150 grain charges with plastic sabots (or the "belt" with powerbelts) then the velocity if up in the range where fouling can occur. I had a problem with my Knight where is grouped fine then just stopped shooting decent groups at all no matter what I shot in it.

I finally get some JB Bore Paste and scrubbed out and polished the bore with it, and the accuracy returned. I just don't think that the routine hot water scrubbing does a good enough job on plastic fouling.

Mike

Like the others have mentioned try some different powder. A good scrubbing/cleaning may be in order if you found you had accuracy prior with the same load and it doesn't return with a change in powder. Also I found that 100 gr pellets or 110 loose pyrodex gave me my best accuracy once I started get higher the fliers would appear.

It could be the scope too. Never had that problem myself but here is a discussion about it at another site.

iowawhitetail.com link

thanks guys for the help. I agree with you and I am going to drop down to
100 grains instead of 150. After I shot it the other day I could not get the breech plug out. Had to bring it to work and put it in a vise. I had regreased the threads the day before. I cleaned it up real good last night and I am going to take it to the range this afternoon. Hopefully I can get some good groups! I will keep you posted.