This will be my first year with a muzzleloader and I just bought a new CVA Optima at a great price. I guess muzzleloading accuracy is about finding the right ammo to go with your gun...what do you guys suggest I start with, and when lining up my muzzleloader and scope, is there anything different I should do compared to lining up my 30-06?

If you're only going to deer hunt and not target shoot, then you need to decide how involved in muzzleloading you want to get. If all you bought the rifle for was an extra couple weeks of hunting you could very well get by with some powerbelts in the 295 or 348 grain range, and some 50 grain pyrodex pellets. Load two pellets, and a powerbelt and see what kind of accuracy you get. One powerbelt might shoot better then the other. I would start my sighting in at 25 yards and work back from there shooting for good thight three shot groups. This should give you a quick accurate hunting load for the rifle in most cases.

If you really want to get into the sport, then get a pound of loose powder. Triple Se7en, Pyrodex, or Goex what ever you fancy. Work your projectiles from 70-100 grains of powder. Little is gained from shooting more then 100 grains of powder in most cases. There are powerbelts to shoot, and some of the 250-300 grain range Hornady XTP's or SST's with a harvester sabot should group well. You might also want to try some Thompson Center Shockwaves in 250 or 300 grain with 90-100 grains of powder. I think you will find a very accurate load in there somewhere.

Even though your rifle will shoot 150 grains of powder, you will soon find that most rifles will not shoot well with that much powder. You have a great rifle from all the reports I have read on it. Enjoy the rifle, and the sport. Good luck to you.....