RE: Waiting for my new Optima Pro
 

I have another question.
What's up with the ramrod?
Even extended, it seems to short to work good for cleaning?
It appears you would need to extend it even to load?
How durable is it extended out on the little threaded rod?

RE: Waiting for my new Optima Pro
 

My advice is to go to your local gun shop and pick up an unbreakable "T" handled cleaning rod for your ML and the correct cal. cleaning jag and brush.
Loading with the factory rod poses no problem. Remember to mark the ramrod when you load it the first time (clean barrel) then you will know when the subsiquent bullets are seated properly.

RE: Waiting for my new Optima Pro
 

Well I finally got to shoot the new CVA on Monday.
Used 90 grains loose Pyrodex select and 300 grain TC sabots.
They load real tight and not sure if I'm going to like that in the woods.
I wiped the barrel between shots with just a dry patch.
I could feel the powder "crud" ring build up between shots.
I was only shooting 60 yards but ended up with a fair group, about 3 inches.
The wind was blowing about 20-30 mph(storm coming in) and I did not have the best bench rest to work with.
I'll go out and shoot it some more next Monday.
I'll take some sand bags and some solvent for the barrel between shots.
Once I get it printing better at 50-60 yards I can back uo to 100 and 150 at the shooting range I use.
I think I also just need to get used to using a scope. I've always used open sights.


Any suggestions on bullets that would be easier to load?

RE: Waiting for my new Optima Pro
 

Try the 245 grain powerbelts that we mentioned before. They are a dream to load. And, shoot well too.

RE: Waiting for my new Optima Pro
 

:) at your ram rod question.
One of my biggest grumps about the Inline ML's designed to shoot tighter fitting sabots is the wimpy ram rods that they are equipped with. I've got ML's from different mfg's and each one came with ram rod that was ok for cleaning but lame for the field and worse for the range.

For the ramrod question the only thing that I can suggest is a collapsing range rod and take it with you in a small pack.
I have both the CVA collapsing range rod and the XS Sight Systems backup power rod. Both with a 4 inch rod extension. Both work well although I like the XS rod package for a smaller collapsing package.
http://www.xssights.com/catblack.html

With the collapsable rod, you can assemble intermediate smaller sections which are easier to handle when loading the tighter fitting sabots to "work them down" to seat. I've bent too many factory-stock rods over the years as handling them in the middle is impossible to get a grip to apply loading force and handling them from the end results in off angles of pressure=bent rods and/or additional wear on the bore.

I use the collapsing rod as my primary and the factory rod as a backup which I've yet to use as such.

Powerbelts will certainly load easier. I'm not personally a bit fan of powerbelts as I shoot hotter loads and they just don't seem to hold patterns for me with heavy charges.

Also try a spit patch and then a dry patch or two.

I always spit patch, flip that patch and run it again.
Then alcohol patch.
Then dry patch.
Result is a really clean and dry bore which is what you want for sabots.
I think the "fast" followup load and shooting that is the marketing fluff is just that - Fluff.
I've yet to really need a "fast" followup load.

Powder-wise the cleaner shooting powders are:
*Black Mag'3 - super clean, no crud ring, great velocity! This is the only powder I'll use in the field until the next better mousetrap.
*777 - Pretty clean but you will have the crud ring, Great velocity. I was a big 777 fan since it became available up until I started with the BM'3. 777 is a great powder. Still using 777 for general shooting until I've used up my supply.
Pioneer - Very clean, less velocity. A nice shooting powder.

Pyrodex, Pyrodex Select and BP is ok for shooting sabots, but so will find the above powders to be vastly cleaner shooting which results in less fouling in between shots, which equals easier loading.

Best,

RE: Waiting for my new Optima Pro
 

Thanks guys.
Crigg,
What kind of groups are you getting at 50,100,150 yards with the Powerbelts?

RE: Waiting for my new Optima Pro
 

Most of my shots are under 100 yards, so I mostly shoot 50 yard targets. I get about a 3/4" group at that distance. Our season is over and next year I am going to shoot at the 100 yard distance just in case I need the practice.

RE: Waiting for my new Optima Pro
 

Well I bought some 245 Powerbelts on Monday and off to the range I went.
At first I was shooting about 10" high at 100 yards.
Dialed in the scope and ended up with a 3 shot group of about 2"!!!!
Shooting 90 grains Pyrodex select, wiping the bore with a dry patch between shots.
Man do those Powerbelts load easier than the TC 300 grain sabots I tried first.
Got a sling for the gun and a short starter for the hollow point bullets.
I am ready to go hunting.
Next Monday I'll see what I can do at 150 yards and report back.