Does anyone have a CVA Optima?
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Steuben County, NY
Posts: 354
Does anyone have a CVA Optima?
Does anyone out there have any experience with this gun? I recently purchased one (50 cal. Magnum not the PRO) but have yet to buy any bullets, powder or anything of that sort to go with it. As it is my first ever muzzleloader, I have some questions about shooting it. What powder (pyrodex or 777) and sabot combinations (shockwaves, powerbelts, etc.) seem to perform the best out of the Optima. Thanks.
#2
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Far West central Indiana
Posts: 92
RE: Does anyone have a CVA Optima?
I have the same gun and they like heavy bullets or at least mine does, I shoot the 348 gr. Powerbelts w/100 gr. of pyrodex pellets, get a little under 1.5 in. at 100 yds and they do a number on deer, of the 5 Ive shot with them none has made it 40 yds. Entry hole in rib cage that you can almost put your fist through and total devistation to the heart and lungs, bullets usually dont exit, these are the copper clad hollow points not the aero tips. Some people do not like them because they dont exit but if you see them fall it doesnt matter. Shot a big buck through the shoulder last year at 65 yds. and it was like somebody hit him with a sledgehammer. I tried about 5-6 different bullets weights and sabots but the 348 gr. Powerbelts gave very consistent groups even with a dirty barrel, so out of that gun thats what Im sticking with, I can live w/o the second hole as long as they keep falling in sight.JMO-Dean