Big Browns Report post Posted January 7, 2019 I got a CVA Optima V2 for Christmas. Just wondering if anyone else has this gun or recommends a load to start with. Keep in mind I'm a total newbie with muzzle loaders. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Will K Report post Posted January 8, 2019 Barnes 250 grain Expander MZ or TMZ with 100 grains of Jim Shocky powder 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couestracker Report post Posted January 8, 2019 6 hours ago, Big Browns said: I got a CVA Optima V2 for Christmas. Just wondering if anyone else has this gun or recommends a load to start with. Keep in mind I'm a total newbie with muzzle loaders. I have that muzzleloader, it's so good, there's probably a ton of stuff it would shoot well. I've had good luck with .270gr power belts with white hots pellets. It'll shoot accurately 10 times without any barrel cleaning. Of course the critter is long gone by then, lol! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NOTAGS Report post Posted January 8, 2019 I would start with the 250 grain Barnes, and 100 grains or equivalent in pellets. I bought some Buckhorn 209 after reading about its ease of use and cleanup, but have yet to shoot it. The Triple 7 50 gr pellets give me a good grouping though. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
duckhunter175 Report post Posted January 15, 2019 On 1/7/2019 at 5:22 PM, Big Browns said: I got a CVA Optima V2 for Christmas. Just wondering if anyone else has this gun or recommends a load to start with. Keep in mind I'm a total newbie with muzzle loaders. Great choice!! I've had 3 different CVA rifles and all were incredibly accurate. I would highly recommend getting the blackhorn 209 breech plug and use BH209 exclusively as your powder. It allows you to weigh out your charges specifically and find what your rifle likes which takes a 3" @ 100 gun to 1.5" at 150, or at least it did with the ones I owned. dang good shooting for a muzzleloader. REMEMBER- with loose powder in muzzleloaders they measure off volume and not weight-- it is something like 77gr by weight of BH209 is the equivalent of a 100gr "by volume" charge-- DO NOT stuff 150gr by weight of BH209 into your gun. My optimal charge has been 82gr by weight of BH209. I shoot Harvester Scorpions 245gr with their black "crush rib" sabot. Outstanding results on deer size game. If you are hunting elk Id go up to a copper bullet. The common theme I've found with muzzleloaders is they do not achieve peak accuracy at peak velocity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Browns Report post Posted January 15, 2019 Thank you very much! I was not aware that I needed a specific breach plug for blackhorn 209. After reading your post I researched it. Apparently I can use the stock breach plug, but the BH breach improves accuracy. I already bought some 209 so I will order the breach plug as well. Thanks again! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tikka Report post Posted January 15, 2019 Adam I would highly recommend looking into Parker Bullets https://parker-productions-llc.myshopify.com/collections/ballistic-extreme great bullets... Barnes Bullets are great also.... X2 Blackhorn... Welcome to the muzzy game you'll have fun... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Browns Report post Posted January 15, 2019 So far the only bullets I've purchased are the Hornady SSt 250 grain bullets. I'm planning on trying additional bullets, but these are the only good ones that Bass Pro Shops had when I went. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Browns Report post Posted January 15, 2019 Here is my set up so far. I still need a funnel and a brass powder measuring device. Anything else you guys recommend? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildwoody Report post Posted January 16, 2019 I have the optima magnum takes 150 grains of powder, I have had good luck with the Hornady, use sweets to clean it. Can you change out the barrel to the 45 cal. I saw catfish on Sunday, he's getting hairier. Lol. Nice gun 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkaholic Report post Posted February 6, 2019 Most inlines are great guns these days. you've got a great set-up. I borrowed a knight one yr.-- I used 90 grains pyrodex and 300 grain powerbelts. 100 yrds -a perfect clover leaf you could cover with a quarter. I was hooked. the - maybe the luckiest- longest shot to date with this setup was 250 yrd. dead antelope. A lot of improvements in guns - bullets and powders since then. same setup dropped a big 6x6 bull at 100 yrds this yr. What I found interesting with powerbelts-- you can snap finger spin them-- they will stand and spin like a top- talk about balanced. Good luck and have fun with your new present. On a side note. 150 grains of any powder may kick your shoulder out. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
creed Report post Posted February 6, 2019 I shoot 300 grain MZ Expanders and 100 grains of 209. I have found with my Optima that the heavier bullet gives me more accuracy. Also have found in my setup a solvent cleaner every 5-7 shots gives me an accuracy improvement too. One thing to keep in mind is that it seems every gun seems to like a particular load. I have owned 2 Knights, the Optima and a 700M. What shot well in one gun didn't mean it was going to shoot well in the others. This is a 300 grain MZ Expander pulled from a deer I shot at 150 yds quartering away. It went through the hip and lodged under the shoulder skin on the opposite side 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jim Report post Posted February 6, 2019 Cleaning is easy with the 209 powder just pull the breach plug and run the 20ga bore snake thru the barrel a couple times. Clean the breech plug and your back at it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cb375hh Report post Posted June 6, 2019 My father has a CVA muzzleloader. Shoots 100 grains with pellets and Hornady SST 250 grains. He has killed many deer with it and it's very accurate. You have a solid weapon to hunt with. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
