BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[jnorton]

My first post here, gawd it's long, I promise not to do this too much..! :smile:

Last fall I ran across a CVA Staghorn kit for $149 or so, and bought it just because I didn't have a BP rifle. I sighted it in at the range and could do 1.5 inch groups at 50 yards, and I'm an old shaky drunk. After I decked a doe opening day morning with my 30.06 semi-auto I went back and got my ML for the rest of the day. I shot one with it! In the neck at 15 yards (my average shot) with a 295gr HP powerbelt. I was impressed! It just keeled over. Before the next weekend I bought a CVA Buckhorn (same as the Staghorn but with the fiber optic sights) for $129 at Walmart. I gave my Staghorn to the guy who's property I hunt on. Shot another deer, and went home. Then I found a CVA Hunterbolt at Sam's Club for $169 in Camo/Nickel finish. Got it. It's a sweet gun! Mostly because it shoots as well as the other cheapo's I'd had, and it looks very nice! I shot 2 deer that weekend with it. Kept one, gave one to my landowner friend.

Now is a new season. I just got a plain old Optima. It looks cool! I thought the only advantage to having an *expensive* break open ML would be capping it. Well, it does cap easy, but the trigger on it is like nothing I've had. Slight pressure, with no real trigger movement, and it snaps cleanly. I added the exact same things to it as I did my other CVA's. $79 1.5x5 or so Bushnell shotgun scope with a Circle-X reticle, $20 CVA see through mount, and a SuperSling II. I'll add shooting results here before Monday on the Optima, maybe with target pictures Good or Bad.

Why a CVA cheapo is good for me, and many, many other people out there: I shoot in the woods, my average shot is like 15 yards where I hunt. A very long shot would be 50 yards. My longest shot has been about 25 yards so far. I can plug a dime at that distance easy. I don't need a second shot..(that's why I sold my 30.06 semi-auto so I could buy another CVA and toys.... :smile: A 50 cal hollow point PowerBelt does so much more damage at 15 yards than a 30.06 it's not even funny! I don't just shoot through them anymore, I do big time damage. Besides, I neck shoot everything, so a measly 2 Pyrodex pellets are plenty. My Optima after I outfited it with everything ended up costing about $300, gun, scope, mounts, sling, and case. That's expensive for me, I could've bought 2 tack driving buckhorns for that much fully loaded. Maybe someday I'll get a very expensive ML, but don't hold your breath..:smile: - Joe


[ This Message was edited by: jnorton on 2003-09-05 23:00 ]

[bitmasher]

I'm not an ML'er but good info to know!

[jnorton]

Well I shot it today, and it groups just fine, but I think my scope is a dud. I couldn't get the group to come down after the second adjustment. I'm not that great of a shot, but it did this at 100 yards. I'm going to put a different scope on it and try it again, maybe tomorrow. Maybe the scope I used was too fancy? I bought a $39 Tasco Pronghorn to try, got it mounted. We'll see...:smile: Darn, I can't figger out how to do a picture in here...:sad: - Joe

[ This Message was edited by: jnorton on 2003-09-07 02:41 ]

[grizzlyadams]

have you tried any other sabots in your optima? just bought one and i cant get it to group.

[JTapia]

I have an old TC "New Englander" .50 cal and shoot Sabots thru it, Speers .44 cal hollow points. When I changed to sabots after years of using big ole Buffalo Bullets I noticed that my grouping would fall off after the 3rd shot. After doing lots of different things I solved the problem but can't for the life of me tell you which thing was the magic trick, so I'll list em all. 1st I made sure that I pulled a soapy patch thru the barrel after each shot, we all know that a dirty barrel increases pressure and causes bullet volocities to increase causing inaccuracy. I changed to pyrodex, reduced powder charge to 110 grains(was using 130 grains black powder), bought a new barrel to forearm clip pin, and bought me a cheap pair of compact binoculars and took off my Tasco 3X9 scope and used iron sights only. Now at 75 yards I can shoot groups of 5 that are touching each other.
If I had to bet on just one thing that helped, probably the reduced powder charge with new clip pin running close second.
Just my experience. Good Luck with yours.

[ This Message was edited by: JTapia on 2003-10-01 13:43 ]

[smokepole]

I am not new to black powder hunting. Have been doing it for some years now. I have a cva staghorn, shoots well. In a few days I am going to buy an optima. Wanted to know if anyone has had any good results with this gun and 295gr power belts?

[gldwight]

try 3 pyrodex pellets and a 300 grain hornady sabot. i tried the triple 7 and power belt bullets. they were terrible in my gun. i put 3 bullets in a 2 inch orange circle at 100yds. going to 200yds next week.

[captchee]

Can someone help me out here?
I have never owned an in line, don’t want one and have vast issues with them,
BUT I am open-minded and don’t want to start a big traditional verses modern deal out of this.
Can someone please explain to me why you don’t just hunt with an OT 6 if you are going to use a sabot and bullet to reach like that out of a front stuffer?
What + are you getting from it.
are they aloud in primitive or short range weapon only hunts where you all live and it so what rules and ristrictions must you follow.
I can understand the above posts concerning short range but after that you lost me.
Really I am interested in an honest view not a flame fest

[Big Bore 54]

Captchee , boy I got to go along with you on that one, but People try these variations because they can and thak God we can still shoot and own Guns. I've been hunting B.P. for about 20 some years now and still use a 54 T/C with 80 grains of B.P. pushing a round ball. Works every time. And I love the smell of sulfer and venison.

[captchee]

I to have been hunting with a front stuffer for some time for the smell the feel and the whole romance from of it, that’s why I shoot a Cumberland long gun in flint for big game and a nice English fowler for our good friends with wings.
I don’t see where you would get any of that with the inline.
Im am just interested in the other sides why for that’s all.
We all need to keep an eye on the price of black powder though. I’m not talking that last prize left on the blanket peradex stuff im talking tried and true black powder. We are about to get hit with a big price jump along with allot of new regs on 4F scary times are a coming

[Daddydoby]

Captchee:: The reason I use the hi-tech is a muzzleloader is the only gun I hunt with.Use mine during gun season as well.

[captchee]

Ya me to I have only hunted with BP for some time to be exact a 1752 Cumberland long gun in flint

[Bighoof]

I brought a Optimal 50.cal two months ago, tried several bullets and powder. It took me about a 100 rounds to get the barrel smoothed out,

I finally stuck with 150grs. of powder (cleanshot, I don't if they are still in business) bought the powder 3 years ago. 250gr T/C shockwave bullet. best group 2 1/2 inches at 150 yards. 3x9x40 bushnell banner scope.

I shot a 5pt. yesterday with it, totally ruin that buck's day. Shot was at 125 (ranged it) buck dropped in it tracks. Buck dressed out 150lbs. I love to black powder hunt, it's great to load your own powder/bullet and make a great shot. All my rifles are single-shot's 30-06, 25-06 is what i use during regular gun season. I bought a 29in. 45cal barrel for the optima going to do some testing on it, now since my son and I have put two in the freezer. He has an old LK-93 50cal knight, shoots 100gr pyrodex 260gr knight bullets, never had a deer go more that 10 yards atfer being shot.

All i can suggest is to buy the best M/L you can get and practice, try different powders and bullets, because what might work for me might not work for you. Happy Hunting and GOD bless.

[JTapia]

150 grains of powder ?!!!!!!
My goodness I bet that thing packs a wallop on your poor ole shoulder.

Congrats on the Buck !!!

[ This Message was edited by: JTapia on 2003-12-12 15:56 ]

[Daddydoby]

Well,my Optima is a killer rifle. A 180 gr. Hornady sabot w/100gr pellets shoots a 3 1/2" group @ 100 yds. Killed a 6 pt @85yds.,ran about 30 steps. An anterless buck @10yds., between the eyes,
. A doe @ 15 yds., neck shot. All kills on a state game reserve. All killed from the ground while sneaking.
Sadly,I have only 3 days to hunt.(work is a 4 letter word).Rut gettin going here in MS now.

Later,
Daddydoby