muzzleloader help needed!!

[ducks-and-bucks]

I have a CVA Accura - camo synthetic stock, silver barrel, nikon omega scope on it that I picked up for fun... it has a 1:28 twist.... I have been trying this pyrodex pellets with sabots, and regular muzzleloading bullets and can not for the life of me get this sob to shoot with a darn! I've come to the conclusion that pyrodex pellets arent worth a flip and I need to measure out some kind of powder to tune a load up... Thats all I can think to do... Anyone have advice on which powder to use for muzzle loaders? I know jim shocky markets some stuff, never heard anyone using it.. and truthfully I dont know anyone else that shoots a muzzle loader either..

any help is appreciated.. even bullet selection..

[cajuntec]

Just like any regular rifle, you're going to have to see what your particular firearm "wants". My personal best with my last CVA Optima was achieved with 90 grains of loose (powder form) 777 and a PowerBelt 245 grain Aerotip. However, that load absolutely was terrible in my T/C Triumph. It also didn't work worth a darn in any of my friends blackpowder rifles when we tested out different loads. It just "fit" my particular setup.

Starting out, I tried Powerbelt Aerotips (245 grain), Powerbelt hollowpoints (295 grain), T/C Mag Express (240 grain), T/C Shockwave (250 grain), and T/C Shockwave bonded (250 grain). I also tried Pyrodex, 777 pellets (2 of the 50 grain worked second best), and 777 powder. I didn't try anything else at the time, as I found loads that worked well with what I had.

In the CVA Optima, all of the sabot rounds were too tight of a fit, and I couldn't even get them seated. I changed the sabot's to Harvester Crush Rib's due to a suggestion on another forum and they loaded much easier.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Harvester-Crush-Rib-50-Caliber-Sabots-Per-50/740770.uts

It's been a while, but I believe my Triumph ended up shooting better with Pyrodex and the T/C Shockwaves.

All the best,
Glenn

[Drycreek3189]

Try the Powerbelt bullets. I have had three front stuffers and they all performed with these bullets and pellets. Good luck !

[brrdnk]

Try the Blackhorn 209 powder. Its a loose powder and burns clean for black powder, you can shoot a bunch without cleaning and clean ups are easy. CVA even has a 209 Breach plug about $20. Try the Brarns T-EZ sabots. I get very good groups with this combo even took a buffalo with it.

[ducks-and-bucks]

I've been wanting to shoot the powerbelts... My first muzzle loader shot them real well. This second one I got I thought was an upgrade in gun, but I havent got it tuned yet...

I;ve had a few people tell me that buckhorn 209 powder is good. I will have to see if I can find some somewhere...

[Limbwalker]

209 or Triple 7. I use Triple 7 (70 grains) out of my Ruger 77/50 along with plastic crush rib sabots and 240-grain .44 cal pistol bullets (Hornady). I limit my shots to under 125 yards, but still get complete pass-thru's and have cleanly taken about 6 deer with this in the past 3 years, including a real brute of a buck a few years ago. Drop most of them where they stand. The big buck went just 50 yards. This combo gives me 2" groups at 100 yards all day long, and is easy on the shoulder.

My 13-year old daughter even shot it and liked it.

I tried BH 209 but wasn't that impressed with how "clean" it was compared to Triple 7, and it's not water soluble like Triple 7 is, so at the end of the day I just stuck with the "old" stuff because it shoots great and cleans up easy.

Hope you find what you need, as taking a deer with a ML is a great way to go. Big, slow bullets don't ruin much meat at all, I discovered.

[switchback]

I shoot a Hornady 240 grain hollow point bullet and sabot with 90 grains of powder. Can't remember the name of the powder but its in a black plastic powder. And make sure it's not pistol powder.

[Fulch]

I have a CVA Optima as well, two 50gr 777 pellets and 250gr Aero Power Belts group really well, 2.5" at 100 yards.

I am however going to find a new projectile. I shot a bull elk at 40 yards last year, the bull went 40 yards and dropped like a rock but I wasn't a fan of how the Power Belt fragmented from the rib bone impact. Fortunately the fragments destroyed the vitals but I think at a longer distance I would have had problems.

Contact Thor, he will send you a free sizing kit and are all copper expansion style, no sabots. I have a sizing kit but haven't played with it yet. Great customer service and reviews.

Barnes are supposed to be great also but you have to try a variety of projectile/sabot combinations to find what you ML prefers. Good luck.