Can't get my new muzzle loader sighted in

[Russ79]

Bought a new CVA Accura with a Bergara barrel last year and never got around to sighting it in. I have some experience shooting one but needed to upgrade. Between having knee surgery the Thursday after opening of general season and now dealing with Covid quarantine just now trying to dial it in. Borrowed a laser bore sighter from a buddy and at 25 yards I got the crosshairs of the scope on the red dot. Today set up a target and shot once at 100 yards- didn't hit the paper. Stuck the bore sighter back in and had to readjust again. Set up at 25 yards and shot straight up from the bullseye about eight inches high. Adjusted 24 clicks down, shot again, and hit about halfway between bull and my first shot- still in line. Made another 24 click adjustment down and moved back to 100 yards and shot- didn't hit the paper. I am using a Caldwell Matrix rest. Now I am frustrated and disgusted at the same time. I am shooting three 50 grain pellets of White Hots, 245 grain powerbelt bullets with 209 primer. Anyone have any suggestions on what I need to do.

[twosixteens]

Is everything tight? Might try a different scope. I don’t usually get good accuracy with 150 grains worth of pellets 100 seems to be the sweet spot accuracy wise.

[PlanoDano]

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[sharkhunter]

4inch at 25 is at least 16inched at 100. Probably shooting right over the top. I would shoot it at 50 and dial it to hit dead center then move out to 100.

Also 24 clicks at 25 is only 1-1/2”. I’d shoot it at 50 if not on paper move back to 25 and zero it. 1 click is 1/16th at 25 so you’ll need to crank on it to get it to move much.

Also don’t seat the bullet to hard. You’ll crush the pellets and get a inconsistent burn rate. You’ll also damage the tip and the skirt. Just seat it till it touches

[El Paisano]

What is your sight height? The distance between the center line of the bore and the center of your objective lens on the scope? The greater that distance the more change you will have.
I bore sighted a reflex thermal sight on a rifle. Long story short, it was about 3" above the bore. When bore sighted at 25 yds, it would hit WAY high at 100.

[duckhunter175]

Never had good luck with 150gr charges and I've owned an optima and 3 Accuras.

1. Go back through, remove, clean, remount and retighten everything
2. Drop down to 100 grains
3. Get on paper at 25 yards (2" low works well) and then step it out

Note- powerbelts have always shot significantly differently for me than any other bullet or sabot/bullet combo that I've shot. I'm not huge fan of them but I have seen them produce good accuracy.

If 1-3 don't get you to 2" at 100 yards then try a new bullet for sure.

[Russ79]

Dropping from 150 to 100 grains was my first thought to try. I know doing more than one thing at a time is not the best way to tackle a problem but I will try shooting the 100 grains at 50 yards and see what happens. I will also add that I am running a brush thru the barrel and running a cleaning patch and a dry patch in between each shot.

[Greenheadless]

I run 2 pellets of IMR in my Accura. No reason to go three unless you plan of stretching out the shots a little. I am VERY comfortable to 150 yards with 100gr, but I shoot the 224gr power belts.

Walk your sighting in target out. 25 then 50 then 100.

My guess is the same as others, you are shooting over the target. Lots of other good advice here as well. I swab between every two shots as I like to see what would happen in the field if I have to take two back to back shots.

[32drawlength]

Yes agree to drop powder load to 100, pretty sure that’ll stabilize the load better than 150
I shoot 75-80 out of my Hawken & it’s money at 100 yards with open sights

[Drycreek3189]

Whenever I sight in a new gun at 100, I use a large piece of paper, cardboard, or something like that and put a target on it. If you have a big target backer say 2’x3’ you are not likely to miss that. Piece of butcher paper is good.

[Bayouboy]

Try two pellets. Check scope for tightness. Swab the barrel real good for excess plastic residue.

[HogCommander]

My CVA Optima V2 was giving me fits one day despite being previously sighted in and consistently delivering 2" or better groups at 100 yards. Even from a Lead Sled I couldn't get it to group and was making massive corrections after each shot.

Finally realized the screws in the factory scope mount/rings had worked loose and the scope was moving from shot to shot. A little blue Loctite to both the base screws and the ring screws solved that problem.

I would recommend checking to see if your scope mount/rings are tight first, then try 100 grains of powder at 50 yards. Hope this helps!

[Bassdeer]

I have had trouble with power belts, all over the target.

[Duckologist]

I have had trouble with power belts, all over the target.

Same, ditched em and went to hornady sabots

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[Drycreek3189]

Same, ditched em and went to hornady sabots

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

Powerbelts were the most accurate in my Encore. Just like metallic cartridges, different guns like different bullets.