Review of CVA's OPTIMA V2 Muzzle Loader Pistol

My wife gave me a CVA OPTIMA V2 Muzzle Loader pistol for Christmas. North Carolina made it legal to hunt deer with this a couple of years ago.

The gun has a 14 inch SS barrel with a quick release breech plug.

This gun will shoot. I have seen reviews showing 1 1/2 inch groups at 50 yards.

The first thing I did was to replace the original breech plug with a Blackhorn 209 breech plug. I had seen reviews saying that this gun shot better groups using loose powder than when id did using pellets. You can adjust your loads a lot better with loose powder.

The only loose powder I could find at that time was Jim Shockey's Gold FFG so I bought a pound of it.

Later at the shooting range I was able to shoot three shot groups, without cleaning the barrel between shots, of 1 7/8 inch at 25 yards using 80 gr of Jim Shockey;s with a 240 gr Hornady XTP with sabot.

After cleaning the gun I went back to the range and tried the same bullet with 90 gr of powder and was able to shoot three shot groups of 1 1/8 inches at 25 yards again without cleaning the barrel between shots.

This is the load I plan to deer hunt with this season so the next trip to the range I sighted the gun in 1 inch high at 25 yards. Then I dropped back to 50 yards and shot it. The shot printed almost perfectly 2 1/2 inches high. I think this should be good to maybe 100 yards.

I believe I am ready to hunt now.

I would love to see Whitworth do a article about hunting deer with this gun.

I have this same pistol but with a red dot sight on it. It shoots better than I do. Do you feel you're getting better ignition with the Blackhorn breech plug ?

I think I am getting better ignition. The gun seems to like hot loads. I thought about trying a 100 gr load but it is almost time to start hunting with it and I wanted to settle on a load. I may try a hotter load after the season goes out and I have more time to play with it.

I use 80grains of Blackhorn 209 with a Hornady 240gr XTP in a sabot. Full penetration on a Whitetail last season. Considerable damage, broad side, double lung shot. The load is equivalent to a 44 mag revolver. I drilled my breech plug out for the Blackhorn 209 and I use magnum shotgun primers. The link to my old post is below.


http://www.handgunhunt.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/150922/page/1#Post150922

billa, Do you think that this gun would handle 90 grains of Blackhorn 209?

CVA says the gun is 100 grain capable. I started at 80 grains and went no further at it grouped well and seemed powerful enough for Whitetail. I would shoot 90 grains without hesitation.

One reviewer, some time back, stated that at 100gr of powder it became a bit unmanageable. which of course affects accuracy. I guess it all depends on whose on the back end.

Jeff

I have one and have taken a few deer already with it. I use Power Belt bullets but recently have been trying a Harvester SABOT with XTP 300 grain and it is really accurate. Triple7 powder. I have used Swiss FFF just accurate just a little more dirty.

3" groups at 75 yards is common with this gun it's really a fantastic value.

Does anyone else have any experience hunting with this muzzle loading pistol?

just wondering has anyone tried conicals out of it.

All I have shot so far is the Hornady 240 grain XTP in a sabot.

I have had this same pistol for going on 3 years.....when it was a new item. I too got the BH 209 breech plug. My buddy got the exact same set-up. We both use 100 gr Blackhorn 209 powder with 240 grain .44 xtp sabot. Both guns shoot 1 1/2" at 100 yds. If I was going to go with any other powder I would definitely use the stock breech plug. 100 gr of BH 209 is not unmanageable at all. I also just picked up the same gun in a rifle as well for times I have longer unsupported shots. Plan to try the same load for sighting in tomorrow as well as 250gr WFNGC Beartooth Bullets. If they shoot as accurate as the XTPs then I am going to give them a try this year. They are fantastic firearms.

I 1/2 " groups at 100 yards is great! What scope do you have one yours?

What scope do you have on your pistol? 1 1/2" groups is great!

It is a fixed 6X Leupold I picked up pretty cheap on E-bay a couple years back. I love the Burris handgun scopes but they weigh more. This fixed is light weight and nice with fine crosshairs.
That gun rivals my Contenders in handgun cartridges. Now my Encore in 7mm-08 with a break is a whole different animal. Much better groups with Hornady Whitetail ammo.

I'll try to remember to get some pictures of the groups tomorrow from the range with both guns.

I would love to see how it compares to your contender in handgun cartridges.

This is my buddy's target today. I have to work on my rifle load some.


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I have one of these with a Bushnell 2-6x scope on it using the Blackhorn plug, 100 grains of Blackhorn 209, sabots and 240 gr. XTP's, I have routinely shot under 2" at 100 yds (3shot groups). A buddy of mine saw me do this just this afternoon.

eta. See pic above. :-)

Luis

mike.44. is this with his CVA Optima V2 pistol and if so what load and at what range?

Yes it is. 100 grs Blackhorn 209, with the BH 209 Breech Plug. Using the generic T/C green sabots for .44 cal bullets, and 240 gr XTP's. We are shooting at 100 yds, outdoors from a bench. Using CCI 209 primers.

We are going to try and tighten up the groups by moving to .45 cal bullets, with the black sabots, and trying Fiocchi 209 primers. From much studying it seems some are shooting these CVA's sub MOA using these primers, 110 grs BH 209, and Barnes T-EZ 250's and 290's. My Optima rifle did not shoot that great for me. About 2" groups was the best I could do.

From my studies I learned a few things:
1) Most 209 primers are too hot. They will make the load jump some before complete ignition. The Fiocchi's don't.

2) The .44's can give erratic groups because the plastic sabot is thicker and don't engage the rifling as well, or consistently.

I have my stuff on order and hopefully will get to go to the range again before Muzzleloader starts. I plan on trying the Fiocchi primers, 110 gr BH 209, 250 gr Barnes T-EZ bullets, Generic black sabots with both 255 gr XTP's and 265 gr 265 gr WFNGC Grizzly or Beartooth bullets(forget which I have.

Redhawk, I will try to copy and paste the links for you to read what I found on this if you want me to. Some of the info came from a guy who sights-in CVA muzzleloaders for clients as part of his living. Seems he has shot 1" groups at 200 yds, and almost 1/2" groups at 100 yds using stock CVA mid level rifles.

mike.44, please do paste the links. I would love to read what has and can be don with this gun. Thanks for all the info. I plan to hunt with my V2 tomorrow afternoon and Saturday morning so wish me luck.

My son and I will be hunting on a trophy only section of his club so it will be a nice buck or nothing.

What's the recoil like with these?

About like my Redhawk in 44 mag. Really not too bad at 90 grains but I am sure it is much more at 100 or 110 grains.

I have a scope on mine. I think the recoil with 100 gr BH209 is for of a shove than a kick. Easier to shoot than the 44 mag TO ME.


Here is some info I found on the CVA Muzzleloaders you might enjoy.

http://blog.cva.com/muzzleloader-cva-accura/

Thanks mike.44. I will enjoy reading this info.

Glad to help.

All depends on bullet weight it's more straight back than most other guns Imown but it is manageable.

Correct. I was comparing the XTP .44 240gr in the two guns with decent charges.

I agree. Softer and less muzzle rise than a 44 mag revolver. Very similar to a 14" Contender with comparable bullet weights.
I assume the pressure spike is a softer peak than a cartridge gun as there is no case crimp to overcome and the plastic sabot moves through the barrel much easier than a jacketed pistol bullet does.

IMO, shooting 240 grain Saboted .429 XTP's, propelled by 100 grains of Black hawk 209 powder, it is very comparable to a good factory .44 mag load like WWB 240 gr JSP's, out of most any 4" - 7" barrelled revolver.

Stout, but hardly unmanageable.

Luis

Yesterday I took my CVA OPTIMA V2 back to the range. I wanted to try two fifty grain pellets of pyrodex with the 240 xtp and sabot.

To my great pleasure it shot one hole three shot groups at 25 yards.

The recoil is strong but not offensive. Nothing like the Raging Bull 454 I once had.

Our muzzle loading season comes in next Saturday morning. I hope to get to try it on a good buck or mature doe then.
I love this gun!

Worked a wide variety of loads today and the one that I am sticking with is;

Powerbelt 245 grain hollow point projectile over 90 grains by volume.

The average velocity is 1335 FPS.

Accuracy at 50 yards was 1.5" for 3 shots.

This bullet loads very easy and is lethal on game.

I have been shooting an optima for 4 years. I have an old redfield variable 2-6x scope on it. I shoot 2 white hot pellets under a t/c cheap shot 240 grn HP lead bullet and black sabot (those are about 5 bucks for 20 shots) the accuracy is astounding. I regularly shoot 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards. Recoil is manageable like a stout 44 mag load. i routinely practice to 150 yards with 3 inch groups with this setup and shot a deer two years ago at 120 yards. recovered the bullet under the skin on the off broken shoulder. this is the only bullet i have recovered to date. My rig doesn't like the power belts or pyrodex.

This handgun will be a future purchase for me!! Don't tell my wife.

You need to get it in time to get her sighted in and ready for next muzzleloader season. You will love it.

From the reports it looks to me like they have came up with a great muzzleloader to hunt with. I would not have thought that the different shotgun primers would have made much of a difference.
I would guess we are talking 100% ignition with 209's and the in line design? I can see no reason it would not be completely reliable, just like a Contender, and maby more so. I have had my Contender snap a couple times with shells not sized completely.
I can see one in my future.

Bob R

If you get one I think you will love it.

IAhandgunner, how do you sight your gun in to make a 120 yard shot? One inch high at 50 yards or what?

1.5" high at 50 yds. I use a 3" orange dot and zero at the top of the dot. pretty much on at 100 and about 4" low at 150. definitely minute of deer. i use a high center hold on the longer shots and they drop right in.

Thanks for the info. That helps.

Anybody try one with patched round ball?

Not me.

You guys are really making me want one of these.

Go for it. You can get one for less than $300. I do not know of a better deal for a real hunting handgun.

Spend the money it is one of the best values for a hunting handgun on the market.

Patched round balls; I tried some and with a Wonder Wad and 45-55 grains by volume of FFG Swiss real Black it was accurate to 50 yards and a real pussy cat to shoot. .015 patch wonder lubed, I could not get the chronograph to read because of the patch and wad were messing me up.

But I can tell you with 170 grain Dynamic a Research Technologies (DRT) sabot and 100 grains by volume FFg Swiss real black I was seeing close to 1950+ FPS.

I have just scratched the surface of possibilities with this gun. I plan on having a lot of fun trying different loads with it after new years until then I will stick with two fifty grain pyrodex pellets and a 240 gr sabat and xtp bullet.

It has worked twice already this year.

Mine should be here tomorrow....according to UPS tracking.

Great! I know you will Love it!

WiseGuy, did your CVA come in yesterday? What do you think about it?

I killed another doe this afternoon with my CVA Optima V2 muzzle loading pistol. I was hunting alone and killed her late in the afternoon. Had to clean her by myself so no time for photos.

The shot was about 40 yards and she dropped on the spot.

That makes a seven point buck and two does with my V2. I am loving this gun more every day.

Congrats! You're on a roll with that Optima!

Sorry for the late response REDHAWK I just now saw your question. I have yet to shoot it but I really like the feel of the pistol. If mine shoots like the rest of the folks that have reviewed it, it is def worth the money. For less than $250 hard to go wrong.