I have a CVA Optima pistol and originally shot 2 Triple 7 pellets with a 240 grain T/C Shockwave bullets. I read somewhere on this forum that Triple 7 powder FFFG would give me more velocity so I switched. Now I read that the owners manual states to only use FFG. Should I continue to use FFFG?

In my personal testing of specialty muzzleloading handguns such as the Kahnke M82 and a custom Contender barrel you will obtain your greatest velocity with H777 3f loose powder.

I use fffg in my 1858 remington with no issues. It burns hot and fast compared to ffg.

The manual list ff as the safe powder. Any load using fff is only a guess as far as safety is concerned. The action is the same as the rifle so it is safe with 150 grains of ff. It should. be fine with a hundred grains of fff. I would feel safe with that load but don't know enough about black powder or its substitutes to gaurantee it is safe.

fff will be fine,for best performance I would use real black powder and like EricS said,back your load down a bit.

I decided to use 80 grains of FFFG. I think that will be sufficient to kill a deer or hog at ranges of less than 50 yards.

3f produces more pressure than 2f so your 80 gr charge will be the equivalent to 90-95 grains of 2f.

If you shoot "Blackhorn 209" you will never shoot anything else in your Optima Pistol. With the other powders I couldn't get much accuracy from mine without cleaning after every shot...but then the BH209 was tried and it gave me 3" groups at 100yards. I think it will do better, but the 3" is plenty good for a handgun.

I did not buy the extra BH209 breech plug and I have never had igniton problems while using regular 209 primers. CVA offers a special BH209 plug...but it is not needed.

I shot 777 in my Encore 14" barrel for years with a 250grn Shock Wave. I would use the 777 loose powder and 80 grns. I have taken whitetail out to 80 yds with it and all pass through shots.
I cut a rifle muzzleloader down to 14" and used a rifle forend with the tension spring to hold my ram rod.
Good luck with your muzzleloader.

Mike