After shooting my CVA Optima and realizing how viable of a hunting handgun it is, especially for a muzzleloader pistol, I began to wonder how many others on this site use or have used a muzzleloading/black powder handgun for hunting. If you have used one, what kind of handgun was it, and how well did it perform?

So far I've only used my .54 cal Lyman Plains Pistol on small game (cottontails and grouse). The Fall 2004 issue of Handgun Hunter Magazine had a good article titled Black Powder Fire, Fury and Fun in it. It covered both small and big game hunting with muzzleloading handguns. Its worth reading if you can get a copy.

I have the same gun you do and took three whitetails with it last year. I was shooting two 50 gr pyrodex pellets over a sabated 240 xtp hp. I had a 2x Traditions pistol scope on it last year. I now have a 2.5 x 8 Weaver on it. I am now working with two white hot pellets with the same bullet.

I'm looking at having a custom pistol made to match my rifle. Haven't ever used a BP pistol, but it's in the works!!

I hav an Optima have taken several deer with it. Powerbelt bullet over 777. Great gun very accurate.

I have a kahnke .54 that is super accurate.

I have a factory 15 inch 209x50 TC Encore. I use 100 grains of loose 777 powder, 300 grain 45 caliber saboted bullet, and 777 209 primer.

Don't have one yet, but I've bee following quite a few people that have gone down that road. I see myself doing it at sometime. Other things take priority at the moment.

This is my 2016 bull. Please read my story; it is now available in Member Articles.

Thank you.

Gregg

Damn fine specimen, Gregg!

I've got a 16 1/4" Encore that started life as a rifle barrel. Very accurate with 90 gr of loose Triple 7 and a 240 xtp. I anticipate trying a different powder soon in time for our late December hunt, as there are cleaner options available.

I have found the White Hot pellets to burn very clean and two of them behind a 240 gr xtp in a black sabat are very accurate.

I've hunted with both traditional rifles and modern and quit both. The only way I'll go back is with a black powder pistol such as this. It's in my future.

I just bought the CVA Optmia V2 pistol to deer hunt with. I hunt both private and public land and the public land I hunt center fire weapons are prohibited, can only use muzzleloaders, shotguns for deer hunting so I bought the Optmia V2 pistol so I can handgun hunt the public land. I have the S&W 460 VXR to hunt the private land with. I'm more excited for this deer season than I've been in awhile. I took a nice 8 point the last weekend of archery, so I only have one more buck tag to fill so I'm really excited about taking buck and or doe with a handgun.

I have a new Optima V2 also. I should have my Blackhorn 209 (Loose Powder) Breach Plug for it Friday.
I have pretty much settled on the Harvester Black 50/45 Sabots for 300 grain and under .45 bullets.
I am planning on using Hornady .45 caliber 250 grain XTP's to deer hunt with.
I have been shooting up some Hornady 230 grain XTP's so far working with it.
So far I have tryed the T7 50/50 Pellets, Pyrodex 50/50 Pellets, Loose T7 in FFg, and Blackhorn 209 powders. I have some WhiteHot Pellets that I have not tryed out so far.
For Clean Burning WhiteHots and Blue MZ Pellets, and Blackhorn 209 powder seems to be the best options.
The T7 powder and Pellets are cheaper, just dirtier, requiring more cleaning. If you are planning on working up your load from a Clean Bore, cleaning after every shot may not be a big deal to you.
I discovered Thompson Center T17 Bore Cleaner. It really works to cut the carbon fouling.

I swapped out scopes today. I put my old Burris 2-7 back on my 6 BullBerry Imp Super 14 barrel. I put a new more compact Burris 2-7 on the Optima V2. I was going to get another MatchDot II Red Dot for it, but decided I do not have enough time to get one ordered and up and running before Deer Season starts on 12 November. If I decide I can see the crosshairs ok I may hunt with the Optima all day. If I cannot pick out the crosshairs in low light, I may use my 35 Bullberry Contender with MatchDot II of an evening.
I have the Blackhorn 209 Powder Tubes ( 6 Pak ). So loose Blackhorn 209 in tubes or WhiteHot or Blue MZ pellets all are about equally easy to use in the field.
I really like the Optima V2.

Bob

I hunted several years with a 50x209 Encore barrel. It started life as a blue muzzleloader rifle barrel. Had a gunsmith friend cut it to 15" and re-crowned the barrel. It doesn't have the quick load funnel at the muzzle now like it did when a rifle so I started using Powerbelt bullets and 75 grn of loose 777. I put a 2x scope on it and took several whitetail.
Now I use the Ruger Old Army black powder pistol with Kaido conicals, 240grn, and 30grn of 3F blackpowder or 30 grn of 777. Both shoot great. The black powder shoots a little bit faster.
Installed a new taller front blade on the revolver and sighted in at 25 and 50 yd. I hunt with traditional archery gear I build and I'm just using those skills to get closer for my revolver hunting.
Can't wait to score with it.
Mike

Our ML/handgun deer season starts this weekend. I'd hoped to be using my ML barrel but have yet to take a deer with my recently acquired MGM 357 Max barrel, so I'll pack it instead. I've got 2 tags and figure if I can get the first one filled, then I'll swap barrels and try for the second with the 209x50. It's been several years since I hunted with it and I'm kinda anxious again.

[img]http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8615&ppuser=4430[/img]

I got this guy a couple weeks ago. Caplock 50cal. 9 inch octagon barrel. My kids named the gun "Captain Hook" cause it looks like a pirate gun.

So, I guess I can't figure out pics on here. It's a few threads down under "1st caplock buck."

Thanks
MN

I shoot a TC Scout .50 with a 370 Maxi Ball and 80 grains FFG.