Anyone hunt with one? I load 2 50 grain 777 pellets behind a 240 grain TC Shockwave.

One of my favorite guns to hunt with. I took a 8 point on opening day of muzzle loader this season and a 9 pointer the 2nd day. I use to use 777 but switched to BlackHorn 209 this year and Barnes XPB 250 gr.

Is 70grs (weight) of Blackhorn 209 a good charge weight? I have one of these and haven?t shot it yet.

I shoot 80grains volume of BH209

I bought one a few months ago thinking I could use it for our Illinois muzzle loader season. Had it to the range once. Two 50 grain pellets and a 300 grain XTP put 3 touching at 25 yards. Too much recoil, so I tried 75 grains of RS powder with XTP's and SST's. This was accurate and way more manageable.

I am going to sell it, and get a 300 BO. If anyone has a 300 they want to trade let me know. When I get home in a week I will probably list this. Only fired one range time, LNIB

I might need to lower the weight I?m thinking then.

I think a lot of people think a muzzle loader is some lower powered, inaccurate, unreliable thing you are allowed to hunt with.

Rest assured the CVA Optima is no such under powered, unreliable, inaccurate hunting instrument. Power wise it is a 45 Colt on the lower end to a 454 Casull on the upper end.

I do not have my notes handy, however below is Chuck Hawks load workup with his test gun.

Harvester Sabot 250 Grain Bullet, Black MZ Powder
80 grains = 1310 fps
90 grains = 1390 fps
95 grains = 1451 fps

2 each White Hot Pellets, 250 grain Bullet, Harvester Sabot = 1610 fps

Harvester Sabot 260 Grain Bullet, Black MZ Powder
80 grains = 1290 fps
90 grains = 1374 fps
95 grains = 1425 fps

You can use more powder, however as was said above recoil becomes a problem above the loads listed above. At 454 Casull velocity the CVA Optima is a handful with the factory plastic grip. You will probably want to do a little polishing "Rounding" on some edges of the grip to make it a little more comfortable to shoot.

If you plan to shoot loose powder I recommend getting a BlackHorn 209 Breach Plug. It is funnel shaped to work better with loose powder. The factory Flat Faced one is made for Pellets.
Keep the thread clean on the Breach Plug, and use Anti Seize on the threads to keep the breach plug from locking up.

I also have changed the Scope Base to the EGW "Evolution Gun Works" brand. It has a lot more slots for improved ring placement. I have one on my CVA Scout in 357 Maximum also.

I worked with all kinds of Black Powder Substitutes with mine. My advice is to bite the bullet and spend the $$$ on Blackhorn 209 powder to start with. It is expensive, but it does not trash out the barrel after two shots like almost every other powder does. I fired mine 10 times without cleaning using Blackhorn 209, and I could have continued. You wont do that with anything else. With all other powders I worked with I considered two shots without cleaning the barrel to be the limit.

I use the Triple 7 Cleaner in mine. It was the best that I used at cleaning the barrel. Probably other products that work well that I did not test. After finding one that worked I quit looking.

Reliability, In my testing mine has been as reliable as gravity. It has fired 100%.

209 Shotgun Primers. I tested using several different shotgun primers including the one made for an inline. I would not waste money on the specialty ones. Standard 209 Winchesters worked just fine.

I recommend using Harvester Sabots, and jacketed bullets for the 45 Colt. Much cheaper than the carded saboted bullets.

Bottom line this is one fine hunting handgun, and extremely accurate. I have never heard of one that did not have a good factory trigger either.

I would like to see some improvements from CVA however. It could really be improved with better grips and a 10 inch forend like Tony or Bullberry makes. Everything about the Optima and Scout Pistols says quality except the cheap plastic furniture. Unfortunately Tony does not make wood for the CVA Handguns.

Sights
A scope or an UltraDot will work well. I would rate the Optima as a 150 yard maximum deer hunting handgun. That maximum is after shooting it to get proficient with it.

I have been hunting with Contenders and lately Encores for a long time. I so far have never fired at a deer more than one shot with one. I see no disadvantage to hunting with the CVA Optima from a reloading in the field point of view. With the Blackhorn 209 powder vials and a saboted bullet at the ready, I can be reloaded in probably 20 seconds realistically. Plenty quick enough to be reloaded when you go to check the blood trail.

Accurate and powerful, what's not to like.

Bob R

It is the first day of muzzleload season and I am sitting in a dry shooting house watching it rain. One advantage of joining a club here. I researched BH209 and there wasn't much difference in performance so I am going to stay with 777. Recoil is no worse than my 44 Encore. Did y'all know CVA has discontinued production of this pistol.

I have hunted our muzzle loading season here in North Carolina with my CVA Optima V2 for the last four seasons killing six deer. This season I killed a two year old seven.point at 71 yards.
I am shooting.85 grains.of Blackhorn behind Thomson Center's 240 grain all lead hollow point cheap shots. I have shot 14 times with just brushing the barrel between shots. I have a 2.5 x 8 Weaver scope on it. When I do my Part this setup will shoot a three shot group inside one inch at fifty yards.
I love hunting with this gun.

The Optima is my go-to weapon for muzzleloader season. With a 200 grain Barnes XPB in a Harvester Crushed Rib sabot on top of 80 grains of BH209, I get a 1,550 fps, MOA capable load that I wouldn't hesitate to use on a deer even as far out as 150 yards.

I wonder why CVA decided to stop production? Reminds me of Ruger not offering their 44 mag carbine any longer. Both guns were popular.

I shot a nice doe with mine in early Nov. with 90 grains loose Pyrodex and Federal 270 grain BOR Lock bullet. I use a red dot sight
This was my first hunt with this gun. I'm hunting in the late season now and hoping for a buck.

Good luck RSW.

I am looking for one , anyone got a lead.

Thanks Mike, try and order one today

rackmaster1
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