Just started last year hunting with a CVA Optima V-2 muzzle loader pistol topped with a Bushnell Trophy 2-6x.

Didn?t get a shot at a deer but still had a great hunt. The thrill of hunting with a pistol brought new life to my hunting spirit.

Do anyone her hunt with a muzzle loader pistol?

If so, what?s your favorite powder bullet combination?

Mine is 80 grains of Blackhorn 209 under a 385 grain Hornady Great Plains bullet.

I have the same gun and have killed six deer with it in the last four years. I am shooting 85 grains of BH behind a 240 grain TC cheap shot.

I have a Weaver 2.5 x 8 scope on mine.

Have you chronographed your load?

l use 80grains of Blackhorn 209 with a Hornady 44cal 240gr XTP in a green sabot. Full penetration on a Whitetail at about 40 yards. 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 per the Blackhorn website info. and I use Federal magnum shotgun primers. The link to my old post is below.


http://www.handgunhunt.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/150922/page/1#Post150I

I bought a CVA Optima for deer and then realized that I can't use it in goofy IL.

I recently put it on consignment at my LGS.

Muzzleloaders are fun fun! Years ago I really got into ML rifles and loved it. I've been looking at ML revolvers lately thinking it would make for a fun 'up close' deer gun.

My load above is getting just shy of 1600 fps. The bullet is 240 grains.

Been using a T/C Scout in .54 caliber for the past quarter century or so. My loads have settled from the insane to a more sedate 90 grain equivalent of Pyrex behind a patched round ball. Taken several head of game with it, and had it scoped at one time.

Got one of the Optima pistols and while it's a great shooter, I can't bring myself to hunt with a stainless/synthetic modern monstrosity.

I really enjoy mine.

I bought one last year and put a red dot on it. I'm loading 100 grs. Of Pyrodex RS under a Federal Muzzleloading Trophy Copper 50cal. 270 gr. bullet. Used it in the early ML two day season and killed a doe. Didn't see one close enough in the late season. Trigger on mine is great and its so easy to clean! Oh yeah, I used regular shotgun primers.

Mr. Bisley,

I have 2 loads for my 209X50 Encore pistol. First is 105 gr. Blackhorn behind a 295 gr. Blackbelt bullet. The other is 100 gr. Triple 7 pushing a 320 gr. T/C Maxi-Ball.

Both loads have killed bull elk.

One story is on the home page here .

I worked with mine quite a bit the first year I got it. I tried several different powders, and pellets. BlackHorn 209 is the cleanest powder by far. I picked up some Black MZ that I have not tried to date.
Using Harvester Sabots, and 45 cal 250 grain Hornady bullets. The Optima is capable of 454 performance if you can enjoy that much recoil. Mine shoots very impressively. No problem with accuracy or power with the Optima.

Bob R

?if you can enjoy that much recoil?. Good stuff right there.

I have a 15 inch 209x50 TC Encore. Mine likes 100 grains of Triple 7 powder and a saboted 45 caliber 300 grain XTP. I've taken several deer and hogs with mine.

I bought an Optima a few years back. While I haven't killed a deer with it yet, I'm confident with it out to about 150 yards. My preferred load is 80 grains of Blackhorn 209 pushing a 200 grain Barnes XPB (substituting a 200 grain Berry's plated HP for cheaper practice) in a Harvester Crush Rib sabot. This load produces about 1,550 fps velocity and sub-2" groups at 100 yards.




Hard for me to complain when it gives me the ability to handgun hunt an extra two weeks before the regular season. Definitely a function over form factor.

Wish they still made those. If I find one used I think I am going to buy one especially now that it is leagal to put scopes on muzzle loaders during season here in Minnesota.

I bought my son the CVA for Christmas two years ago and it's proved to be very accurate. He's shooting 100gr of pyrodex with a 45 Hornady XTP in a sabot and it shoots one ragged hole at 50 yards. He took this doe at 40 yards.


I have a couple muzzleloader pistols I use. One is a 50 cal Thompson Center Scout. For whitetail I shoot 80gr of pyrodex with a 45 WFN cast and sabot. Took this ram at 73 yards.


I also have a custom 50 cal barrel from OTT that is a tack driver. I use the same load combo mentioned above for whitetail. Here's a doe I took at 87 yards.


I also have the more traditional muzzleloader pistol- Thompson Center Patriot. Although I've hunted a good bit with it, an opportunity hasn't presented itself yet.


I also love shooting and hunting with my ROA cap and ball black powder revolver. Here's a ram I took at 20-30 yards. I was shooting 35gr of 777 and a 147gr round ball.

That was my thinking when I got it but apparently I'd rather hunt with a traditional flintlock rifle than an inline pistol. Maybe I'll eventually see how it does with patched roundball, we'll see.

I?ve got the optima as well. I?ve been shooting 90 grains of 777 under a 300 grain shockwave. Killed one buck with that combo. I may switch over to the BH 209 just to make range sessions easier but honestly I don?t practice with it that much. It?s just a really easy gun to shoot.

I have a TC Scout in .50. Have killed a few deer with it. Shoot 370 Maxi Ball and 70 grains FFG . I love hunting with it.