1st muzzleloader purchase

[livetohunt228]

Hey everyone! Hope you are all well! If your like me your counting down the days before deer season.

I'm looking for some advice and opinions. I'm looking to purchase my 1st muzzleloader and am trying to figure out what would suit me best. I'm looking for something around $300. Would possibly spend up to $400 max.

A little history with guns. I'm NOT the best shot with one, never have been. My brother has a TC encore and the kick it puts out is just too much for me.. I know, I'm a wussy... Lol, but just trying to find my best option and be realistic in finding a gun that will shoot good for m . I have done a lot of research and people say great things about the CVA Wolf but it kinda sounds like its for a child or younger adult. I am 5' 10 and 185 lbs. I've also read great things about the Accura and Optima V2 but fear it might be to much gun. Is it all about how many loads, for example triple 7 and the bullet on how much kick it puts out? I know relatively NOTHING about shooting so another reason I'm reaching out to you guys. If I could find a muzzleloader that doesn't put off to much of a kick ( I know I anticipate it and it effects my shooting) and could be accurate out to 75-100 yards, I'd be very happy!! I know once I chose the gun it will just take practice, practice and more practice. Any recommendations on brands and models along with bullets and loads that you think might work good would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for your opinions and suggestions

 

[Fletch]

I just bought a CVA Acurra MR and love it... Well made gun and it just shoulders nice. Comes with scope mounts and a sling. Also has a Bergara barrel which is supposed TOO be one of the most accurate barrels on the market.

 

[cspot]

My son bought a CVA Wolf on sale at Dunhams for like $250 or something like that. We are going to mess around with a few more loads for this year, but it will shoot accurate enough right now at 100 yards.

 

[livetohunt228]

My son bought a CVA Wolf on sale at Dunhams for like $250 or something like that. We are going to mess around with a few more loads for this year, but it will shoot accurate enough right now at 100 yards.

Thanks for the response. How old is your son? I read the Wolf was for kids or small adults. As long as it gets the job done I'm not opposed to it, especially with my uncomfortabilty and little experience with guns. Would you recommend for an adult or does it seem more like a kids gun?

 

[Diablo54]

My son bought a CVA Wolf on sale at Dunhams for like $250 or something like that. We are going to mess around with a few more loads for this year, but it will shoot accurate enough right now at 100 yards.

I'll second this. Nice guns for the money

 

[livetohunt228]

I just bought a CVA Acurra MR and love it... Well made gun and it just shoulders nice. Comes with scope mounts and a sling. Also has a Bergara barrel which is supposed TOO be one of the most accurate barrels on the market.

Thanks for the response! I'll check into it. I'm assuming that version is probably a little out of my price range though

 

[cspot]

Thanks for the response. How old is your son? I read the Wolf was for kids or small adults. As long as it gets the job done I'm not opposed to it, especially with my uncomfortabilty and little experience with guns. Would you recommend for an adult or does it seem more like a kids gun?

It wouldn't bother me to hunt with it. It is small and light. Very easy to carry all day.

 

["J"]

Thanks for the response! I'll check into it. I'm assuming that version is probably a little out of my price range though

What ever you get, start off with 80-90 grains of powder and see how it groups and it'll be the least amount of recoil you'll get.... Some folks shoot 150 grain and it'll have much more recoil and give you the uncomfortable feeling you had with your brothers gun....

 

[Jackalope]

I just bought a CVA Acurra MR and love it... Well made gun and it just shoulders nice. Comes with scope mounts and a sling. Also has a Bergara barrel which is supposed TOO be one of the most accurate barrels on the market.

I have the Accura V2 with the Bernara barrel and can attest to its accuracy. Mine loves 150gr of pyrodex pellets behind a 240 gr XTP.

 

[livetohunt228]

What ever you get, start off with 80-90 grains of powder and see how it groups and it'll be the least amount of recoil you'll get.... Some folks shoot 150 grain and it'll have much more recoil and give you the uncomfortable feeling you had with your brothers gun....

Thanks for the advice, greatly appreciated!

 

["J"]

Thanks for the advice, greatly appreciated!

A lot of folks shoot way more powder then what is needed.... I use what's practical to what I'm shooting at and ranges I'm comfortable with.... Whatever you get, shoot it a lot.... As much as you can so you're comfortable shooting it as you are your favorite .22

 

[giles]

What area of the state do you live in? I'm in SW Ohio and just bought a Wolf, I've also got a TC Impact. You're more then welcome to come try them out.

One thing with the CVA, out of the box you are limited to pellet style powder. So you'll be somewhat limited on what loads you can shoot (powder wise). With the TC you can shoot loose powder and will be able to lesson the load a bit more.

 

[Fletch]

What area of the state do you live in? I'm in SW Ohio and just bought a Wolf, I've also got a TC Impact. You're more then welcome to come try them out.

One thing with the CVA, out of the box you are limited to pellet style powder. So you'll be somewhat limited on what loads you can shoot (powder wise). With the TC you can shoot loose powder and will be able to lesson the load a bit more.

Dave... If you change the breech plug you can shoot Blackhorn 209... I plan on working some loads up for mine once the weather gets warm. Although I did shoot it last year using 2 777 magnum pellets and it shot great. But the BH209 burns much cleaner... Livetohunt muzzleloader.com has the CVA MR for $400...
Remember your getting a one piece scope mount and sling included in this price...

Budsgunshop.com has it for $364.00 only difference between mine and this one is mine is camo and nitride dipped.. We are talking stainless steel here anyway.

 

[giles]

Dave... If you change the breech plug you can shoot Blackhorn 209... I plan on working some loads up for mine once the weather gets warm. Although I did shoot it last year using 2 777 magnum pellets and it shot great. But the BH209 burns much cleaner... Livetohunt muzzleloader.com has the CVA MR for $400...
Remember your getting a one piece scope mount and sling included in this price...

Yup! Which is why I said "out of the box". I am also thinking about going to BH209...we will see. I've been emailing back and forth with Kim trying to learn more. I hope he chimes in here.

 

[CJD3]

As J said, a lot of the kick has to do with the powder load. A 50 cal generally has decent weight so the recoil can be tamed down. Starting out with loose powder instead of 50 Gr. pellets will allow you work out a charge load that best groups. 80-90 gr powder charge will kill a deer if your not shooting great distances. Check the owners book about the max you can load. Usually 100-150 gr depending on the gun.

Bullets or sabots- Every gun will have a brand that papers better than others so plan on trying out a few different types. For every guy that loves one type, another will hate em. Maybe you know other muzzy shooters that can offer or trade brands they bought that don't shoot well for them but they are stuck with half a package. Sometimes its just trying the same brand but different bullet weights will be the key. For example my Omega hates Power belts but loves Shockwaves. For others, its the other way around...

To be fair, remember to clean the barrel consistently as accuracy may deteriorate as the barrel becomes more fouled.

To find the best load is a dance. More or less powder of Blackhorn,( BUT CHECK THE CONVERSION CHARTS. Its different than the others but cleaner) Triple 7 or Pyrodex. Heaver or lighter sabot. There is a best load your gun will love or paper better than any others but it takes time. Some times it happens in a weekend, some times it can take repeated trips to the range but in the end, the perfect load is rewarding to find. Keep it simple at 50 yards and push out from there. Take your time and bench the gun.
Lastly, write on the shot targets with your sabot and load. I take pictures of mine and keep em on a file on my laptop for reference down the road. A pizza box with a sharpie drawn bulls eye drawn on works as well as a store bought target or go on line and find some free down-loads of targets.

Best of luck. Keep us posted and be safe!

 

[Ohiosam]

Back in the day I kilt a deer or 2 with 90 grains of black powder and a 250 gr lead bullet with a cap lock. Today 80-90 grains (by volume) of Blackhorn 209 with a 250 grain SST bullet would be perfect out to 125 yards or so and be pretty easy on the shoulder.

You could even practice with 50 grains of power.

 

[Dannmann801]

I shoot 70 grains of Pyrodex behind a 250gr bullet, best grouping for me

 

[bowhunter1023]

I have a CVA Optima Elite and get the best results accuracy wise with 100 grains of Triple 7 pellets and a 250 grain TC Shockwave. That said, I will be switching bullets this year as the TCs do not perform well on deer IMO.

 

[RedCloud]

I ended up with a Traditions Pursuit Ultra Light. Even with my shoulder that was tore up it didn't kick bad enough to cause any pain. I was shooting 100gr pellets with 250gr bullets. Nice light weight gun you can tote all day long. Nice fluted barrel as well as stock tru-glow fiber optic sights. It's already drilled for adding a scope as well. Something I'm looking at doing this summer myself. Paid $300 for just the regular blued model.

Just do as much homework as you can and find a few that interests you. Maybe ask around here and see if anybody has one you might be able to swing by and shoot it at a range. Get your hands on the ones that interest you and make sure they shoulder good and it feels good to you.

 

[livetohunt228]

Thanks for all the responses and advice, it's greatly appreciated!