New to muzzleloading

[desteve811]

Hi folks. I was given a 50cal muzzleloader for Christmas a few years back. Ive taken it out to the range maybe 4 times since ive owned it. I want to start hunting with it this year. My question is, Does anyone have any success with a CVA Eclipse 50cal inline with a 1-32 rate twist? It came in a kit with the "buckslayer" lead bullets. I shot all of these and wasnt really impressed with the results. I then purchased the 295 grain powerbelt bullets. Shot 10 of these and the bullets where all over the place. Any suggestion? Do i need a lighter bullet?

[jim4065]

I'm new to the "modern" side of muzzleloading, but my Omega won't shoot solid conicals for beans. Try a 250 grain sabot - they work very well in the Omega (which has the 1 in 28" twist). Funny thing is that a Navy Arms "Country Boy" shoots solid conicals great with a 1 in 27" twist. Each one is a law unto itself - part of the fun is finding out what it likes best...........

[Lead Fred]

We traditionalist think in-lines should be outlawed for special season.

1/32 twist is very fast, you need concal heavy bullets, and none of them are all that accurate.

[frontier gander]

1:32 is perfect for the Powerbelt. Try right around 80gr Pyrodex RS with those 295's. My cva mountain stalker shot this group with open sights with 80gr RS and a 295gr Aerotip Powerbelt. It too has the 1:32 twist.
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm53/thepowerbeltforum/295/PowerbeltInsert086.jpg

with 100gr RS and t he 348gr AT, this is what it does @ 100 yards.
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm53/thepowerbeltforum/348/PowerbeltInsert128.jpg

[725]

Play around with the Power Belts or Shock Waves, et al, sabots and vary your charge. Seat them the same everytime and never use a lubricant with a plastic sabot. I used to before and had reasonable groups, but just not anything to write home about. As in too many endeavors, after I spent some time at the range, I broke down and read the instructions. Go figure. Right in the literature, it specifically tell you not to use any lube. Cleaned my gun diligently and started without the lube and things got better.

[HPT]

Try 405 gr Powerbelts. I've got good results from these especially 1:48 twist barrels - touching holes.

[TCLouis]

First the powder,
THEN the ball.

I made it over ten years before I got the ball first.

ALWAYS cover your powder supply!
Black Powder does not care where it is when a spark finds it!

See if you can locate some 250 and 320 grain REALs and 370 Lyman.

I have found the 370 shoots out of my inline but then I can only shoot it at night when the range is closed so no one can see me with it.

[RugerFan]

I have a CVA Optima Pro and my son shoots a CVA Accura. Try sabots with any decent 44 mag bullet. I am currently using my own cast RCBS 44-240-SWC and they are plenty accurate with 100 gns of 777.

[desteve811]

I think i found the bullet my muzzleloader likes (lighter powerbelts). I shot a 6 round group at 50 yards with 90grains of pyrodex powder and I used a 245gr powerbelt hollow point bullet. This group isnt gonna win matches but this is exceptional for hunting.

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv219/desteve811/50cal.jpg

[frontier gander]

thats a very good start! 4 bullets touching and a couple flyers, Could easily have been a flinch or something.

Question:

Are you swabbing between shots?

Are you set up using #11caps or 209 primers?

[mooman76]

Good enough to put meat on the table.

[desteve811]

no swabbing between shots and its setup to use 209 primers.

This first shot was the lowest right hole. The ignition didnt sound right, this couldve been that i didnt fire a primer to burn all the oil from previous cleaning. The 2nd and 3rd shots are the bottom two touching, the 4th and fifth shots are the top 2 touching. Then i made a scope adjustment to the left, last shot far left.

[frontier gander]

excellent!

After each shot, try letting the barrel cool down for a few minutes.

Also i should have asked what 209 primer you were using?

[desteve811]

Winchester primers

[frontier gander]

im thinking the winchester w209's? If you can find them, pick up a pack of winchester 777 primers and remington Kleanbore primers.

[desteve811]

im thinking the winchester w209's? If you can find them, pick up a pack of winchester 777 primers and remington Kleanbore primers.

Will do!