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Thread: My trip to the dark side is complete

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy Rockingkj's Avatar
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    My trip to the dark side is complete

    Been dyed in wool traditional ML shooter for years, questioning the parentage of in-line shooters. Well the last State shoot I had found myself without any targets left to shoot the last day. Dawned on me that if I had one of those new fangled contraptions I could have been shooting. Planted the seed to find a in-line. This weekends gunshow provided the opportunity and excuse to buy another rifle. Here’s the result, a used CVA Optama .50 with 3x9 Cabelas scope.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 016BE81E-0011-43F5-AE26-792F13D3AAFD.jpg  

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

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    And with a plastic stock too! Wow, you went all the way!

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy Rockingkj's Avatar
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    Yeah a black plastic stock every Dem’s worst nightmare.

    On another subject has anyone tried using a Lyman 450gr in one of these? Thinking 50-70 type load, just pushing the bullet from the muzzle like the old time target shooters. I think I see another rabbit hole forming.

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master pietro's Avatar
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    .

    FWIW, I've long (50-odd years) been a traditional muzzleloader shooter/hunter - and once got the curiosity bug, regarding inlines. (bought/hunted a scoped T/C Omega)

    After a season's use, I determined that they weren't for me - as I found them less easily handled than my sidelock rifles, and made taking game too easy for my tastes (it seemed to me that it took an unfair advantage on game - YMMV)

    Sooo, I returned to traditional muzzleloaders, as they're more satisfying for me to use.

    .
    Now I lay me down to sleep
    A gun beside me is what I keep
    If I awake, and you're inside
    The coroner's van is your next ride

  5. #5
    Moderator Emeritus / Trusted loob groove dealer

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    We'll probably hear you've taken up chicken stealing too!
    The solid soft lead bullet is undoubtably the best and most satisfactory expanding bullet that has ever been designed. It invariably mushrooms perfectly, and never breaks up. With the metal base that is essential for velocities of 2000 f.s. and upwards to protect the naked base, these metal-based soft lead bullets are splendid.
    John Taylor - "African Rifles and Cartridges"

    Forget everything you know about loading jacketed bullets. This is a whole new ball game!


  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy Rockingkj's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by waksupi View Post
    We'll probably hear you've taken up chicken stealing too!
    Well look out widows and orphans. Next thing taking ewe out on Saturday night.

    Not a real defense but got it in a package deal with a Ruger Red Label 20ga I wanted. The guy was way too cheap on the Ruger. So the CVA is like a free gun.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master



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    We joke about inlines at our club and call them "one of them fancy belt fed muzzle loader"!

    Don't like them personally

    But whatever gets you outdoors, beats watching the boob tube all day!

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    Been shooting 500+ gr pure lead bullet out of my 3 inline guns for a very long time; 1200 FPS with 41 grs of blackhorn 209, very accurate, if I do my part one ragged hole at 100 yds with 10 shots;

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy Rockingkj's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BLAHUT View Post
    Been shooting 500+ gr pure lead bullet out of my 3 inline guns for a very long time; 1200 FPS with 41 grs of blackhorn 209, very accurate, if I do my part one ragged hole at 100 yds with 10 shots;
    Good to hear that. 1st .50 mold I found in my stash is Lyman 515142. Ref to being 515gr. Going to keep looking, sold some .50s a while back. Seems every time I get rid of a mold in short order find I could use it.

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy Rockingkj's Avatar
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    Found another choice, RCBS 450gr flat nose. Now to get some warmer weather to cast some bullets. Below freezing in my unheated shop is not the formula to make good bullets.

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy Rockingkj's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BLAHUT View Post
    Been shooting 500+ gr pure lead bullet out of my 3 inline guns for a very long time; 1200 FPS with 41 grs of blackhorn 209, very accurate, if I do my part one ragged hole at 100 yds with 10 shots;
    What are you using for lube?

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy Rockingkj's Avatar
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    Got the one who cannot be named out shooting. A bit of an experiment. Cast some 450gr bullets, smeared the groves with bore butter and ran through a Lee .501 size die. Started at 60gr 2f real black power and worked up. Seems to find the sweet spot at 70gr. A good enough 5 shot group that I don’t think I could have any better with fancy store bought slugs. 100 yard group off bench.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 3B788790-D4FB-4941-A549-F4A9806CFB83.jpg  

  13. #13
    Boolit Master

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    Very nice! I picked up a scoped CVA after missing several deer because I couldn’t see the sights on my cap lock anymore. I’ve put a good bit of meat in the freezer with it. Well worth the investment.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master hc18flyer's Avatar
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    Damn nice 100 yard target! It'll do the job on any whitetail hit in the 'boiler room'! I am looking forward to December too! hc18flyer

  15. #15
    Boolit Master

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    If it was me, I would try sabots and a 44/45 cal boolet. They're lighter, don't kick as much, and is very effective on deer sized gam(and a lot of others too).I have had great accuracy when I tried them. I"m back to RB now.

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy Rockingkj's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by T-Bird View Post
    If it was me, I would try sabots and a 44/45 cal boolet. They're lighter, don't kick as much, and is very effective on deer sized gam(and a lot of others too).I have had great accuracy when I tried them. I"m back to RB now.
    The recoil was probably less than 20ga shotgun so not an issue for me. I like being able to make an accurate round and not have to depend on buying factory bullets. Performance on game is not an issue for me have become more of a target shooter than hunter. However this 450gr would be up to the task on deer

  17. #17
    Boolit Master

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    I was talking about home cast 44, 45 BOOLETS! If you got a plastic stock.... you might as well go all the way and use plastic sabots, but you could cast your own boolits. They are excellent on targets and saves the planet by using less lead!

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    My wife gave me the same .50 CVA with 3-9X scope for Christmas 4 years ago. I am traditional, being a reenactor in the Bucktails (42nd Regiment, Civil War volunteers). I have 9 other ML arms, both flint and caplock, and there was much "nashing of teeth, when I parked the CVA in the gunroom rack!

    Be well.

    Adam

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy Rockingkj's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Adam Helmer View Post
    My wife gave me the same .50 CVA with 3-9X scope for Christmas 4 years ago. I am traditional, being a reenactor in the Bucktails (42nd Regiment, Civil War volunteers). I have 9 other ML arms, both flint and caplock, and there was much "nashing of teeth, when I parked the CVA in the gunroom rack!

    Be well.

    Adam
    I know, if it were not for the fact I wanted additional classes to shoot at our state shoot would never have contaminated the herd with a in-line and a plastic stock to boot. Not a ML hunter and if I was, one of my traditional rifles would be the choice. Addicted to the smell of blackpowder so any excuse to ignite some is ok.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    Rocky,

    I hear you. I love flintlocks and with an MA degree in History, I am a French & Indian War person. My farm has a verified Senaca religious site on my upper field. Once a Senaca tribal person came to the site and did his thing. I freely offered access because it was right. A professor from the nearby university and her crew spent 2 weeks studying the site and she offered a report, but she died before she did so.

    Be well.

    Adam

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check