Hunting Forum

The other day I got a urge while in a store and ended up coming home with a .50 caliber CVA Optima.  It has the speed breech, stainless steel barrel, fluted, and fiber optic sights.  Not that I needed this rifle, but need never really fit into the equation.  Wanted is more of better statement.  Anyway it came home with me.

I shoot 100 grains of pyrodex and 250 superglide sabots in mine and they do great. My optima does not like powerbelts at all. that load has served me well for years. the only change is one year I used 250 grain hornaday sabots they did ok but not as good as the T/C superglides.

Thanks.. I tried some 348 grain Aero Tip Powerbelts out of it yesterday but was not too impressed. CVA told me to try 250 grain AeroLite Powerbelts. But at $2.00 each they can't be serious. I was also told that 300 grain and 250 grain XTPs shoot well out of the Optima. And first hand knowledge with them?

I shoot White Hots and Powerbelt Aero Lite's with a very tight 3" pattern at 100 yards. This is the only thing I have tried although.

Posted By Baller on 31 Oct 2012 01:08 PM
I shoot White Hots and Powerbelt Aero Lite's with a very tight 3" pattern at 100 yards. This is the only thing I have tried although.

That was the exact load that CVA recommended to me.  They are kind of expensive.  How are they at taking game?

My son in law has 3 CVA and we shoot sabots between 240 and 300 and have taken 4 elk and 3 deer any where between 150 yards and the deer at 200 yards with pellets. paly with what you want ot shoot I have shot barnes in it at 278 grain on deer at 200 hundred yards and taken it in one shot.

I have some Pyrodex RS pellets and some Parker 275 grain Extreme.. they might do good then. I will have to give that a try. Thanks for the heads up. What scope mount did you go with.. or your son go with? I purchased the DuraSight one piece with built in rings. It is what was suggested. And I will be putting a 3-9x40 Cabela's PowerHorn Scope on it.

I have some Pyrodex RS pellets and some Parker 275 grain Extreme.. they might do good then. I will have to give that a try. Thanks for the heads up. What scope mount did you go with.. or your son go with? I purchased the DuraSight one piece with built in rings. It is what was suggested. And I will be putting a 3-9x40 Cabela's PowerHorn Scope on it.

My rifle doesn't seem to be picky as to what I put thru it.  I have some 245 grain powerbelt aerotips, and some 250 grain Hornady sst/ml sabots  that I have been using.  I have been using 100 grains of Pyrodex pellets, or 95 grains of American Pioneer powder behind them.  They all shoot 2 to 2 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards.

The optima I had, (sold it due to its weight) liked powerboats and 100 grns 777. One thing you may want to watch is, make sure the breach plug is tight. I left mine just a bit loose once and missed an opportunity at a very nice 4 1/2 year old 8 pt buck. It functioned fine in the house,( and warm) but once it got really cold the hammer would not stay in the cocked position. I had a nice buck broadside for several minutes and could not get the hammer to stay back. After he walked away I opened it again and got about 1/4 turn tighter on the breach plug and it functioned fine. That was on opening day, it took the rest of the season before I got another opportunity at him. His head is now on my wall. So, the story does at least have a happy ending. lol Mine was a real good shooter too, just for the record.

I upgraded to a 3-9x40 Cabela's PowderHorn Muzzlelaoder scope. Very clear and the glass seems great. And with a Dura Sight single base mount and ring its a nice solid combination. I was shooting 90 grains pf BlackHorn 209 out of it the other day and some 300 grain Hornady XTP and the results looked pretty good.

Cayugad as you know I have a love affair going with those Hornady XTPs especially the 300 grain offering. I get very good accuracy and my freezer has the terminal results of these bullets. At least the ones that follow me home. For me, if I do my job the rifle and bullet will do theirs.

I have a older 50 cal CVA Optima and I used the 245 HP and AeroTip Powerbelts with two White Hots. The only problem I had that there was no blood trail. This year I used the new AeroLite Bullet 250 grain and it worked great and the blood trail came out on both sides of the deer. At the range AeroLite Bullet 250 grain gave me two inch pattern at 100 yards. Ive have taken all my deer with powerbelts, but from now on I will use the AeroLite Bullet 250 grain.

I have some 180 gr sabot that I want to try in my Optima. Here is my thoughts on this and I may a little off my rocker. If I use this lighter bullet thereby reducing my powder load can I accomplish the same thing on the deer, as lighter bullets are used in high power rifles and I know the velocity will be lower but seems it should still work or are my squirrels running rampant

if your using loose powder.  You could probably play with the powder to keep up the velocity.  Howerver. keep in mind that with the lighter bullet.  You may not get penetration that your looking for on game. You may also have to rezero the gun just like you would with a centerfire with a different bullet weight.

From what I'm seeing on the target.  You have a good group going on.  What I would do is.  Ok, when your out hunting.  Your not going to be shooting off the bench.  But,  You'll probably going to be shooting off the sticks. If your hiiting where you are right now off the sticks.  You'll probably do it when shooting at game too.  I would probably adjust my scope 3 or 4 clicks to bring it closer to center.  Off the bench.  You'll be 2 to 3 inches to the left.  But, off the sticks you should be right on.  I hope this makes sense to you.  I do the same thing sometimes.

makes perfect sense to me...