[pappygol]

hello fellow hunters. im new to this forum, but ive hunted all my life. mostly gun and bow. i live in ohio. i just bought a muzzle loader. it is a cva 50 caliber buckhorn magnum. i didnt want to spend a fortune on a encore if i dont like the sport. just wondering if anyone has used one and what is your take on this gun. im going to use powerbelt hollow points in the 295 grain with 100 grains of triple 7. sound good? thank you in advance of all replies. jeff.

 

[Hunting Man]

welcome to the site. You'll like the black powder hunting. I really can't help you on the CVA product personally, but many others purchase them so I don't think you went wrong. Someone here may be able to give additional input on the CVA's. I'm also from Ohio, what area you hunt?

 

[pappygol]

cva

thank ou for the response. i live in the warren area. i hunt in an urban zone here and also in hartford ohio. a friend has land about 200 feet from an old orchard there, good hunting. jeff.

 

[wmi]

I have not heard anything negative about the new CVA's. Now have experienced and heard other hunters as well about the lack of pinpoint accuracy with power belts. I gave the rest of mine away. I would recommend Barnes 250 hollow points. Very accurate with a ton of knock down power out to 150 yards.

 

[pappygol]

cva buckhorn

i shot it today 6 times at 100 yards. i ran a dry patch down between each shot. i only have open sights right now. all but 1 hole was within 5 inches. good or bad???

 

[wmi]

How far? If at 100 yards from a bench you can do better. Remember that targets are 1 thing and a deer is another. You should with open sites try to cut that in half with no strays. With adrenalin flowing groups tend to grow. I'm pretty sure that gun is capable of much better. 5" will get the job done but never be satisfied with anything less than perfection. Try those other sabots and I think you will see a difference. Like everyone here says aim small miss small. Pick a hair and try to cut it in two. Most of today's modern muzzle loaders are capable of 1 1/2" groups. All this being said for first time out it sounds like you are doing pretty well. Probably the biggest mistake hunters make is not concentrating on calming themselves down and breathing correctly before the shot. This is why you hear of so many wounded and unrecovered animals. Always while hunting try to find a rest if at all possible.:wink:

 

[timberghost]

Welcome aboard pappygol and greetings from WNY. I used to drive fuel tankers into Niles (BP refining) off of route 11.

 

[pappygol]

oh i dont get the shakes any more when hunting. im too old. ha ha . im going to put a scope on this thing before it is over. 100 yards isnt real far. but for an old fart with open sights. it seems like a mile. i use an old sako 25.06 for varmits and coyote. ofcourse i have a great scope. it will shoot 1/2 inch groups with ease. maybe a scope will do the trick. thanks guys. jeff.

 

[pappygol]

hi timberghost. i know right where you deliver. i live about 8 minutes from there. thank you. jeff/

 

[Guest]

Its even good for advanced...

I picked one up for a spare back a few years ago. With 100gr of pyrodex select under a 240gr Hornady XTP with one of those green sabots I shot a 2" 5shot group at 100yds, brushing the bore in between shots. That is MORE than adequate. For $120 you can't go wrong.

 

[frontiergander]

for just getting a rifle and taking it to 100 yards and shooting a 5" group with open sights, i'd say you did damn good! And a 6 shot group to boot.

Now you will just have to experiment with different powder charges and bullet weights.

Actually, you'll need to pick up several different brands of primers to experiment with as well as find which gives you the best accuracy.

 

[cloven hoofed stalker]

ammo

congrats on your new m/l as far as loads go 777 and barnes spitfire tmz boattailed sabots are the way to go you can get 1 in groups at 100 yrds with them np . power belts hit hard but are as accurate as a shotgun slug i shoot 100 grain triple 7 and 250 grain barnes spitfires and can shoot beyond 150 yrds with them np. but average for hunting is 100 yrds or less.

 

[Hunting Man]

I believe Black Horn powder is a tag better than 777, just my opinion.

 

[frontiergander]

huntingman, it is but the buckhorn can not shoot it due to the possibility of the bolt being sprung back and the fired primer becoming a projectile and hitting you in the forehead, or worse, an eye.

The plunger style rifles never should be fired with blackhorn209

 

[Hunting Man]

This is the first that I have ever heard a specific black powder propellant not suitable for a given ML rifle. Maybe that's why I shoot TC rifles? Just kidding folks. I would have to look at a CVA Buckhorn to see what you are saying. Any ML rifle shooting loose powder would be able to shoot Black Horn powder.

FG, I took a look on-line at the Buckhorn model and for the life of me I can't see what you mean. The system looks like any other spring loaded firing system. I see no difference in whatever propellant charge you are firing that the chance you are referring to could happen. Black Horn powder wouldn't be any different. I would need additional information as to why Black Horn powder wouldn't be suitable for any modern muzzleloader. If the manufacture states do not use Black horn powder then follow their advice. The rifle is rated for 150 gr charge, 3 pellets or loose powder??????

 

[frontiergander]

the buckhorn, knight wolverine, LK93, white rifles and like, use Plunger systems. You just pull straight back on the little cocking lever and thats it. The pressure that blackhorn209 creates, can spit the primer back into your face due to the plunger style systems not being strong enough. It states right on the bottle to use ONLY with an enclosed 209 primer pocket. The rifles i listed above use a slotted plug with a wire retainer. That wire alone can cause some nasty injury.

It has nothing to do with what the rifle is rated for. The breech plug design is what matters.

Correct Breech plug ( primer pocket)

Incorrect slotted breech plug On the LEFT, ( Mostly found on the not recommended Plunger style muzzle loaders) Correct plug on the Right.

 

[Hunting Man]

Good info FG, Looking at the can it's pretty explicit and easily overlooked (by me). I guess reading the label is a good thing and purchasing a little higher quality products may help for safety reasons too. Thanks for the update!!!! This is a good learning too provided by FG, look at what you are purchasing if you simply save a few more dollars you can upgrage a model or two and be reasonably assured of a quality safe product. I've never had to question the design of the TC rifles and now will look at the other Ml's in the vault for the breach plug configuration. I stand corrected!

 

[Hunting Man]

777 actually shows a slight velocity advantage over the Black Horn powder for 100 gr and a 250gr bullet. I find the BH to give me better groups down range than the 777 and seems to be cleaner burning.

 

[frontiergander]

This picture shows another great reason why Blackhorn209 will not work well with a Slotted breech plug.

Most of the primers flame leaks right out and follows the slot in the plug. For those that use scopes on these rifles, If you didnt know the reason to why your scope gets torched at the bottom, You now can see why. :green:

 

[Hunting Man]

happens to my TC Fire Hawk with Musket cap. On a silver scope it needs cleaned every time, makes a mess, probably time to upgrade to 209 TC system. :yes: