Recommendations on bullet/sabot for CVA Optima

[tomandjerry00]

Howdy folks,

I'm looking for your recommendations on a saboted bullet for my CVA Optima in stainless with a Leatherwood ML scope in the CVA mount. Traditionally I shoot a 250 grain TC Shockwave in Super Glide sabot, but I just ran out of them. They give me 2-3 MOA and I took a deer at 175 yards last season. Basically happy with them but they are expensive and there should be something better.

I had some TC Max Express Sabots in 240 grain around so I tried those at the range last weekend and was getting 5MOA. I guess I'll be sticking to 100 yards and in this weekend...

Traditionally I use two Hodgdon 777 Magnum pellets and a Remington klean bore 209 primer. I have a box of Hodgdon 777 pellets and some black horn (need to buy the breech plug to use it though).


Anybody have some thoughts to share?

 

[kstone803]

I'm using Bh209 and 250gr Hornady XTPs in harvester sabots. Love em.

 

[Melnic]

We zero'd my buddy's new CVA optima stainless last week and he used 2 777 magnums and TC Shock waves and got 2MOA @100 yards. I compared TC shock waves to Traditions smackdowns (both 250g) and the POI and groups were nearly identical @ 200 yards with my CVA wolf and BH209. I can easily find TC smackdowns or Traditions SST at either a Walmart or Basspro. I can't compare knock down power, but both are accurate in the 4 muzzle loaders I've tested them in.

 

[tomandjerry00]

Thanks guys!

You notice any large accuracy gains with BH vs pellets?

 

[shoreshot]

Shockwaves only out of my CVA. Powerbelts won't hold any kind of accuracy out of it. I imagine similar sabot loads from a different manufacturer would perform close to the Shockwaves. Not tried some of the new ones out there yet.

 

[kstone803]

Thanks guys!

You notice any large accuracy gains with BH vs pellets?

Never shot pellets, too much $$. But the key to BH and other loose powders is to make sure its compressed. That'll get you the best accuracy/consistency.

 

[Wojo]

I am shooting the Hornaday FPBs sabotless and love the accuracy and consistency. Getting those things down without at least a spit patch for a follow up shot is another story

 

[Twanger]

I am shooting the Hornaday FPBs sabotless and love the accuracy and consistency. Getting those things down without at least a spit patch for a follow up shot is another story

I've heard that these work great, or not great, with not much in-between.

The Encore and Omega have the last inch of rifling drilled out of the bore (they call it the QLA) to facilitate sabot loading and also to help pull the sabot off the round when it fires. The QLA really screws up the flight of the FPB's. Same thing with conical bullets. I know people who have cut off the QLA and re-crowned their Encores.

 

[tomandjerry00]

All great info, thanks!


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[stu929]

My buddy and I have had great success with powerbelts