CVA Muzzleloader Rifle

[palmettoswamp]

Has anyone had any experience with CVA's line of muzzleoading rifles??....I will be in the market for one later this year. I have never owned a muzzleloader and dont have a ton of knowledge. Seems every year I miss some good fall hunting opportunity because I dont own one

[TrophyTracker]

I had an Optima Elite with a Realtree stock 50. cal bbl and a 12ga realtree centerfire turkey bbl, with fiber optic sights and screw in chokes. I sold this unit to someone from NY to make room for a new gun. Ask AdamZ how he likes his Optima Elite;)

I have a brand new Realtree Centerfire Turkey bbl with fiber optic sights
and XFull choke still in the package for a CVA O/E, that I will prob put up for sale on here soon.

They are great guns.

[adamz]

Love it.
Get the upper end model like the Optima Elite. I know a guy at my club who has an CVA Optima. Not the Optima Elite, like I got. He let it get grungy and the firing pin is finnicky. It's really corroded, though. I don't think he can switch barrels either.
The firing mechanisms are housed in a "non user serviceable" unit which means send it back to CVA if you let it get to that point. I've been in the crappiest of weather and just clean it when I get home, that gun rocks.
The 50 cal shoots like a gas shotgun. I packed 150 grains of Shockey sticks (switched to 120 powder triple seven recently, though. Didn't care for the Buckhorn powder it burned not as hot and was a pain to clean) and it was loud as sh*t but not too heavy on the shoulder and I'm weak. For point of reference...10 to 12 turkey loads in a Rem 870 gives me sore shoulder when I was messing around with chokes and stuff. I blasted off almost 20 rounds at 150 grains when I got the CVA and was good to go more. Got it dialed in to 1.5" groups 2" high at 100 yards. I'm confident out to 200+ yards with the scope I put on it.
The turkey barrel fires like a cannon and does punch a bit more with a magnum turkey load in it. I like it when I'm in Rambo mode runnin and gunnin because it is lightweight and the sights are nice and easy to acquire targets.
I just recently bought the 30-06 barrel for it also but haven't fired it yet. Got a good deal and couldn't refuse. I'm still working on deer loads for Bob so the 30-06 can wait because I pretty much know what that will do...rock 'em.
The only thing someone might say about it is the comb's a bit high. I put a scope on it with high rings so I can also see through the iron sights should Daddy Big Rack walk right under me. I feel like I'm really laying down on it to see the iron sights but that's how I shoot, your face might be different. Shoulder one and check it out.
Overall, I'm very confident in my CVA Optima Elite and highly recommend them. Thanks, Chad, good gun.

[TrophyTracker]

No problem,man. I'm glad you really like it, and are giving it a good workout!