Unexpected Results ...

[HillBillyFarmer]

Saturday was a great day to do some shooting or so I thought. Now anytime you get a chance to do some shooting when it's a nice sunny day is a good day, but I had a different kind of day. Last Christmas my wife bought me a Stevens model 200 in 25-06 (I'm talking about a Steven's now, but this story is all CVA) earlier in the year I bench shot it, got it sighted in and shot some real good groups.

Saturday I was going to shoot it again only this time I was going to shoot it from different field positions, so I put some clay pigeons out in the field ranging from 50 to 85 yards. I wanted to shoot mostly off hand, I thought it would be good practice. Needless to say I couldn't hit the broad side of barn. I was very disappointed, so I tried shooting off the bench again to see if it was still on and it was, so then I knew it was me.

I took the Stevens back in the house and grabbed my CVA Eclipse because I've never had a problem shooting off hand with that. I loaded it up and hit every clay pigeon off hand without a problem.

I don't know what it is about my CVA $100 Eclipse, but it seems like I can't do anything wrong when I'm shooting that muzzleloader. Maybe I'm just a muzzleloader man and center-fire rifles aren't my thing? Anyone else ever has something similar happen to them?

[Ditchdigger]

I hav'nt shot the ecliipse,but my Optima Elite seems to be easier to hold steady than my other rifles. I was shocked to be able to shoot a pig at 125 yds.from a standing position,through the brush,and after walking and then settle the crosshairs on the pig.   Digger

[quickdtoo]

I hav'nt shot the ecliipse,but my Optima seems to be easier to hold steady than my other rifles. I was shocked to be able to shoot a pig at 125 yds.from a standing position,through the brush,and after walking and then settle the crosshairs on the pig.   Digger

Make that an Optima Elite, big difference!

Tim

[Ditchdigger]

Sorry about that,my mind was going faster than my fingers. Digger

[oldrookie]

I hav'nt shot the ecliipse,but my Optima seems to be easier to hold steady than my other rifles. I was shocked to be able to shoot a pig at 125 yds.from a standing position,through the brush,and after walking and then settle the crosshairs on the pig.   Digger

Make that an Optima Elite, big difference!

Tim

Now don't be dogging the the little old Optima fellas! (just kidding)

[kyelkhunter3006]

Maybe it's something about a fat barrel with a big hole in the end??  Better forward balance?  I experience the same thing, I can shoot any of my ML's offhand better than my centerfires.  I never mentioned  it before, I thought maybe it was just a mindset thing.  Maybe it really is....

[Mac11700]

I've handled quite a few Stevens rifles...and don't care for them at all...I went thru a whole bunch of them a couple months ago...and everyone of them had something wrong with them...The CVA I have fits me great..and I can shoot both barrels I own (MZ-243) and 1 45-70 ( loaner)  extremely well...from the bench..kneeling..or standing up...When a gun fits ya..and is comfortably to shoot..even the heavy kickers...you will just shoot it better than one that don't...Put a decent stock on that Stevens that fits ya better and it will shoot better for ya...

Mac

[HillBillyFarmer]

KY and MAC, you're both right! I really do enjoy the fact that it's a nice big barrel and it balances real nice, but the ML just has that "IT" factor every time I bring "IT" to my shoulder. The other thing that's a major plus on it is my scope, it's a Bushnell Banner 3x9x40, however, the recticule is has the circle X cross hairs and I just seem to be able to hold on something much better with it. I think I'm going to start spending more time shooting my fathers optima standard 209 and see if I can't get that to shoot good for me. If I can what I think I'll do next (gotta save my penny's) is get a optima Elite in 45/70 and see if I can get the same results with that as I do with my ML. I don't think I want to invest the money in the Stevens, I'll keep a dedicated bi-pod on it or carry a good set of shooting sticks if I decide to hunt with it.