Author Topic: cva firebolt  (Read 760 times)

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Offline doublebeard

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cva firebolt
« on: July 29, 2007, 03:54:02 PM »
I won this gun and i'm looking for a bullet for it. I will be hunting deer with this gun this winter.

I've been told to try powerbelt 295 and 345 gr. So i started to look on different forums about
what other people are using and i can't choose which bullet to use. and i found out that there
are alot of different bullets to choose from.

So i have two questions for everyone, the first one is which bullet should i use?

the second question is why haven't i read anything about people using the lighter powerbelts
the way they use 200gr shockwaves and the pr 195 gr and so on.

Thanks for the help

DB.

Offline Buckskins & Black Powder

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Re: cva firebolt
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2007, 03:59:55 PM »
some rifles wont shoot a lighter weight bullet such as a 195 or 200 grain bullet as well as they will with a 240-300  grain bullet. If you hunt deer or elk, using the bigger bullet is the way to go.

 As for the cva firebolt, for deer, a 295 grain aerotip powerbelt driven by 80-90 grains Triple 7 would be a great starting point. cva firebolt these days brand new sells for about $175 with a camo/nickel barrel. Should be  a great little shooter. Seeing how it is a bolt action like my winchester, a CCI or triple 7 primer will do you best. Winchester and remington primers, after being fired, they expand and its a real pain to get them out and require the use of the decapper tool. Im guessing its a 209 ignition?

Offline 22lyons

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Re: cva firebolt
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2007, 04:42:25 PM »
I have used the cva for the past four years.  Bought a 209 composite for $72 from Cabelas.  It shoots great with 245 & 295 BP.  I have had some interesting results with PB on whitetails.  They shoot so well but will probably try something else.  Also use 777 pelets....probably going back to powder this fall.  Have fun shooting. 

Offline AndyHass

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Re: cva firebolt
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2007, 06:04:00 AM »
There is a fundamental difference between a 200gr SW and a 200gr Powerbelt.  The SW is only 40cal, so you still have a relatively long bullet...it's actually very aerodynamic for a ML bullet.  The Powerbelt, on the other hand, is constrained by the need to remain full-caliber.  So you end up basically whacking the back third off the bullet, leaving you with a short, stubby one.  Not very aerodymamic. 

When you cut from a 250gr to 200gr SW, you (in my experience) get a better ballistic coefficient AND higher velocity, so it's a win-win.  With the Powerbelt, you get higher velocity but the shorter bullet has a WORSE ballistic coefficient...in other words, I'm (guessing) it doesn't shoot any/much flatter and hits softer when it gets there because it's slowing down a lot faster and has less mass.

To sum it up, I see no advantage to using a full-caliber bullet that only weighs 200gr.  I'd either stick with the heavier ones or go to a saboted round.

For what little is is worth, my third-hand knowledge of light Powerbelts is that they have a reputation for blowing up.  I've never shot them personally but hear sour first-hand accounts from multiple sources.  In light of that and the rationale outlined above, I've never felt the need to try them (they're expensive too).