Author Topic: cva optima pro accuracy problems (Read 3332 times)

Phoneman · « **on:** May 26, 2006, 01:04:40 PM »

does anyone own a optima pro .50?
I'm having some problems with mine for accuracy. Wanted to know what loads you use.

skamaniac · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2006, 01:10:28 AM »

Sorry i can't help you, I have two friends having the same problem.

lonewolf5348 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2006, 05:25:30 AM »

I yet to see an inline that won't shoot the hornady xtp in 240 grain bullet/sabot .
I would start with a mid-range powder charge and work my way up,75 to 80 grains and see how she shoots.
The xtp come in 45 cal and also 44 cal for m/l with tight bores I would use 44 cal.

skamaniac · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2006, 11:06:16 AM »

Quote from: lonewolf5348

I yet to see an inline that won't shoot the hornady xtp in 240 grain bullet/sabot .
I would start with a mid-range powder charge and work my way up,75 to 80 grains and see how she shoots.
The xtp come in 45 cal and also 44 cal for m/l with tight bores I would use 44 cal.

The XTP's don't group well in my Encore or my Remington.

doegirl · « **Reply #4 on:** May 29, 2006, 07:40:45 AM »

When I spoke with CVA regarding accuracy problems with my Kodiak, the technician told me to try a heavier Powerbelt bullet. I don't know if that would actually work, since I returned the rifle for something better. Might be something to try.

Phoneman · « **Reply #5 on:** May 29, 2006, 09:14:00 AM »

I've talked to cva a couple times about this gun. everyone I talk to has a different answer. First it was my powder. so i switched to pyrodex select granual. No change. Now I'm supposed to try useing more powder. I usually hunt with 80gr. pyrodex and a 295gr powerbelt. (my other rifle loves this combination. Now I'm supposed to try 100gr. and a 245gr. slug. But don't forget to foul the bore with 2 primers then a shot then swab with damp cloth in between shots. if that doesn't work I'm supposed to foul the bore with 50 gr. powder then shoot the gun. I personelly have never swabbed the bore between shots of my old cva hawken and it shoots like a champ.
But here is were cva doesn't listen. At 25 yards I shoot 12 in. low with the ramp all the way down. with the ramp all the way up I shoot 8in. low. and at 50 yards I don't even come close to paper. That bullet should be on the up swing of it's arc between 25 and 50yards. So I should still be on paper. I've tried 2 scopes and the open sights with this gun. and it is worse with the scopes because the gun is so inconsistant as to were it shoots.
thinking very hard about selling gun and sticking with my hawken.

Ricci Price · « **Reply #6 on:** May 29, 2006, 11:31:22 AM »

I am working on a cva pro mag that a buddy of mine has, it is a 45 cal so the animal it just that much harder to tame. He said the best he could do was 10" groups if he was lucky. I have recrowned (that easy-loading feature is probably the cause of some of his accuracy loss so it is now gone) and polished the barrel inside with steel wool ( I had to do this because it was rusty and pitted inside beyond beleif). One other thing I done was hone the locking lug (very lightly I must add) to create a better lock-up of the barrel it didn't seem to engage fully when it was closed. I did shoot it 2 times yesterday @ 50 yards ,freehanded , standing up and it put both bullets in a 1" group. I was shooting pyro pellets (2/50's) and sst 200 grainers. Sooo, something I done is working. First thing to do is don't give up and lean the gun up in the corner (and forget about even cleaning it) try some of this it may help. I did note that the locking lug was higher on one side than the other I dont know if this was a casting defect or what ,but it is now flat all the way across.

Phoneman · « **Reply #7 on:** May 29, 2006, 04:23:47 PM »

What you've done makes sense. I don't think I'll recrown the barrel and I keep all my guns clean weather I like the gun or not. Maybe polishing the bore a little and checking the lockup. I even asked the guy at cva if the fore end and lockup mattered on accuracy and he said no. I own a handi rifle. I know they make a huge difference. Judgement gets clouded a little when the gun is this frustrating and powerbelts cost an arm and a leg. thanks for the advise.

doegirl · « **Reply #8 on:** May 29, 2006, 07:36:05 PM »

Phoneman-It's really frustrating for me to read this thread. Why-because what is happening to your Optima happened with my Kodiak. I got the same run-around with CVA. I have a feeling your gun is new or newer like mine was. Darn thing would not group at 25 yds no matter what you feed it. In my mind, there is no excuse for this :x It is a defective product, and CVA needs to produce a gun for you that at least hits the paper. Ship it back to factory or see if you can take it back to where you purchased it for a refund or a exchange.

UtahRob · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2006, 05:28:55 PM »

We got the best groups with xtp 300 grn .44 with 95 grns of ffg and Klean bore primers and he gets 2'' groups at 100 yrds with his Optima. But Its not the Pro.

flintlock · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2006, 04:11:21 AM »

Phoneman....One of my hunting buddies bought a CVA Optima a couple of years back....He also had a heck of a time getting it to group consistantly...We finally found out how to get it to group....After each shot he cleans the barrel and then removes and cleans the breech plug....After doing this his accuracy was about 1 1/2 inches at 100 yards...His load is 2-50gr Pyrodex pellets and a 295 copper PowerBelt....

Sounds crazy, but thats what it took....The breech plug on his has a very shallow (compaired to my Knight) plug, my theory is the breech plug is fouling after cleaning and is affecting the amount of flame that reaches the pellets...

I had suggested that he try loose powder, maybe varing the charge for the second shot, maybe popping a cap or two between shots or even cleaning the plug from the breach end with a pick, or even possibly reaming out the breach plug....He didn't want to get into all that, and uses it as is...I wouldn't be able to live with a gun this way.....

You might want to give this a try....

Critter · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2006, 12:07:43 PM »

Friend of mine bought one last year and it wouldn't shoot any of the powerbelts we had worth a darn. I don't like them very much anyway so it was not a big deal, we had several other bullets to try. Settled on 3 Pyrodex 50 gr pellets, topped with a 250 SST lit off with the Remington BP 209's. He has to spit patch twice between shots but we got it down to 1 1/2" groups.

od green · « **Reply #12 on:** June 01, 2006, 06:50:49 AM »

a friend shoots 245 gr powerbelts and two 50 gr pyrod pellets and has had no problems and has taken over four deer in the last two years. i've seen him take shots out past 100 to 150 yrds and made clean harvest of deer, i've been thinking of up-grading to one and i shoot a traditions tracker 209, 50 cal and have had no problem with 245 gr powerbelts and 90 gr loose pyrod with great results, my mz is almost 5 yrs old. for a cheap wepon and desient care it lasted this long but is still a good shooter.

dmurphy317 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 02, 2006, 06:49:55 PM »

Phoneman,

Sounds like you may have more than one thing going on at the same time.

Problem one. The gun won't group. Check out the lockup by trying to move the barrel around in the action, if it moves much at all it is in need of attention. Also confirm the sights are properly attached and tight i.e. no movement. Some have had luck putting a spacer/washer between the forearm and barrel giving a bit of float to the barrel thus causing less pressure on the barrel/forearm interface. Of course, bullet/powder combinations can affect accuracy, some rifles are just more finicky than others. My sons Optima seems to like the 250 Shockwave with 80 to 90 grains of powder. First outing with it we were getting 1" goups at 25 yards with no issues sighting it in with factory sights. I would stay away from scopes till you get it sorted out with the open sights, no need to introduce more variables into the mix.

Problem two. You mentioned that no matter where you set the factory sights it shoots low. My questions are, even though its low, does it group at all? Are the sights the correct ones from the factory? If the gun groups ok, just low, then a lower front sight may be in order. If the groups suck, confirm everything is tight in the lockup and sight mounting.

If all else fails, send the gun back to CVA and see if they can figure out whats going on.

Good luck with it and remember, it's a good excuse for more range time.

David

Phoneman · « **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2006, 05:04:06 PM »

First thing I did when I got the gun was check lockup. it's good. second was put an o-ring in forearm. didn't change any thing. groups about 2 in. at 25 yards. probably is front sight too high. but not even close to paper and eratic groups at 50 yards. I'm not opposed to doing some fine tuneing on my guns. but this is not a cheap muzzle loader. this is the flagship for cva. I think there is something wrong with the barrel. Powerbelts are the recomended factory loads. My mind is set that they are going to get the gun back until it groups and is accurate out to 100 yards with the factory recomended loads. I thank every one for there input. It has been very informative. Will let you all know what cva says.

little red · « **Reply #15 on:** June 06, 2006, 03:31:45 PM »

I had a 0ptima pro, and finally gave up. I would get a flyer every 5-6 shots and never did get it to group good. The best combo was 2 pyro pellets and 295 grain powerbelts. Mine didn't like loose powder. I would call the optima a good 75 yard gun. I tried every thing and shot up $300 to $400 in powder and bullets. Look on chuckhawks.com at the gun reviews there. Sell the cva and buy a good gun. I bought a knight disk elete and I am shooting 4-5 inch groups at 200 yards. No flyers. Some shoot better than that but i haven't gotten there yet. You are like i was, you bought the wrong gun. I'm looking at savage smokeless now. No muss, no fuss, no cleaning between shots, more muzzle velocity, more fun to shoot. Read all the reviews and make an educated decision?

good luck

Critter · « **Reply #16 on:** June 08, 2006, 02:42:06 PM »

little red,
I see your from Michigan. The Savage with smokeless in it is not legal for hunting during the muzzleloader season, and only legal in the rifle zone during gun season. Just trying to keep ya on an even keel.

Biff Mayhem · « **Reply #17 on:** June 08, 2006, 04:17:07 PM »

300 grain XTP or Shockwave with 90 grains of loose powder. These are 45 caliber bullets for 50 caliber MLs. Nothing in the barrel except a spit patch every two or three shots. :-) :grin:

I agree about no smokeless muzzleloaders in Michigan during muzzleloading season. It's against the DNR laws. Only good for the November 15-30 hunting season.

little red · « **Reply #18 on:** June 08, 2006, 05:13:37 PM »

I know they are not legal during the muzzleloader season but i also hunt in ohio and can use it there. Its just fun to shoot. Its also fun to take a friend, that has never seen a smokeless muzzleloader preform. A few shots at 200 yards will impress them.

Little red

Phoneman · « **Reply #19 on:** June 20, 2006, 01:40:55 PM »

Got my Gun back today. CVA replaced it. 13 days is all it took. very fast. now the true test will be on the range. they also sent a pack of slugs to use.

flintlock · « **Reply #20 on:** June 20, 2006, 02:51:50 PM »

getterdone....And let us know...Good Luck...Hope it puts them all through one hole at 1,000 yards... :-)