I have a CVA Optima Pro that i got for my birthday last year. i bought the CVA starter kit and it came with the copper series powerbelt bullets that are 295 gr. i used 777 powder and it grouped good at 50 yards. i switched to shockey's gold and it isn't grouping very well. i would like to shoot a lighter bullet. so any advice on what combination to shoot in my optima would be great.

Welcome to the forum Kent. Rules are simple, be nice and join in.

It's really hard to recommend a load for a muzzle loader. This is one place where you just have to experiment as you have done. I've seen two identical muzzle loaders that preferred something totally different shot side by side.

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Bob from Idaho

The problem might be the powder. American Pioneer Powder who also makes Shockey Gold is one of them powders that either works or fails in a bad way. Most of the time, the groups are very inconsistent. This is because of the manner in which the powder is used. Swabbing is not necessary, clean up easy, and fowling light, but it also must be compacted very tight with a projectile. Also the powder is prone to water. I shoot a lot of APP 3f in different rifles and revolvers, but I do not hunt with it.

In your Optima, you want a good fast bullet that will expand well and with excellent accuracy. Here are some suggestions.. Get some Pyrodex RS powder for starters. Yes, I know it is dirty, fowls, and is corrosive. But besides black powder, is one of the most consistent powders shot for shot out there. Load and swab between shots, and normally your accuracy is outstanding. I would start my loads if shooting sabots at 80 grains and work up. 100 grains of loose would be a good load for about anything you want to hunt, from mice to moose.

Projectile selection should depend on what kind of conditions you hunt in, and what you want the bullet to do. Do you hunt short range, and want good expansion, and knock down. A simple 245 grain Powerbelt with 80 grains of powder placed in the right spot will do that. You might not get a pass through, but you will get a big entrance hole and a lot of internal damage. If you want something that expands well, does good damage, and exits, then look at some of the copper bullets. Nosler, Barnes, are both good ones. A Barnes to me is about as good as they get. The problem with them is they are expensive. So a lot of range time with them can cost a small fortune. Nosler PP are the same way, a great bullet but expensive.

Also I PERSONALLY would not be so quick to go light in bullet weight. Unless you are shooting extreme distances, why not really lay a world of hurt on them. One of my favorite bullets is a Speer .458 300 grain HP in a red MMP sabot. Excellent ballistics on the bullet. It is a hollow point but it is bonded. So while it gives great expansion it should not come apart. Also they are priced such that a person can afford to shoot them with some range time. I shoot them in my Genesis, Green Mountain 1-28 twist barrel, and my Black Diamond XR. All of them give exceptional accuracy and good long range performance. At short ranges, they should expand and blow out the other side I was told.

T/C Shockwaves in 200 grain might be a good choice. Again, excellent ballistics and good for long range as well. If I were shooting in heavy cover this would not be my choice, but if I were in open shots out to 150 yards, this might well be the bullet for a whitetail deer.

One other bullet that I like in the CVA rifles is a .44 caliber 300 grain Hornady XTP (not the magnum) in a green harvester crushed rib sabot. Again, hard hitting and does a lot of damage. I have yet to take a deer with them, but those that have say they do a great job. Also the accuracy with them is exceptional. In woods, this might be a great choice.

As already mentioned, I offered a lot of suggestions, but the real expert will be your rifle. All rifles are different. What powder charge and bullet they like is a guessing game at best. Get some of the bullets that interest you and try them on the range. Get an accurate load, and put that in the right spot, and the bullet should do the rest for you. Good luck.