Cva hunterbolt

[303 hunter]

I recently purchased a used, but unfired CVA Hunterbolt 50 cal. inline at a gun show for $75. It came with a Tasco 4 x 40 mm black powder scope & T.C. rings. It also has a #11 nipple. I have have tried several different loads, all with pyrodex RS; 80, 90, 100, & 125 grain loads; all with 240 grain XTP sabots. 4" groups are about all I can get. What are some opinions on this gun, & what loads have you found most accurate. Should I put a 209 breach plug on this gun? Where could I get the 209 plug? Thanks, Raymond

 

[marvinl]

I am not going to tell you to do this but on my Cva hawkin with is a sidelock I drilled the. 11# nipple out to 1/16 and it improved my groups and I can use 70 grains instead of 90.

 

[marvinl]

Also i want to add i only use real black powder

 

[alsaqr]

i owned a CVA Mag Hunter for many years; it's almost the same as your gun. After i glassed the action and floated the berrel the gun made consistent 1.25" three shot groups at 100 meters.

 

[arcticap]

I found a couple of threads that mentioned that it likes 295 grain power belts and 100 grains of 777:

http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=67155

http://frontiermuzzleloadin.powerguild.net/t1148p25-cva-hunterbolt

Apparently the older and newer models had different twist rates, 1 in 28" verses 1 in 32".
After seeing how dirty the 209 breech plug model is and what needs to be done to lessen the blowback (see below), I wouldn't recommend converting to 209 primers.
Just try switching the powder, the bullets or the sabots. Pyrodex P or 777 may work better than the RS. Even if you could locate the conversion unit, the #11 ignition has less problems.

http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=563708

 

[bluefishjim]

I own the CVA firebolt, almost the same gun, I would stay with the #11 caps, as already said less problems. I also would stay with the pyrodex, it does burn a little faster then blackpowder. I think the 240 gr bullet is a good weight, you may want to try other brands of sabots, also you scope may be the problem, if you can buy a better scope, I've used tasco then switched and off a rest many of my groups are touching at 75 yards. I have been able to shoot newer guns, and i feel some of the "improvments" are simple to sell more guns, the hunterbolt, firebolt are both simple well made guns that work.

 

[GentlemanoftheCharcoal]

$75.00 is a good price but I didn't know HunterBolts ever came with a nipple. I own 3 (.45 caliber) and all are 209's. I seldom shoot rifles anymore (stick to my handgun and carbine) but out in this open country I used 110 grains of Triple Seven 3fff and Cabela's extended range sabots which I don't believe they sell in .45 caliber anymore. (180 grains the best I remember. too lazy to get up and look. dosen't matter. I damn sure have enough to do me)..(mostly for antelope and deer. anything bigger, well, the 200 grain sabot pack's a hell of a whallop but you better be holding on to that rifle or it will whallop you good to) When you move up into the range of 120 to 125 grains of TSfff the rifle will start to kick the snot out of you. The rifle will burn the 150 grains maximum load but you damn sure better be holding on to it. CVA is a good rifle; at least the one of my 3 that I have fired has really been a good one...GotC....