Inline muzzleloading, or I am the Winner

[RandolH]

I was exiting my garage yesterday and the UPS man walked right up to me and handed me a long, large heavy box. He turned around and walked on out o the driveway before I could ask him anything or even check the name on the box.

The package did have my name on it and came from Connecticut Valley Arms. Strange, I thought to myself, I haven't ordered anything from these guys. I bought my first rifle from them through wal-mart over a year ago, a .50cal bobcat muzzleloader but haven't had any contact with them since I sent my ramrod down range about a month after having the thing.

I open the box and lo and behold, a brand new CVA Firebolt 209 magnum inline with a synthetic stock, elevation and windage adjustable sights, sling swivels and 20 powerbelt bullets. This has to be a mistake. I call up CVA and it turns out that I was drawn as a winner in a contest I entered into almost a year ago. A quick check of the packing slip confirmed this

Like I said, I've shot blackpowder for over a year now, I shot a blackpowder rifle before I shot a cartridge rifle. I've built and shot my own pistol from a kit. In-line is not something I've ever even seen aside from on the store shelf and maybe from the discarded shotshell primer at the range.

http://www.cva.com/company/contest.htm I'm the winner from May of 2004

I'm happy even though I have to buy a bunch of new accessories for this to work (a jag, short starter, bore brush, .440 round ball and shotshell primers just off the top of my head). I can't say I'm upset for having to go visit the gun store though.

Does anyone here have experience with in-lines? None of the guys I shoot with will touch them and I'm half afraid of being chased off of the blackpowder range . I think given the circumstances though I might be forgiven for bringing it to our muzzleloader shoot at the end of the month just to sight in, not to compete.

I'm not much of a hunter myself and this gun seems like it is going to be expensive to feed as a target or plinking. From what I understand because of the fast and deep rifling (1 in 28) patched round ball isn't going to work as well, and conicals seem to be a bit on the pricey side. I've got a ted cash 209 capper and some .45 caliber buffalo ball-ets coming from thunder ridge. I don't think that shooting my FFF or FF blackpowder is going to hurt it. Is there anything anyone can reccomend me? I'm taking this thing out to the range on Friday and want to do as much research as I can.


Pictures: Linked for size
http://locker.uky.edu/~rwhoop2/inline/wrench.jpg Nipple or breech plug wrench,

http://locker.uky.edu/~rwhoop2/inline/ammo.jpg Powerbelt bullets

http://locker.uky.edu/~rwhoop2/inline/door.jpg picture taken next to door for an idea of size.

http://locker.uky.edu/~rwhoop2/inline/finish.jpg I tried to get a good picture of the nickel finish here, but I don't think it worked. You can see the weird neon/fluorescent sights the thing has. I've not had any experience with these but they're very nice just from sighting down them.

http://locker.uky.edu/~rwhoop2/inline/lock.jpg gives you an idea of what the lock looks like. The bolt cocks when you turn it up, and you pull it back to put the shotshell primer in place.

http://locker.uky.edu/~rwhoop2/inline/box.jpg a picture of the rifle in the factory box.

http://locker.uky.edu/~rwhoop2/inline/primer.jpg picture of what the primer looks like with a quarter and a #11 primer for comparison. The 209 shotshell primer is on the left with a #11 on the right.

 

[Mark whiz]

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I WONDERED where my rifle went!

You're right in the fact that you're not gonna get great results shooting round ball out of it, just too fast of a twist - although out to 50yds or so you just might be surprised how well it will shoot them with about 60gr of powder. And I DO advise you to shoot at least 25 or so patched balls thru it before working on an accurate load - this will help break in the bore..........as shooting plastic sabots thru it never will do that.


Shooting true black powder in it won't be no problem - just a little more clean up than you would have with 777 or Pyrodex.

The Ball-ets may well be a good choice for a bullet. In-lines are really designed for sabot use, but I personally think the manufacturers rushed the .45s into production too soon, & the market has never responded to them properly yet. As such, the sabot bullet selection for them is limited to bullets that are too light to give maximum accuracy, IMHO. A fast twist barrel either needs long (i.e. heavy) bullets or lighter powder charges to give best accuracy. A 300gr bullet would be ideal for the .45 I think, but the closest you can get to that is the 275gr PowerBelt bullet - so that is probably your best place to start - other than using conicals & round ball.

oh - don't use the 3fg powder with the powerbelts.....................too much pressure - the sabots cups won't fall off and will make them REAL inaccurate. Work up a load between 80 & 100gr in 5 gr increments and see what works best................there's no need to go past 100gr with such light bullets, just wastes powder and makes the round more inaccurate.

That's just tips from my in-line experience ................... your mileage may vary.

Good Luck & Congrats on the rifle.

 

[RandolH]

Thanks! Are there any commercial molds that would make appropriate bullets for this rifle? The ball-ets are pretty pricey per shot, about .25cents each if I don't get them through mail order, and I"ve been looking for an excuse to get into casting my own bullets.

 

[Mark whiz]

I'm looking for the same excuse to start casting myself.....................just ain't found it yet.

Hornady & Buffalo both make 285gr conicals which might be worth trying, I know the Hornady Great Plains conicals work well usually and go for a fair price.

But if your REALLY interested in the best bullet available for your rifle - check these guys out: http://www.prbullet.com/

These guy's products are AMAZING and Cecil there is MORE than a wealth of information. If you give him a phone call and tell him what you got - he can tell you EXACTLY what bullet and powder load to use for the game of your choice. Their stuff ain't exactly cheap.........................but he & I can guarantee the results..........................they're what I hunt with and I've never had a critter stay on his feet for more than one step after being hit with any of Cecil's bullets that I've tried.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Being traditional, I don't know squat about in-lines. Still, I wouldn't have booted the UPS man from my doorstep. Congratulations and may you have a short learning curve.