Good Gawd Amighty. “Only” took me 30 shots, split between two range sessions because I don’t know WHAT THE HECK I AM DOING! Shooting a stainless steel CVA Wolf.

Started with 240 grain Cheap Shots over 133 grains of 777 Firestar pellets in the first range session and that was not a good combo. Today I ran the same sabots over 100 grains of 777 Firestar pellets and it worked a lot better.

I clean the bore in between each shot with a Thundercloud presaturated cleaning patch “with ever-lengthening strokes” followed by a dry patch same method.

I will spare you the painful process. Here are the last three groups, fired with no adjustments from 100 yards with the factory sights.

Shots 28-30. Shooting 240 grain TC Cheap Shots over 100 grains of 777 fire star pellets. I used a 6 o clock hold, treating the whole 12” target as the bull at 100 yards to shoot this group. Not bad eh?


Shots 31-33, using a 6 o clock hold this time under the center of the bull. No adjustments. What can I say? Wife was blowing up my phone “if I knew it would take all day I would have done the laundry”, etc. It also very shiny/reflective and I could hardly see the bull, focusing in and out on front site post, etc. I have many excuses!


Third group, shots 34-36, 6 o clock hold under an 8” target. I think I was actually holding under the bull for the very last shot. I really was rushed.


The best hunting near me is strictly ML or archery for deer, so this is gonna be my main rig this year. I will hit the range with it one more time next week. Testing Hornady XTP’s against the TC Cheap Shots. Will update this thread with results.

Last time I hunted with a muzzle loader was in Colorado in the late 80’s. My Hawken rifle shot MUCH better with the set trigger and open sights. That’s unacceptable accuracy out of any rifle.

I don’t think it’s the rifle. I think it’s me, my inconsistency my rushed shots. I CAN shoot better but it was just a real bad day, with me rushing it at the end.

My T/C Hawken and Renegade were both sighted in at 65 yds dead center on a 3” bullseye. At 30yds I was hitting the top of the bullseye at 100 yds. I was hitting the bottom of the bullseye. I shoot the recommended 100 grains of 2F with a 370 grain maxi-ball. The Hawken is a percussion, the Renegade is a flintlock.

I've shot better groups with a Hawken and round balls....and shot lots of hogs and deer with the same loads. Think about a traditional muzzleloader and actually participate in a "traditional hunt". Those inlines were built for people that want to get around a traditional hunt and take a rifle that will act like a modern weapon.

All I really want it to do is kill whitetails and be legal in my area. It will do those things.

I can’t wait to get back to the range though. I think I know what I am screwing up with this gun.

Geeze, I'd limit my shot distance to 50 yards or less.

As it is, that’s the plan

At 50 yards with iron sights you should be shooting clover leaf groups..

So, anyone have any pointers on enhancing my accuracy with a smoke pole? Specifically, this one, that I have.

I know you said you were going to try some sabot bullets. The Hornady 240 gr. XTP’s worked well in.several muzzleloader I’ve owned and are great for deer hunting.. 100 grains of FF or Pyrodex supplies plenty of power.
For a novice I would recommend the Powerbelt Copper 295 grain bullets. They are easier to load ,very accurate and deadly. I would also recommend that you make sure your measuring your powder the same way for each load.
Use the same pressure when pushing the ramrod down the barrel to seat the bullet. Inconsistent pressure when seating the bullet can cause accuracy issues. If you haven’t already mark your ramrod when your chosen load is seated properly. I etch a thin line around the ramrod using the muzzle a a guide while the rod is in the barrel seated firmly against the bullet. That will give you a visual display of whether the load is fully seated.
Lots of good stuff to learn. Take you time and do it right.

PM sent

ack in 70's @ 50yrds hot beer cans open sight with me Kentucky .45...

Got into the in-line whin moved back home..
Two 50's couldn't find .45 i likes me 45's... First 50 twas used. Looked down barrel sidnt look best.
Price twas right, took home cleaned & cleaned.

Never did get good group. Tough seating first round. Twas walking it in, then it went crazy, think scope messed up.
Gave up... Bought second 50, new, things did t work out with pard for a deer hunt...
finally found a .45..
dang stock too long can't get good eye relief from scope...
Worken on it...
We applied for the doe tags few days back...
Archery starts this weekend...


Pappybear made some good comments...
i always mark my ramrod for properly seated round...
Different make , grains, bullets different length...
Going with powerbelts, staying with one grain(195) & only take shots @ range can consistently hit a can @...
Still like the old, Kentucky .45 open sights...

Best wishes...

Keep your head held high, & your powder dry...
pappy...


edit : get some borebutter, season d barrel before shooting...
New rifle takes several rounds ta get barrell broke in...

I would try different styles of bullets.

What is the twist in your barrel? I would assume the CVA has a faster twist and is more oriented towards conical bullets and sabots than round balls. My hawken replica has a 1:28 inch twist and shoots everything from round balls to sabots ok. My brothers has a 1;40 or 60 inch twist and is significantly pickier about what it groups well.

It has a 24” barrel, with 1 in 28” twist

General rule of thumb a 1 in 66” was made to shoot round balls, 1 in 48” can shoot both round balls and conical bullets, and a 1 in 28” twist is for conical bullets.

I picked up some 777 2f powder. I might pick up some Pyrodex here pretty soon too, just to test the difference in the fouling.

The 777 might be “cleaner” but the crud ring in my gun is very hard to deal with.

Ron, I am thinking about getting some of those maxi balls we spoke about. Assuming the lube on them makes removing the crud ring easier. Be great to have that combination, good bullet performance and easier clean up and loading.

If your thinking of switching powder, look at Blackhorn 209 it’s the cleanest burning powder I’ve used.
They recommend using magnum 209 primers.

Scored at Bass Pro today, ordered 200 TC Mag Express sabots off Midway right afterwards. Also picked up some Pyrodex and a new starter with a whole set of different loading tips.

TC bore butter seasons the bore like a cast iron skillet gets for non stick from seasoning. In the old days they used bear or hog grease on the patches for lube which seasoned the bore. With this lube or the other natural lubes do not use petroleum based cleaning products or you remove the seasoning like putting cast iron skillet in the dishwasher does.

That has helped in cleaning for me with the 3 I have, scoped one has QD rings so easy to take of and use soap and water for cleaning.

Well my front sight was loose and there are visible wear marks from movement, obviously that is why I can’t shoot a group with this damn thing. Video attached.

I cleaned the fasteners and holes with denatured alcohol, and used Vibratite VC3 on the screws before I ever shot it. But they take the very smallest Allen key I can find, so I can never get more than a couple pounds of torque on there before the damn key strips. I ruined two keys trying to get them tight in the first place.

I need to find some little machine screws that fit, that use a bigger Allen key.

https://youtube.com/shorts/SbbI233ctmg?feature=share

Im glad you found your problem.

You definitely have a sighting issue.

My CVA Wolf is very accurate at 100 yards. I put a trijicon accupoint 3X9 on it and what a difference that made for accuracy.

I also really like white hot pellets. Of the 2 or 3 different powders I have tried they are definitely the best and most accurate for my gun.

At the range I will need to run a wet patch about every 3 shots. good luck and keep practicing

I just wish I checked the front sight beforeI ran out and bought 2 different powders, powder measure, variety of jags/loading tips, and all they had of .44 XTP’s at Bass Pro some poor guy probably would have died to get those XTP’s. And ordered a bunch of sabots.

The plus side I have real XTP’s now. I don’t know what the heck they are putting in the packages with sabots and calling them XTP’s but they ARE NOT real XTP’s. They are not even jacketed bullets.

They are some type of copper-washed solid lead projectile.

Not many fans of Vortex scopes here, but you have to admit it’s a slick looking little rig with the diamondback tactical on it.



I had to bottom out the rear sight, but it just clears it and lines up perfectly with my eye.

I took a pounding today, and feel like I did 10 rounds with Mike Tyson!! Moved scopes all around on a bunch of muzzleloaders and shotguns so shot about a dozen slugs, and 30 full-house 50 cal muzzleloader shots. OUCH!!

Since our whitetail season in the river bottom is "short-range" weapons, I'm happier with the 12 ga. slug gun, instead of the muzzy. This is way better accuracy, and I have 5 shots!!