Opinions on CVA muzzleloaders

I am thinking about purchasing the CVA Staghorn 209. It is very cheap but seems like a decent enough gun for the price. I normally only bow hunt deer here in Illinois but got the firearm permit this year. Aside from 'You get what you pay for', does anyone have any experience with these guns? Good, bad??? What weight bullet would you use for deer up to 150yds with 150 grain powder load?? Thanks for any help.

does anyone have any experience with these guns? Good, bad???

In general, a 50 cal. using 150 gr. of powder at 100 yards is going to get the job done. The accurracy of today's muzzleloaders are

150 grains???? What for? 75 grains is enough to send a ball completely through a deer. I have never owned a CVA but have witnessed them many times at Rendezvous. Then there is a bottleneck on the trail walk shoot you can be sure it is because someone is shooting a CVA and can't get it to fire.

In my opinion a CVA is best used to make a fence post.

Staghorn 209 is dirt-cheap. I bought one. I wish I'd paid just a little more, I'll tell you why: the bottom model has plastic inserts in the sight, they don't gather light quite as well as the glass one on the next model up. If you're going to scope it, that doesn't matter.

That said - I'm pleased with mine. I hunted using two pellets (100gr) of pyrodex and a 300gr CVA powerbelt bullet (it came with those, and I bough a bunch more). Under 100yds, 100gr will do just fine - no need to even go into 150gr powder. Makes a great big hole. I only shot one doe during BP season - close range - broke bones in shoulder, made a big hole, she dropped right down.

I now shoot with tripleseven powder. I got some sabots - they're cheaper than powerbelts - but a pain to load, and were inaccurate - all over the place. I suspect I need to experiment with diff powder amounts and just haven't yet. That said - Powerbelts and 100gr powder and a great combo in mine.

I think you would be happier spending a little more and getting a knight, my opinion is they are better built. cva is ok I own a few of both, but dollar for dollar, the knight is better built and will last longer. as far as powder charge, using 150 grain, you will be blowing powder out the end of the barrel. the best way to find out is to buy a few and try different ones with different powder loads. also, where do you live in Illinois? I live close to Bloomington where we have a muzzleloader club , kickapoo muzzle loaders, that we would be more than happy to help any way we can.

I have one in .50 Cal. I use the powerbelt bullet w/ 3 30 gr. Pyrodex pellets, I find it's more than adequate, Snapped an 8 pointers neck last year at 70 yds.

Absolutely.

Even the more frugal can find $150 for an American Knight, or $240 for a new Knight Wolverine. The trigger and less blow-back alone makes it worth it.

90 grains of Triple 7 is all you'll ever need for a 240 - 300 grain projectile out to 150 yards. Randy Wakeman

I think CVA muzzleloaders make good fence posts.

I suppose they might. But it would require a real dumb-ass to use a perfectly good firearm for a fencepost, wouldn't it?

Depends on your definition of 'good'.

Their inability to ignite reliably doesn't fit that definition of 'good'.

The tighness of the fit between the barrel and stock qualifies them to be good fenceposts.

In the lower price ranges, the H&R Huntsman is a much better muzzleloader.

Michael Courtney