Load for CVA Mountain rifle

[VaScout]

I'm trying to determine the best load for my CVA mountain rifle .54 cal so that I can make a powder measure for it out of a piece of deer antler I have.

I have been using 60 gr. of FFG with a .535 ball and a pillow ticking patch greased with moose snot

Seems to work pretty well... I'm consistently hitting a paper plate at about 50 yards.  I guess this isn't too bad considering I'm very new to flintlock shooting and my big groups are probably due to slight flinching on my part.

I did try a couple of 80 gr. loads, but didn't notice any difference in point of impact at 50 yards... only a slight difference in felt recoil (it is a pretty heavy rifle)

I'm priming with 4f and using 2f in the bore.  any tips from you more experienced folks would be helpful.

What would you say that a good all-around load for hunting and shooting in the 50 to 100 yard range would be for this gun?

Ed

[old salt]

Ed
You didn't say weather you are shooting off a bench or not.
So I would personally would star off a bench and work the load up to were I was constantly putting the rounds in a one inch circle using the same point of aim.
You may have change the powder and or the patch thickness,
Do not worry about where you are hitting the target until you get the rounds in that one inch circle adjusting the sites come later.

[VaScout]

Thanks!

I've been shooting offhand, but you're right, I guess it makes sense to work up a load from a bench 

I wish I could find a manual for this rifle... I'm curious to know what the manufacturer recommends as far as loads.

Ed

[William]

Ed, every muzzle loader is an individual so there won't be a recomended load for it in the manual.  60 grains is a good starting load at 50 yards.  Shoot three with that load and note the point of impact, then go up in 5 grain increments, noting where the groups hits.  You should find that your groups will tighten up until you get your best one, then they will start to get larger.  That will be your "target load".  Then as you increase the powder charge they will start to get tighter again, that will be your "hunting" load.  Be sure not to exceed the maximum charge.  For .54 Lyman barrels the max RB charge is 120 grains of 2f.

You should end up with two best loads for your rifle, one on the lower end and one higher.  For my .54 it is 75 grains target and 110 grains hunting.  Hope this helps, let us know what happens, we are all ears, eyes.

PS- be sure to swab the barrel after every shot, even if you don't think it needs it.  You want to try and keep things the same after every shot while you are working up the best load.  I soak my cleaning patches in alcohol and that really seems to cut the crud well.

[NAULTRICK1]

  Good Advice 

[VaScout]

wow.

very good advise, thank you very much!

I'm obviously very new to this... I've worked up many loads in modern firearms using a chrony, but I wanted to keep my muzzleloading experiences more traditional.

Thanks alot!  This weekend will be mostly shooting and getting to know what my rifle likes.

Ed

[William]

wow.

very good advise, thank you very much!

I'm obviously very new to this... I've worked up many loads in modern firearms using a chrony, but I wanted to keep my muzzleloading experiences more traditional.

Thanks alot!  This weekend will be mostly shooting and getting to know what my rifle likes.

Ed

Too often people look at the process of working up a load for a muzzle loader as too much work, even by those who handload.  For me it is half the fun and a rewarding process in and of itself. 

[ThunderHeart]

I have found my Mountain rifle likes 90 grains of ff with a .490 ball and a .15 patch!

[moosenuggets]

http://www.cva.com/pdfs/Side.pdf

Should cover your gun too.

[creosote]

 I use 90 grains of 3f in my .58 CVA Big Bore Mountain Rifle.
I have yet to recover a ball from a downed deer,it just shoots
right through them.
                   creosote