Hello everyone -
I just took delivery of a new CVA Accura Plains Rifle, purchased from Muzzle-Loaders.com. I ordered mine in basic-black with a Nikon XR BDC300 scope.
I'm going to use Barnes 250 grain T-EZ sabots, with Pyrodex RS loose powder. I've shot many deer from 100+ yards with this sabot/powder combination, and I'm totally satisfied. A guy on this forum (BuckDoeHunter) suggested this combination to me a few years ago, and I couldn't be more grateful to him !
I realize that a lot of folks on this forum use Blackhorn 209, but I'm going to stay with Pyrodex RS because I can use it in all three of my muzzleloaders, as well as the rifles used by my son-in-law, and his Dad.......so there's no need to reply in regard to how much you like BH209, or how much you hate Pyrodex RS, because Pydrodex RS is what I'm going to use for a propellant. I know that BH209 is great stuff, but I just want to keep things simple and use one brand & type of powder for me and my family.
My question is the confusion regarding magnum powder loads of Pyrodex RS in this new gun: weight, grains, volume, pellets, powder, etc...
The ballistic information that came with the Nikon BDC300 scope suggested a 250 grain sabot and 150 grains of propellant as a good starting point. For example, are they referring to three 50 grain "pellets" equaling 150 grains, or 150 grains of loose powder?.....is 150 grains of loose RS powder the same as three 50 grain Triple 7 pellets?
My specific questions:
1) Can the CVA Plains Rifle handle 150 grains of loose Pyrodex RS powder, or is the accuracy better with a Barnes 250 sabot if a smaller charge is used?.... would 100 grains of RS be a better amount? (my shooting distances while hunting are typically no farther than 175 yards)
2) When references are made to CVA's max magnum charge, is it in reference to actual RS powder by "volume"?......sorry for sounding so uninformed, but when I measure 80 grains of Pyrodex RS, for example, I've always used an expandable brass tube that's graduated - similar to a speed loader. I read statements from people regarding grains by weight vs by grains by volume. Can my new Plains Rifle safely shoot up to 150 grains (by volume) of Pyrodex RS?......if it can, is that too much loose RS powder, or will accuracy be jeopardized in an attempt to shoot at longer distances?
3) Because I'm NOT going to be using BH209 propellant, I didn't have to purchase a special breach plug for the BH209 propellant. What is your recommendation for a primer? Can I use a traditional 209 shotgun primer? Is there a preferred 209 primer to use on a CVA Plains Rifle with a standard breach plug?...primers that provide maximum ignition, but without having to deal with removing stubborn used primers from the breach plug, but at an economical price?
Sorry that was kinda' long - thanks in advance for your guidance & suggestions !
nummy
I just took delivery of a new CVA Accura Plains Rifle, purchased from Muzzle-Loaders.com. I ordered mine in basic-black with a Nikon XR BDC300 scope.
I'm going to use Barnes 250 grain T-EZ sabots, with Pyrodex RS loose powder. I've shot many deer from 100+ yards with this sabot/powder combination, and I'm totally satisfied. A guy on this forum (BuckDoeHunter) suggested this combination to me a few years ago, and I couldn't be more grateful to him !
I realize that a lot of folks on this forum use Blackhorn 209, but I'm going to stay with Pyrodex RS because I can use it in all three of my muzzleloaders, as well as the rifles used by my son-in-law, and his Dad.......so there's no need to reply in regard to how much you like BH209, or how much you hate Pyrodex RS, because Pydrodex RS is what I'm going to use for a propellant. I know that BH209 is great stuff, but I just want to keep things simple and use one brand & type of powder for me and my family.
My question is the confusion regarding magnum powder loads of Pyrodex RS in this new gun: weight, grains, volume, pellets, powder, etc...
The ballistic information that came with the Nikon BDC300 scope suggested a 250 grain sabot and 150 grains of propellant as a good starting point. For example, are they referring to three 50 grain "pellets" equaling 150 grains, or 150 grains of loose powder?.....is 150 grains of loose RS powder the same as three 50 grain Triple 7 pellets?
My specific questions:
1) Can the CVA Plains Rifle handle 150 grains of loose Pyrodex RS powder, or is the accuracy better with a Barnes 250 sabot if a smaller charge is used?.... would 100 grains of RS be a better amount? (my shooting distances while hunting are typically no farther than 175 yards)
2) When references are made to CVA's max magnum charge, is it in reference to actual RS powder by "volume"?......sorry for sounding so uninformed, but when I measure 80 grains of Pyrodex RS, for example, I've always used an expandable brass tube that's graduated - similar to a speed loader. I read statements from people regarding grains by weight vs by grains by volume. Can my new Plains Rifle safely shoot up to 150 grains (by volume) of Pyrodex RS?......if it can, is that too much loose RS powder, or will accuracy be jeopardized in an attempt to shoot at longer distances?
3) Because I'm NOT going to be using BH209 propellant, I didn't have to purchase a special breach plug for the BH209 propellant. What is your recommendation for a primer? Can I use a traditional 209 shotgun primer? Is there a preferred 209 primer to use on a CVA Plains Rifle with a standard breach plug?...primers that provide maximum ignition, but without having to deal with removing stubborn used primers from the breach plug, but at an economical price?
Sorry that was kinda' long - thanks in advance for your guidance & suggestions !
nummy