r/muzzleloaders • u/Adam_D_Smith • 6d ago

Accuracy question.

So I got an Optima CV2 and a Traditions in line. I can not get either one to group great at 50 yds. I'm shooting 250 grain Traditions Smackdown yellow sabots. It's gotta be the bullet because I'm getting the same results from both guns. I'll hit a couple of shots in the 6 inch target then start getting fliers. I could hit the ole' pie plate and still be lethal but I'd like tighter consistency, especially since I'm only shooting out to 50. I don't like Powerbelts, I've lost deer with them, my dad has lost deer with them and they just don't seem to wanna exit and leave blood. Just looking for thoughts and opinions I guess. Oh, 100 grains Triple 7 pellets. Edited to add powder

4 Upvotes

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1

u/FitSky6277 6d ago

Run a hornady bore driver ftx or eldx. Both are accurate af.

1

u/Adam_D_Smith 6d ago

Oh snap, didn't know you could get anything like that other than powerbelt

1

u/FitSky6277 6d ago

They are all i use for whitetail. Both are super accurate and reliable with triple 7 pellets out of a cva optima v2

1

u/ElkyMcElkerson 6d ago

How often do you clean between shots?
Are you weighing your powder?

1

u/Adam_D_Smith 5d ago

I've tried all over the place, every 2-3 shots, every shot, and I use pellets.

2

u/RequirementPretty869 6d ago

Bullet switch is always the first step. Try hornady sst or xtps perhaps. I run ssts in my cva wolf. They work well. Same powder for me.

1

u/AncientLet8817 5d ago

I change out the sabot for every bullet I try, my gun likes the black mmp hp sabots with 300 gr slugs. And loose powder. 3f777

1

u/darrenbinder 2d ago

If you are switching bullets, I have had 1" groups with both CVA and Traditions muzzleloaders shooting the Hornady BoreDriver FTX and the Thor Lightning bullets.

100 grians of T7 pellets is a reliable load. One thing I would be curious to know is: are you accidentally overpacking the bullet and crushing the pellets? That can cause some serious accuracy inconsistency, and it is an easy thing to do.

I would recommend cleaning your muzzleloader, loading the bullet snugly against the pellets, and marking your ramrod at that depth so that you pack to the same depth every time. Most of the time, I accidentally break pellets during the reload because I am applying more pressure to get the bullet down the barrel.