CVA Bobcat

[fireside44]

I couldn't pass up a CVA bobcat sitting on the shelf so I have a muzzleloader now. I had wanted a Hawken or Pennsylvania rifle for some time but so many guns, so little money. This one has real wood, even the wife was stoked when she saw it and she's kinda ho-hum about firearms unless they are wood and steel. And it was dirt cheap!

Anyone have any tips or recommendations for loads? I have shot BP rifles a bit before but this is the first one I own. I plan on using real Blackpowder. I did receive a tip for using FFF grade BP over other grades. Not sure what the max load is for this rifle. I also have some minie ball molds so I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

IIRC they are all 50 caliber. I'd start with 50 grains of 3f and a patched round ball. For a hunting load for white tail, perhaps 80 grains. the gun may well be capable of handling more, but you can only kill the deer once per shot. More is unnecessary.

The bobcat is an unbelieveably good starter gun. Light weight for youngins and women. capable of big boy use in the woods. I have two. I picked up an extra barrel dark bore on fleabay for $24 and had it reamed to 28 ga. for small game. The bobcat "platform" was also used for two small bore guns. One in 36 cal called IIRC the Varmint and a 32 squirrel gun.

Don't ever ever ever try to remove the drum or breech plug. They are cross threaded into each other and you WILL ruin the gun. Parts are available from deer creek in Waldron Ind. (no web site), probably extra barrels as well.

Npw you need to gather the essentials and get the Mrs. out there shooting. Once she "adopts" the gun, you will need a second.

 

[fireside44]

IIRC they are all 50 caliber. I'd start with 50 grains of 3f and a patched round ball. For a hunting load for white tail, perhaps 80 grains. the gun may well be capable of handling more, but you can only kill the deer once per shot. More is unnecessary.

Thanks for the advice. Yep, it's a 50 caliber, 1 in 48 twist which I'm told is an "anything" barrel, meaning it shoots balls and minie balls good too. I actually like the minie balls cause I ain't gotta fool with the patch. I'm guessing the thumper load might be a 130 or 150 grain charge (maximum)? Only other BP rifle I fooled with was a Knight's entry level starter kit and I believe that was a 150 grain max. A 65 grain target load was a kitten. Tons of fun! Never would I have believed BP is as fun as it is.

Also, I'm guessing it uses a no. 11 percussion cap?

Npw you need to gather the essentials and get the Mrs. out there shooting. Once she "adopts" the gun, you will need a second.

Maybe she is due for the levergun I know she wants one of these days. If she owns in on this one I'll just have to spend a couple hundred on a Hawken for dad. Even the son showed great interest, heh.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Minnies don't require more powder

Anything over 80 grains and a Minnie will make a plastic surgeons car payments

 

[303tom]

These http://www.midwayusa.com/product/53...ber-240-grain-jacketed-hollow-point-box-of-20 & a 100 grs. of triple f are what I use. Deadly out to right at 200 yds..................Oh here`s my Bobcat.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

The standard US and British service charges for th 58 caliber civil war Enfields and Springfields was between 55 and 65 grains of powder and a 450 grain minnie. To kill humans at hundreds of yards.

You don't need 1880's elephant hunter loads for white tail.

If you shoot a true minnie, anything over 75 to 80 grains will blow out the skirt and cause severe loss of accuracy.

 

[Voodoochile]

I had one years ago & it was a great companion in the woods, didn't care too much about the plastic stock that it came with so I found a blank for a Deer Stalker & worked it to fit the Bobcat just right.

I did try the 777 in it once at the range & found two things.
(1) unless you bump the stock to be sure of a little powder going into the flame run "from the drum to the main chamber" it can hangfire or misfire.
(2) with the weight that it is 70gr. charge is about all you want when shooting a 320gr. Lee REAL Bullet from it because it kicks like a HOWITZER.

Fun rifle, & mine shot .495 PRB & 60gr. FFFG Goex dead on at 100 yards.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

with any drum and nipple system, (really any black powder gun with loose propellant) you should always give the gun a smack on the side after pouring the powder in.

When we teach youngins to load at the club, we get them to say "powder-smack-patch-ball" over and over again like a word game so they get the order of loading down before they even get to actual loading.

 

[thralldad]

Good advice!
I'll use that when I shoot my Bobcat for the first time, hopefully real soon!!

 

[fireside44]

I had one years ago & it was a great companion in the woods, didn't care too much about the plastic stock that it came with so I found a blank for a Deer Stalker & worked it to fit the Bobcat just right.

I paid a few extra bucks over a new one cause this one had a nice wood stock.

You don't need 1880's elephant hunter loads for white tail.

If you shoot a true minnie, anything over 75 to 80 grains will blow out the skirt and cause severe loss of accuracy.

Good to know, thanks.