New to BP, some questions...

[Doc7]

My first real deer season (have sat in friends' stands in past but never seen a deer from one) is about to start and I am even more excited now because a coworker just lent me a CVA Optima (pre-2010 manufacture) so I will be able to hunt from Nov 1 to 13 in the muzzleloading season!

I bought the proper DNZ scope mount for this older model and have a 4x32 Simmons Pr Hunter Diamond scope on the way. I didn't want to spend the money for a vortex given that it is a loaner rifle and not sure how I will like it.

However I optimistically went a bit overboard and bought the gear pictured below from MidwayUSA (the rifle owner doesn't shoot BP, he won this rifle in a raffle years ago and has never used it or even taken it out of his safe). I think that is all I need except for primers and powder? I think it is all solid gear that will work if I buy my own in the future.



I have a couple questions.

- instruction for rifle indicate you should fire a primer 2-3 times before loading. Is this also true between shots at the range if I run a patch of Boreshine down it for cleaning between shots to get my clean bore zero? How about if I don't shoot a deer and leave it loaded but no primer?

- is "capping" and "decaping" simply putting a primer on the breech plug? I bought a tool for this but have to learn what exactly I am supposed to do. I think YouTube will help me here.

- I plan on trying some loads from 80-100 grains of 777 FFFg (3F) for those SST 300 grain sabots.

- the manual states that to clean, remove the barrel from the rifle. Does removing and reinstalling the barrel affect POI, zero?
Thanks!

 

[4v50 Gary]

For consistency, you might want to use a torque wrench to get the same consistent tightening of the barreled action to the stock. Write that # down and stay with it.

 

[Doc7]

Ok I will do that - thanks!

 

[rodwha]

Caps have become non existent in the past. I don't waste them in that manner. I use rubbing alcohol after a wet patch to evaporate any water left behind and just give it about a minute after swabbing. I've not had any misfires or hang fires doing it this way and I couldn't even begin to count the number of times I've done this as I swab every third shot.

 

[Doc7]

Thanks. I haven't yet found a good resource as to what exactly the cap and de capping tool is for

 

[Doc7]

Any advice on the barrel screw torque? Using my Google-fu for "CVa optima barrel torque" gives me basically nothing! I am shocked and wonder if everyone is doing this cleaning step?

 

[Curator]

The instructions for firing 2 or 3 primers before loading is for the FIRST time you are loading the rifle that day. When you take your rifle to the range or to go hunting, firing at least one primer to clear the flash channel will insure your rifle will actually go off when you pull the trigger. I always fire at least one primer before loading my first round. I also hold the muzzle about 4 to 6 inches away from some blades of grass or dead leaves so I can observe gas pressure exiting the barrel. No movement, fire another primer.

Only load the charge when you are certain the flash channel is open and you won't have failures to fire or hang-fires. Once the gun has been fired there is no need to repeat this unless it has sat uncleaned for several hours or after cleaning and storing the gun between shooting sessions.

If you generously oil the bore after cleaning and store the gun sitting on its butt, oil will run into the flash channel. No amount of bore wiping will remove this oil, only firing one or more primers in the empty gun will clear the flash channel so the gun will fire reliably.

 

[Patocazador]

Only tighten the breech plug with your fingers after the initial seating of the breech with the Optima. If your friend still has the owner's manual, read it and follow the directions.
Black powder is water soluble. Use soapy water to clean the gun after each session not the solvents used for smokeless powders. After the patches come out clean, wet one with isopropyl alcohol and and give a wipe to eliminate the last of the water. Then use any gun oil to lightly coat the bore.
Firing the caps before loading it the next time ensures that the oil is burned out and it won't contaminate the black powder.
It's just cleaning, not rocket science.

The scope is mounted to the top of the barrel assembly so the POA will not change. Cheap scopes, however, sometimes will mess up with heavy recoil.

 

[MEHavey]

^^^+1^^^ (What he said)

The breech plug design is one of those "quick-release" type.
Finger tight reinstallation (no torque specs)
http://www.cva.com/optimav2-101.php
Sights are on barrel itself. No change in aimpoint after re-install

It also uses regular shotgun primers ("209")s, which should be available everywhere.

I can't say enough for just using soapy water as Patocazador recommends.
Just wash things out like you would dirty dishes (actually easier than smokeless)

As noted before, you can either fire a couple of caps before first load of the day to
burn out any residual oils, -- OR you can squirt some brake cleaner through the
nipple flash channel into the barrel, swab/dry patch it out with a clean patch, and load.

(Brake cleaner is my new secret sauce to first-round-perfect ignition)

 

[BullSlinger]

To answer the question about the capper/decapper. It is used to put the 209 primer on the breach plug and remove after firing.
I have yet to remove an unfired 209 primer. I shoot the gun at the end of a hunt if no game is taken.