CVA Muzzleloader Models

[CascadeHunter180]

Hey Muzzleloading experts, I’m looking to get a new muzzleloader next hunting season and have been looking at CVAs. My father has a CVA Acura and we both really really like it, but I was just curious about the different CVA models, as they all seem very similar, but have very large price differences.

Can someone with CVA Muzzleloading experience explain the differences between the Wolf, Optima, and Acura? Thanks!

I’m aiming to have a gun with a with a 1x red dot or peep sight, and to shoot no more than 200 yards.

 

[CascadeHunter180]

Ttt

 

[Wolfshead]

I have an Optima V2 that is about ten years old now?
I bought the blackhorn breech plug for it and shoot only blackhorn powder. It has been plenty accurate for what I need.
I don’t have any experience with the other models.
This one was about 130 yards if I remember correctly.

 

[Ringbill27]

I hope you find this video helpful. Essentially it looks like the main differences are barrel length and finish.

I have been hunting with a CVA wolf for 6-7 years now and work well. It is the cheapest and shortest of the 3 models. I don’t really hunt past 100yds in my woods so the short barrel works well.

 

[mlevimadden]

I have shot the wolf, optima, and accura. The improved stock feel and shape on the accura alone make it worth it for me and was the model I ended up with. It was nearly impossible to get proper cheek weld on my buddies optima with a peep sight.

 

[wyosam]

I shot a wolf for a while, then when I went to upgrade I handled both optima and accura. The accura was so much better in terms of cheek weld and just felt like a much higher class of rifle. I’ve had the MRX for a few years now and love it. End of the day though, all are good rifles and should meet your accuracy needs. I shot strictly BH for a while, but I can’t bring myself to pay $160+ a pound. My eyes don’t work well enough with a peep anymore to shoot much beyond 125-150 anyway, so I went back to 777.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rich M]

Barrel length pretty much.

I had a wolf - hated it.

Got an optima V2 and like it. Need to work up a 200-225 yard load.

 

[Ringbill27]

Barrel length pretty much.

I had a wolf - hated it.

Got an optima V2 and like it. Need to work up a 200-225 yard load.

Curious as to what you hated about the wolf?

 

[SuperDUECE22]

Trigger on the wolf is absolutely terrible unless you like approx 6lbs versus the Accura that can be turned down to 3 lbs.

Basically, the wolf is the entry level budget friendly. 24" standard stainless or nitride barrel, cheap synthetic stock and non-adjustable trigger
The Optima are mid-tier which have good balance of price/ performance. 26" stainless or nitride barrel, non adjustable trigger but supposedly better than the wolf, available with thumbhole stock
Accura are their "premium" series that come with 26",27", or 30"Bergara barrels, adjustable match grade triggers, better stocks with rubber inlays and options of pistol grip or thumbhole
Paramounts are considered their "high performance" which are designed for high BC bullets for long range shooting

 

[Cereal Killer]

I have the .50 Accura LRX, which has the 30” barrel, with the Williams precision globe and peep sight. Been happy with it so far. It shoots well to 100 yards with a peep, haven’t tried further yet. I’ve tried bor locks and power belts out of it… it likes bor locks the best.

 

[Rich M]

Curious as to what you hated about the wolf?

Mine wouldn’t group off a rest. Tried 1/2 doz diff bullets/sabots/powerbelt w triple 7 granules and scope. was getting pie plate groups. Nothing i would hunt with. Was when they first came out.

 

[Ringbill27]

Mine wouldn’t group off a rest. Tried 1/2 doz diff bullets/sabots/powerbelt w triple 7 granules and scope. was getting pie plate groups. Nothing i would hunt with. Was when they first came out.

Mine was the same way till I put a scope on it. So I figured the iron sight were to blame but that’s also the same year I found Barnes spitfires and white hot pellets. Went from pie plates at 50yds to 1.5” groups at 100yds.

 

[Antares]

This was my .50 cal Accura MR-X yesterday morning with Barnes 250 TMZs over two pellets of White Hots (1830 fps).

 

[cuttingedge]

I have owned several Optimas including the V2. I purchased my last V2 about a month ago. The receiver was drilled about .030" off center causing the primer stikes to be right up to the edge. The best group I was able to get at 100 yards with a scope was about 2". I took it back and it was deemed a manufacturers defect and they allowed me to trade it in. I got the Accura MR-X. It is far superior to the Optima V2 and every way. I also shot my buddy's wolf several times yesterday. It had pretty good accuracy, certainly good enough to take game.

This is the group I got with my Accura yesterday with 270gr Federal BOR Lock all copper, 75.1 grains by weight of BH209, and Remington shotgun primers. The flyer is before I made an adjustment. The next 4 shots are in a tight little wad. This is at 100 yards with a scope.

 

[CascadeHunter180]

I have owned several Optimas including the V2. I purchased my last V2 about a month ago. The receiver was drilled about .030" off center causing the primer stikes to be right up to the edge. The best group I was able to get at 100 yards with a scope was about 2". I took it back and it was deemed a manufacturers defect and they allowed me to trade it in. I got the Accura MR-X. It is far superior to the Optima V2 and every way. I also shot my buddy's wolf several times yesterday. It had pretty good accuracy, certainly good enough to take game.

This is the group I got with my Accura yesterday with 270gr Federal BOR Lock all copper, 75.1 grains by weight of BH209, and Remington shotgun primers. The flyer is before I made an adjustment. The next 4 shots are in a tight little wad. This is at 100 yards with a scope.

View attachment 910429

Thanks for the help everyone, I’m going to hold off on purchasing a muzzleloader for this season but will come back to this when I do buy one!

 

[cuttingedge]

Thanks for the help everyone, I’m going to hold off on purchasing a muzzleloader for this season but will come back to this when I do buy one!

You may want to reconsider. I got my Accura MR on sale for $549 at Scheels. As the new models drop, the "old stock" gets marked down. I can say without question, the Accura is the best ML I've ever owned over more than 4 decades of ML Hunting. I shouldn't ever have to buy another muzzleloader in my lifetime.