HEY GUYS JUST BOUGHT ONE OF THESE. HOW ARE THEY, THIS IS MY FIRST BLACK POWDER RIFLE, SO I AM CURIOUS.

I wish you had asked before you bought one. Now, there is little I can say that is productive.

Why do you want to bust the guys bubble? He said it was his first black powder gun.Bang
Give it a try,I don't shoot any cva but according to some people they shoot good as any of them.
Good luck with it.

HEY GUYS THANKS FOR THE POSTS. I TOOK IT OUT TO THE RANGE AND IT SHOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME AND THE OTHER RIFLES THAT I HUNT WITH. GROUPS STAYED IN THE 2 TO 2 1/4 INCH RANGE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN INTERESTED IN MUZZLELOADING UNTIL I SAW THIS RIFLE. I WASN'T SURE IF I WOULD LIKE IT,(SHOOTING BLACK POWDER THAT IS) SO I BOUGHT THIS ONE. THE PRICE HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT $188, ALOT CHEAPER THAN THE T/C I LOOKED AT. AFTER I TRY IT OUT SOME MORE AND DECIDE IF I LIKE SHOOTING IT ENOUGH, THEN I WILL GRADUATE TO A MORE EXPENSIVE GUN. BUT THEN AGAIN IF THIS ONE SHOOTS WELL ENOUGH TO PLEASE ME, I CAN'T SEE CHANGING IT. YOU KNOW THE OLD SAYING: IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT.

Here is something productive. On a dollar for dollar basis, the CVA models will out-shoot anything that is built in New Hampshire. I own 6 CVA's and a single T/C. The T/C collects dust in the safe while the others will all shoot under 2MOA and do it with regularity.

Your Optima is a simple and dependable weapon that will provide more accuracy than the average hunter will ever require. I bought an Optima for my hunting partner (many times CA state HP champ) and he is amazed at the accuracy level he achieved right out of the box. He is shooting the .45 model with 175Gr PRB Dead Center bullets over 110Gr 2Fg 777 powder. This is virtually the same load I use in my CVA Fire Bolt and it is a 1.50 MOA rifle with factory irons. Some groups even go tighter, with some slightly larger (mostly operator induced). This is far better accuracy than I'll ever require for most hunting situations. Not bad for a rifle that Cabela's has on sale for $159...

What's wrong with a CVA optima? I'm really intrested in finding out why its such a bad piece.

Onestar, you might want to read this THREAD to get some observations by owners.