.45 muzzleloader for deer?

[westtxlawman]

I'm new to muzzleloading, and have just ordered a new CVA. My question is this, is a .45 enough gun to use on west tx. mulies and whitetails? I have never used a muzzleloader so any information would be appreciated. The CVA is the Eclipse .45, which the wife is getting me for Christmas. I have also heard some bad and good things on CVA. An honest opion(s) on this brand would be nice. Thanks for your help, and happy hunting from the great state of Texas.

[NE hunter]

ummm its big enough

i would go with a thompson center though

im not farmilier with cva but the omega and encore are great choices


.45 or .50 will do the job for both weets and muleys

[hunter1992]

A 45 cal muzzleloader would work fine on any deer. I don't personaly own a cva but know many people who own them and they all love them and have had no problems.

[kajunhunter]

The .45 is good on whitetail, not familiar with mullies. I know people who own a CVA and like them. THey perform just as good as the others, unless you go to the top end rifles. The Hunterbolt is a great choice and the Firebolt (a cheaper version) is good. You can be accurate up to about 100 yards with one. After that it might be chancy. You may have to play with your powder load and bullet type to see what you gun shoots best. I sighted in a CVA Kodiak once for a friend. I hated that rifle, The trigger pull was hard and long and the gun wasn't that accurate. I could only get a group of about 3 inches at 50 yards. Ii shot 90grns loose powder with Rem. .44 corelckt 240grn. and horneday sabots (it is a .50 rifle). My rifle shot 1 inch groups with same load. Now I shoot the TC shockwave 250grn. Killed a doe this past season and was impressed with the bullet, good penetration and opens up quickly. I shoot the Winchester model 1000. It is made exactly like the Hunterbolt but with more detail and craftsmanship. The CVA is a good rifle, I didn't like the Kodiak and would suggest not buying it.

[Black Mamba]

It would work well. Just keep the shooting to under 150 yards.

[rooster52]

I own 2 CVA kodiaks one is a 50 and the other 45. I would not have bought the 45 except mid south shooting supply had a sale on them $99.00. I have hunted with the 50 and took several deer with it and going to Colorado to hunt elk and deer this fall.With a scope on the rifle the 45 shoots the CVA powerbelt excellent,2 inch groups at a 100 yards.The 50 shoots the 348 powerbelt great.I bought these rifles because they just fit me better than others I tried and they are a snap to clean .I think the trigger pull on my 50 is perfect,crisp 3.5 lbs. and no excess travel,perfect for me. I cannot get good accruacy with either rifle with sabot bullets.I have two knight MK85's and they hate the powerbelt bullets.You just have to buy the rifle you like the best and put in the time to find out what it likes to shoot.There is not a whitetail that probably would know the difference between 45 or 50 cal. You check the states you may want ot hunt and make sure a 45 is legal if you ever want to hunt something other than deer. Good Luck!

[airborne]

I agree with rooster. The deer won't know the dif. Like he said, check the states you are going to hunt in. Some may require a 50 cal or larger. Is this a flintlock or in-line? If you use bullets I don't think there is much in the way of dif but if you are using roundball, the larger the better. They don't expand so the larger the hole, the better. I know supplies for the 50 cal are easier to find in PA. Few people use a 45.

Anyhow, Welcome to the sport. Glad to see another smoke pole in use.

[Russelldclaybaugh@hotmail]

I am very impressed with the CVA Kodiak.Excellent rifle for the $ .Shoots very good with powerbelt bullets.Plenty of rifle for deer. the 45/225 aero tip with 2 pyrodex pellets shoots the best for me.I am sure there are probably better rifles ,but mine is good enough for me and I saved $200.00 over the T/C omega that I was looking to buy.The only thing I donot like with the omega is the trigger position in the uncocked position,but thats just me. My vote goes for the CVA Kodiak!

[rooster52]

Just rememberd,once at the shooting range a fellow was shooting an eclipse and was shooting great with it. Looked like a good rifle to me. When sighting in ,swab the bore beteween shots,just a lightly damped patch will due. Most muzzleloaders I have shoot there best with a clean bore.I own several muzzleloaders and when it comes to accuarcy,I always tell people the difference between a $100 rifle and a $500 is $400.00. All of todays rifles shoot good if you find the bullet ,load and loading techniqe for the rifle.This might take some time but it will happen.

[tmag41]

The .45 is plenty of gun for whitetails. Glad to hear you bought a CVA. I've used them for years and have no complaints. You don't need to by the more expensive Omega to kill a deer.