I just bought a new CVA optima V2 .50 caliber muzzle loader. I bought 245 grain powerbelts to shoot in it. Haven't zeroed the rifle in yet. Was reading reviews on the bullets and found all kinds of horror stories on them. I normally have a hard time trusting random internet forum reviews so I though I would ask the members on here what experiences they have had with them. Both good and bad. Will be using 777 loose powder with 209 shotgun primers. I have shot patched round balls since I was young but have no experience with bullets. Thanks to all

I found them to be very accurate and very expensive. That's why I quit using them and started casting my own. I never hit a deer with one so I can't tell you about that.

They may not be the toughest bullet, but I'd bet more times than not they will bring down your deer pretty handily if you hit them in a good spot. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

We have used them for a few years. They shoot well. Most of the deer we have shot with them dropped within sight. The ones that did not were hard to find due to a poor blood trail but we found them all.. Expansion with the bullets is great but they fragment and don’t pass through. That have done the job but I am switching to something else after this season.

Seems like the most consistent response to which bullet is, “What bullet shoots best in your gun?” Just gotta try ‘em and see how easily or difficult they load, how accurate do they shoot for you, and what’s a good powder load.

I like 240gr Harvester Scorpions, with 90gr of Blackhorn powder, with a CCI 209 Primer.

The fun is found in finding what works, then being successful using it. Good luck!

My cousin used them for a few years when the first came out. I don't remember why to many years back but he quit using them. They do load easily.

I have been using hornady. 45 250gr xtp in mmp short sabits for 18 years killed probably 65 deer with them and 80gr ffg of goex . I am cheap and buy them separately and it a lot cheaper than buying 20 projectiles marketed and packed just for muzzleloaders.

I used them for years, shot loads of deer with them and never had an issue. Most of the “horror stories” are from muzzleloader snobs, and I just discount what they say anyways. Now, when my oldest was 8 and I was trying to load light for him using 60 grains of Pyrodex, I learned that they do NOT fly well with that light of load. Impact could vary by 12” at 75 yards. But with 90 grains they shot great. They sure are a joy to load.

Thank you all. M. Magis that was info I was wanting to hear. Thank you sir

Hated em.

You know it's not going to be good when they drop straight down the barrel without needing to be rodded.

I have shot them for years . easy to load . I use 2- 50 gr pyrodex pellets. 1 1/2 in groups at 100 yards They hit where you aim !!!
As for the loose powder way too messy and too much trouble . 2 pellets in a speed loader and go for it.........

Before the naysayers freak out about the 1 1/2 groups you need to remember the bullet is almost 1/2 in diameter.

I use them in both flintlock and inline. They are very accurate and dropped every deer shot with them. They have performed great for me.

You must have been dropping a 45 down a 50 because they WONT drop straight down. My Thompson center omega has 2 inches NOT RIFLED at the beginning so a bullet starter is not needed . But then you have to punch them down with the rod. After 2-3 shots they still get tight loading but they are still accurate.
One day I killed 4 does with out ever leaving the stand and the last one was around 120 yard and center punched her .

I doubt it unless they were mispackaged.

I have not hunted with the 245 but do have experience with the 348. Never had any issues. I did try the 245 when I was working a load. Always loaded nicely and shot very well. I also used 100 grains by volume of 3f 777 (no pellets) and a Fed 209A. I can't see why a 245 gr wouldn't work just as well. I just personally prefer heavy for caliber bullets. I used them in a Knight Disc Extreme. The combination that I used certainly flattened deer. I never had to track one, all were DRT.

I am amazed at how many people use the heavier gr bullets for muzzle loaders. Why ? Not many deer hunters hunt with a bullet 245 gr in their rifles. The diameter of the bullet is the same in a 240 gr vs 295, 348 ect. The 240 zip thru the deer and normally shoot flatter . So why the cape buffalo size bullet ????

Thank you all. I will give them a try next weekend. I bought the rifle mainly to have something else for my daughter to use. I don't get to see her much and enjoy the time I do get to spend with her in the deer blind. I have shot traditional muzzle loaders all my life. I have an uncle that builds flintlocks and have been shooting them since even before I could hold one up on my own. I have killed several deer with a feather ticking patched round ball but just never got into the inline thing.

I use them in 50 cal inline. never a problem with deer. My load is 100 gr ( 2- 50 gr) pyrodex pellets with 295 gr pb bullet. 209 primer. With 150 gr of powder it is not as accurate

I use them with two 50 grain Pyrodex pellets.VERY sccurate and most deer just flop over.Zero complaints.

Thats how I used them

I shot the 295 aero tip power belt for years in my original Remington 700 muzzleloader. The fit was great. They didn’t load super easy but not super hard and the accuracy was the best of the three weights i shot. 295, 245, and 223 grain. There was very little drop difference ballistically between the 295 and 245 something like .5” diff at 150 and 1.25” diff at 200 yards with a 100 yard zero. I could not get the 223 gn Powerbeats to shoot at all. In a few conversations with tech support at powerbelt it appeared they were too short which led to instability and I believe they have been discontinued.
When I got my TC Encore I tried the power belts and they were too small in diameter. They loaded way too easy and it was reflected in the accuracy by averaging 2” groups at 100. I settled on the 250 grain Hornady SST. The SST coupled with 120 gns of fffg triple seven loose and federal champion 209a primers will yield cloverleaf groups at 100 yards and I have 2 200 yard+ clean kills with them. The TC shockwave finishes a close 2nd but I feel it is a bit thicker jacketed than the SST.

My advice is to try several bullets, powder combinations, primers, etc and see what works best in your gun. One thing I have learned about different muzzleloader, bullets, etc is your mileage can vary from what others experience.

It has taken me many years and a lot of tinkering to be satisfied, but tinkering is all part of the fun

I shoot the 295 aero tips out of a CVA. No problems