load suggestions for CVA 50 express double

[mornard]

My main questions are - has anyone tried 777, or Blackhorn 209 in one of these? And where do I start with a bullet - patched ball, lubed T/C minie, Great Plains style bullet?

Anyone have experience with these? I just got one, it's in like new condition - seriously I don't believe it's ever been fired, and I'm looking for suggestions where to start with it. Thank you....

 

[sheba]

There are recommended loads in Fadalas black powder loading manual for it.I believe it is a 1 in 48 twist but I ll have to check on that.Fadalas loads were in Black or Pyrodex

 

[stinkyfeet]

I got the CVA 50 cal double named it "ole rusty" it shoots quite well with 80 grains of 3f, .015 lubed patch (TC bore cleaner), and a .490 ball (In left barrel) (same load but 85 grains in right barrel). The important thing is to try to dial in the load in both barrels then shoot for accuracy and average the corrections between the 2 barrels, in other words you cant make all corrections off one barrel. My gun shoots an inch left and high at 50 yards off the bench, the right barrel is about 2 inches right and a touch low. At 80 yards the rounds are a decent group where both barrels come together pretty well. At 120 yards the barrels reverse the POI the left barrel now hits right and the right barrel left. If your looking for a tack driver my gun at least isn't it. But it makes a good brush gun and the follow up shot as been used a few times and was a bonus to have. By chance did you get the 12 ga shotgun barrel set with it as well (mine was offered as a kit with both barrel sets)

 

[mornard]

Nope - it came through an estate, no other bbls came with it. It unfortunately has a scope mounted on it which is being removed as we speak. One odd thing is I thought these had double rear sight blades, one for each bbl. This only has the one, and of course my goal is to get both bbls as close as possible. My expectations are realistic, however and I am certainly not expecting a tack-driver. Unless the tack is about 8" across, that is...

 

[Wes/Tex]

You'll be dealing with the problem of 'barrel regulation' like all multi barreled guns. Since we're not dealing with a Purdy or Westley Richards, you'll have to try completely different charges to get the POA of both barrels close to each other. There is the possibility of filing the bore but I'll leave that one up to someone who's tried it.

 

[excess650]

My main questions are - has anyone tried 777, or Blackhorn 209 in one of these? Thank you....

BH209 is for sealed breech firearms using 209 ignition, and with tight fitting projectiles. It won't work in percussion or flint.

 

[BillinOregon]

Liberty, 2 Tall is giving you good advice. All these percussion doubles are best treated as two rifles sharing the same stock. You'll likely get a different sweet spot load for each barrel.
The 1:48 twist should stabilize one of more of the conicals, but round balls are a lot cheaper to shoot. A friend got ridiculous power using 777 and a very heavy conical in a Pedersoli Kodiak in .58, so you might get decent results as well. I like to use a musket nipple and cap if forced to use the subs for real black.