CVA Hawken .50 (209 Conversion)

[lawrencecountyhunter]

I picked up a CVA Hawken at an auction last week, $120, and am pretty excited about using it this year during muzzleloader season (I previously hunted it with my bow).  I ordered a "Mag Spark" 209 adapter, so I use the more reliable 209 primers with it instead of the #11 percussion caps.  I have a few Powerbelt bullets and some Pyrodex pellets already, but am thinking about using the Blackhorn 209 powder after the pyrodex is used up.

Anybody else have this gun?  What kinds of loads have worked well for you?  Anybody use the Blackhorn 209 powder in their muzzys?Thanks in advance..

[antiwheeze]

BH is not reccomend. If it works at all,hang fire or poor ignition in cold is likely.

[oldhoyt]

You'd have to try the BH 209 to know if it works. If it does, be sure to keep charges to 100 gr BP equivalent.

All I ever shot in my Renegade 50 cal was the 370 gr maxiball over 100 gr Pyrodex RS. Very accurate and plenty of power.

[lawrencecountyhunter]

Jul 7, 2014 13:21:57 GMT -5 antiwheeze said:

BH is not reccomend. If it works at all,hang fire or poor ignition in cold is likely.

Yeah, I read that with the # 11 percussion caps.  However, I'll be using 209 primers.. Guess I'll have to try it and see.

[lawrencecountyhunter]

Jul 7, 2014 13:29:46 GMT -5 oldhoyt said:

You'd have to try the BH 209 to know if it works. If it does, be sure to keep charges to 100 gr BP equivalent.

All I ever shot in my Renegade 50 cal was the 370 gr maxiball over 100 gr Pyrodex RS. Very accurate and plenty of power.

I've been considering using some sort of roundball..  I like the Powerbelts, but not sure if I'd be getting any benefit when I'm looking at shots approx. 75 yards and under.  I want to stay away from sabots, since many western states do not allow them during primitive weapons seasons (and again, shots will be close range).

[lawrencecountyhunter]

Installed the 209 primer adapter last night.  Pretty simple, just unscrewed the piece where the #11 percussion cap would sit, and screwed the bottom half of the adapter on in it's place. 

Here is a pic of the bottom half installed, with a 209 primer inserted:



After inserting a primer, the top half of the adapter screws on by hand.  I like this design, because it should be easy to keep the primer completely dry.  Only downside, though, is I have to cock the hammer all the way back while inserting a primer.  Here is a pic of the adapter completely assembled and ready to shoot:



I haven't actually shot the gun yet, but did fire off the 209 primer just to make sure everything was right.  Now I'm looking forward to working up some loads for it.

[oldhoyt]

I've seen those conversions before, never tried one though. Are you using "standard" 209s or the T7 variety? You may see better results with the T7, as the standard 209 may actually have too much fire.

Just looked on some other sites, seems that people are using both standard and T7 primers with success.

[lawrencecountyhunter]

I have a bunch of the "Kleen-Bore" 209s from Remington I plan to use up, then I'm going to switch to Federal's 209A primers (most likely).  I plan on trying Blackhorn 209 powder, which requires a hot ignition source, especially in a sidelock.  From my research, the Federal 209A is about as hot as you can find.

[lawrencecountyhunter]

I've seen those conversions before, never tried one though. Are you using "standard" 209s or the T7 variety? You may see better results with the T7, as the standard 209 may actually have too much fire.

I have a bunch of the "Kleen-Bore" 209s from Remington I plan to use up, then I'm going to switch to Federal's 209A primers (most likely).  I plan on trying Blackhorn 209 powder, which requires a hot ignition source, especially in a sidelock.  From my research, the Federal 209A is about as hot as you can find.

[parson]

I have a CVA Mountain Rifle that probably has a similar barrel. Mine is 1/48 twist. It shoots round balls very accurately using 70-80 gr. Pyrodex and patched with pillow ticking.

My son has the same rifle that will shoot maxi balls quite well, but mine seems to only like the round balls.

Below are load recommendations from CVA manual.

.32 RIFLE .310 ROUND BALL .015 10 FFFG 30 FFFG
.36 RIFLE .350 ROUND BALL .015 40 FFFG 60 FFFG
.45 RIFLE .440 ROUND BALL .015 50 FFG 80 FFG
.50 RIFLE .490 ROUND BALL .015 50 FFG 100 FFG
.54 RIFLE .530 ROUND BALL .015 60 FFG 120 FFG
.58 RIFLE .562 ROUND BALL .020 60 FFG 120 FFG
.58 MUSKET .570 ROUND BALL .020 60 FFG 120 FFG
.50 RIFLE .500 CONICAL NONE 50 FFG 100 FFG
.54 RIFLE .540 CONICAL NONE 60 FFG 120 FFG
.50 RIFLE .50 SABOT NONE 50 FFG 100 FFG
.54 RIFLE .54 SABOT NONE 60 FFG 120 FFG

[antiwheeze]

I love BH 209 and use it flawlessly in my CVA Wolf, however, I had problems with ignition with 209 hot primers and BH in my TC Black Diamond inline while hunting in cold weather. BH requires more heat for ignition. For a true test leave your loaded (uncapped) muzzy outside a couple days during the cold of winter. BH 209 worked great in my BD when it was 75 at the range, even took a nice buck using it but then it failed during hunting on a cold winter day (doe just kept on walking).

[stevein]

No offense but that looks like a real PITA. I can visualize searching in the leaves or snow for the top half. Do you get extra top halves with it?

[lawrencecountyhunter]

Jul 9, 2014 19:45:34 GMT -5 stevein said:

No offense but that looks like a real PITA. I can visualize searching in the leaves or snow for the top half. Do you get extra top halves with it?

Nope, only comes with one. Just have to be careful not to lose it..

[lawrencecountyhunter]

Been awhile, but finally got around to shooting some of the Blackhorn 209 through it today. Functioned perfectly every shot.

I do need to try some different bullets through it though. I bought a box of Hornady Great Plains bullets to use, but they were extremely difficult to get started down the barrel. The Powerbelts loaded pretty easy. Think I'm going to try Maxi-balls next, and just get some round balls for practice.

[oldhoyt]

I'm going to try BH 209 in my in-line this year. From my very limited exposure to BH 209, I hear it performs best with "tight" fitting bullets, and it also works well with heavy bullets.

[schoolmaster]

I helped a friend of mine find a good load for his CVA 50 cal. Hawken. We ended up with 80 grains of Goex 2F and a patched roundball. He has taken several deer with this combination with no problem.

[lawrencecountyhunter]

Spent some time today tinkering with different loads. Shot some 350 gr Hornady FPB (Flexible Pont Bullet), 348 gr Powerbelts, 385 gr Hornady Great Plains bullets, and regular old patched round ball.

Settled on a powder charge of 70 grains (volume) Blackhorn 209. Used Remington Kleen-bore primers. All projectiles shot nearly identical at 50 yards as far as I could tell. Patched round ball loaded very easily, followed by the Powerbelts, the FPBs, then the Great Plains. Recoil was slight with the round ball and pretty heavy with the heavier bullets.

I'll use the Great Plains bullets at Big Oaks this year since they require all lead construction, hunt elsewhere with the Powerbelts and FPBs, and practice with the patched round ball.

Shooting this thing is fun!

[antiwheeze]

Sept 7, 2015 18:42:40 GMT -5 lawrencecountyhunter said:

I'll use the Great Plains bullets at Big Oaks this year since they require all lead construction

Great Plains bullets had a very similar effect to being shot with a slug with the two I took at BO last year!

[lawrencecountyhunter]

Sept 17, 2015 16:14:06 GMT -5 antiwheeze said:

Sept 7, 2015 18:42:40 GMT -5 lawrencecountyhunter said:

I'll use the Great Plains bullets at Big Oaks this year since they require all lead construction

Great Plains bullets had a very similar effect to being shot with a slug with the two I took at BO last year!

They are a big heavy bullet for sure. I have no doubts that they will perform very well..