I have an OLD Conneticut Valley Arms .50 caliber Bobcat muzzleloader that I got from my dad. I was wondering if anyone knows where I can get a wooden stock for this gun? As it is, it's a #11 primer, hammer lock weapon with a synthetic stock that kicks worse than an M44 with hot loads on full auto. Yes, it's that bad. I called CVA and they said they don't offer a wooden stock for it, and I have searched the net for solutions to the problem with no avail.

As it is, this weapon is accurate as all get out. 3 shots within 2 inches at 100 yards iron sights. That's another thing, even though it's accurate, I can't mount a scope on this weaoon as the hammer would get in the way.... I am just not comfortable taking this gun hunting as I don't want to draw down on an animal further than 100 yards and miss, or worse, wound the animal and lose it due to a poor shot.

I love this gun, but being so user un-friendly, I don't shoot it but maybe once a year, and that's only because I don't want to waste the pyrodex that I bought for it.

Any possible solutions to this problem would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

The reeason they don't have any scopes for them is that you gotta learn to shoot the old Davy Crockett method....If ya can't kill em over a hunderd yaads then yoe wait fer then to git jist a bit closer

Try the Sims Limbsaver butt pad or slip on to reduce felt recoil considerably. Also you never mentioned how many grains of powder you are using. You may be able to use less and still have acceptable accuracy and energy. What are you using for projectile. patch and ball or ??? Have you tried Cva Powerbelts? They will work in the Bobcat and you can use one of the lighter ones to reduce recoil slightly. If you Know someone that has some Powerbelts, give them a try or just buy some and if you dont like them pay it forward.

Like Z said, let them come closer or sneak in closer yourself. the latter being second choice.

I am using 100 grains of pyrodex as a propellant, 2 50 grain pellets, while shooting a .45 caliber sabot, I think it's a 300 grain bullet, but I'm not sure. I don't have the package anymore and I bought them over 3 years ago. All in all, it's not that hard of a charged round, it's just that the rifle weighs less than 6 pounds loaded that kills the shoulder. I can shoot 5 or 6 rounds and I am done. I haven't shot that gun for almost 2 years because recoil is so fierce... I really need to shoot it soon just for cleaning purposes. Even though I run windex patches down the barrel doesn't mean it won't rust eventually.... Any advice is totally welcome.

I bought a Bobcat for my son when he was about 11 since he wanted a muzzle loader; he's 23 now. We loaded it down for him and he shot it a lot. I don't know how much, if at all, he shoots it now. At the time we lived on 5 acres in rural AZ (Congress, AZ--I know you've never heard of it)
and we could shoot right behind our house in a wash. Good times. Sorry, no advice, but I always thought the rifle was a very good value.

I now use loose 777 powder for more control but I used to load 2 50 grain 777 while a buddy of mine used 1 50 grain and 1 30 grain of 777 for a total of 80 grains for less recoil. Hodgdon also makes 30 grain pyrodex pellets so you could use one of each. I've also noticed more recoil from powder compaired to equal amout in pellets. My smokepole (CVA Kodiak) comes in at 7 1/2 lbs. With 100 grains loose powder and 295 grain Powerbelt it will take any north american big game. Some recoil pads are nothing more than hard rubber and you absorb most of the recoil while the Kodiak comes with the Crushpad which pushes me back but doesn't ring my bell. It spreads the felt recoil out over a longer period of time in steps much like the Sims Limsaver. Cant think of anything else.

Primal,

I have owned several CVA Bobcat .50's over the years, most were the polymer stocked versions but one had a wood stock, all kicked like a mule with heavy charges no matter what stock they had. This is a 5.5 pound gun with 24" barrel so it's made more for carry than it is shooting. I highly recommend not using pellet charges in the Bobcat, or any other sidelock for that matter, because the pellets are slightly harder to ignite than loose powder charges are. The flame from the nipple has to make two 90 degree turns before it gets to the pellets, and if you have a bit of fouling, or oil, left in the gun you will end up with a hangfire or worse a no fire dud.

Bobcats also have a max charge weight of 100grs of Pyrodex RS or FFg black powder. Anything heavier and you risk serious problems. CVA does not recommend using 777, Pyrodex P or FFFg in the Bobcat rifle due to pressure concerns. When using Triple Seven (777) in the Bobcat (at your own risk) you need to reduce the charge weight by 10% for round ball and 15% for conicals because the pressure curve for Triple Seven is much higher than Pyrodex RS or FFg Black Powder. Same thing applies when using Pyrodex P or FFFg charges (again at your own risk), reduce the charge by 10% to 15%.

Using Sabots or Powerbelts in a sidelock muzzleloader is almost a universal no-no among long time sidelock shooters. They are next to impossible to pull if you have a dud charge because you cant remove the breech plug and push em out like you can with an inline. If you insist in using these types of projectiles then invest in one of the CO2 discharger's, they are well worth the money when you need to clear the barrel and are either unable to shoot it out or would rather not shoot it clear. If you have never had a dud round, or dry balled a load ( got projectile loaded without powder charge) then you havent been shooting a muzzleloader long enough or it aint happened yet.

For the recoil and the Bobcat polymer stock. What I did was increase the weight of the rifle to about 7 pounds and added a Limb Saver recoil pad. This tamed the Bobcats recoil BIG TIME and made it a fun gun to shoot. In order to add weight to the rifle I took some lead weights and made a makeshift carrier for them so they fit inside the hollow butt stock snugly. Then I took a couple cans of spray foam and filled the stock so the weights were secure inside the stock. This also took the cheap hollow sound from the polymer stocks when walking thru thick brush. This worked very well for me and the guys who later bought my Bobcats did so mainly because they loved the new balance, weight and softer recoil of the compact rifle.

good luck.

rimfirehunter

Primal there is a very simple awnser to your problem.................give it to me .......LOL

Since I have been busy, I haven't kept up with this thread. I apologize for that.

RFH, you and I need to talk about this Bobcat, you really freakin suprise me with the experience that you have...

Robert, as far as giving this gun to you, keep dreaming. This is the only gun that I have that was "given" to me from my Dad. Sorry, but I will NEVER get rid of this weapon. Even if the barrel rusts out, it will hang over my mantle/fireplace until I am dead or the world ends.