I have a .50 cal CVA Bobcat that is shooting all over the place. I have posted on multiple shooting lists to hopefully get some help. I thought I got it zeroed in. Then after that it started to spray because it was dirty. I cleaned it with T/C 13 Bore Cleaner, a brush, and swabbed it until dry. I fouled it and it shot wildly for about 3 shots. Then it shot good for a few and then started spraying again. Thought it was dirty again so I cleaned it again. This time I dry swabbed it with a brush and patches. Same result with shots going wild then back online then wild again. Again I cleaned it with the bore cleaner. After cleaning the gun, it took almost 6 shots for the gun to come back to zero! It starts 6" low moves up after a couple of shots then 6" high before coming to the bulls eye. I am shooting CVA 300 gr conical bullets with 90 grains of Clean Shot. It was suggested that my powder is wet and the hot barrel is drying it thus making it shoot more accurate once "warmed up". I have trouble with that suggestion because the powder was from a keg I bought right before going to shoot. Any and all help is appreciated!

Hi, blackheel:
I heard that Cleanshot has a short shelf life, of about a year. Since Hodgdon sued Cleanshot out of business almost two years ago, it's well past it's "Best Before" date.
http://www.hodgdon.com/news/cleanshotverdict.php

A fellow by the name of Bill Knight aka "Mad Monk" posted a considerable amount of data on the defunct Shooters.com and a private list about the chemistry of black powder and all the substitutes. As I remember, Cleanshot is very hydrophilic and doesn't "heal" when it's dried out.

Are those conicals the old CVA Deerslayer? I didn't have any luck with them, although I only had a 12 pack, and may not have found the right load.

Try some patched round balls and a Hornady Great Plains conical with real FFg black powder. If you can't get either to shoot, trade the gun off.

Bye
Jack

Thanks for the info!! I will take the loss on the money I spent on the Clean Shot and try the Triple Seven. I hear that T/7 is more powerful. How many grains should I try when I was shooting 90 grains of Clean Shot?

Hi, blackheel:
Since I only shoot flint, I don't have much experience with the substitute powders. It's best if you get your data right from Hodgdon.
http://www.hodgdon.com/tripleseven/t7granular.php

Many a black powder problem has been cured by a dose of the real stuff. Get a can of Goex FFg too. There's a few bad lots out there. The old stuff made in Moosic, PA is good and 2002 and later Alabama production is OK too, as I remember.

Bye
Jack

Thanks for the help!! Went and bought T/7 and WOW! Eighty grains with the same bullet as before. Fired a patch to get the bore fouled. Then shot 1 @ 25 yds. 2.5" high and dead on left right. Then 1 shot @ 50 yds. dead red. Then 2 shots at a hundred, both about 2" high and one was left a bit and one was right a bit. That could have been me though with the iron sights. All in all I am tickled! Thanks again!!