CVA wolf vs CVA optima v2 ?

outside of action release, the only real difference I see in the two is the 2" barrel length ( wolf being 2 inches shorter) no most shots will be undr 150 yards or less, will be using Blackhorn 209 only with about a 85-90 grain by volume charge, 250 gr shockwave! unless i find a more accurate and economical load

They're both nice rifles for the money. If you're looking at entry level experience with muzzleloaders that Wolf is a great starter gun. If you have some experience with the black powder toys the Optima is a very nice rifle that may offer a tad bit better accuracy. They both handle field work nicely if you are looking at 150 yards as a max so either or...its up to you. Personally I'd opt for the Optima's longer barrel but that's just my own preferences speaking.

And Welcome to the site !

I have an optima V2 and love it. If I had to do it again the Optima gets my vote.

I have a CVA Wolf and a CVA optima V2 thumbhole. They are both nice guns for the money and both will get the job done. If your wanting a compact light gun the Wolf is great. I bought it for my son because it was one of the smallest black powder rifles I could find to fit him at a decent price. The CVA Wolf works great with 777 under a 100grs. For magnum loads the CVA Optima is better because of the longer barrel. The CVA Optima is just more gun you can tell by holding it. Both shoot great but if you want to shoot heavier loads go with the CVA Optima.

Thanks for the replies, Just want to get a nice muzzle loader as I will be using it for all my big game hunting. My son will more than likely follow suite with one of his own. for those that own the optima? what bullets are you using Brand? weight? I like the T/C shock waves, my brother will only shoot power belts

I personally like the Hornady SST’s or Hornady Monoflexs. They shoot great out of just about any gun and you can’t beat the price. The Hornady SST’s are the same bullet as the TC Shockwaves. The Hornady’s are cheaper and they load way easier.

WPrather said:

I personally like the Hornady SST’s or Hornady Monoflexs. They shoot great out of just about any gun and you can’t beat the price. The Hornady SST’s are the same bullet as the TC Shockwaves. The Hornady’s are cheaper and they load way easier.

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Thanks I only have used the shock waves, but I have looked at the Hornady's. read somethings where people really liked em

My Optima V2 likes a .452 300gr XTP in a black crushrib sabot with 90gr. Volume BH209. I killed two deer last season, both heart shots, an the hearts were destroyed. I usually eat the heart, but not those, not taking a chance on lead/bone fragments.

Anyone use the shockwave 200 gr. ????? seems like it should be a nice flat shooting bullet and 90 gr. should have it cooking pretty good out to say 200 yards, or an i thinking wrong?

I feel the Wolf can do anything the Optima can and in a lighter package.

Optima V2 is 6.65lbs
Wolf is 6.25lbs

Not really that much of a difference.

Optima normally has a better trigger and some may prefer the action release better on the Optima. Base Wolf in SS is around $208 and the base Optima in SS is $268 but ive seen them as low as $249 recently. You can get a Wolf in SS nitride for about the same price as a base Optima SS.

One nice bonus of the Optima is you can buy additional stocks in TH and Compact. Its the same stock as the CVA Hunter and CVA Scout CF rifles.

So I'm basically getting the feel that it's mostly a matter of personal preference in the two. I was thinking I would get accuracy out of the optima but is 2" really going to make that big of a difference under 200 yrds?? I mean most shots will be real life 75 yrds. may have a good poke thru the woods at say 115yrds. I want to keep this simple, I will only be using the blackhorn 209 with a 250 grain bullet from hornady ( shockwaves if I can't find the sst) I'v some limited experiences with the wolf 15 years ago.

I never cared for the barrel release on the Wolf, just my preference. I do like the Optima V2 however, I owned a T/C Encore in the late 90's that had a great trigger an the same release. I sold it for what I had in it mostly due to the factory trigger!

My buddy has a wolf. Popping open all the time is his biggest complaint. I saw it happen a couple times to him this yr, once his primer even popped out. I would agree that is a poor design. I don't know if the optima is any different.

WV Hunter said:

My buddy has a wolf. Popping open all the time is his biggest complaint. I saw it happen a couple times to him this yr, once his primer even popped out. I would agree that is a poor design. I don't know if the optima is any different.

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I haven't had that problem of popping open with the Optima V2 as you would have to pull back on the trigger guard vs just bumping something on the wolf. I don't recall the entire mechanism of the wolf tho...

My Whites are an will always be my go to deer killers. The Optima V2 nitride is the go to cold/wet weather late season gun of choice. I don't like getting my laminate stocks wet on the Whites. They would probably be alright as they are black iced and stock greased for water proofing, just don't like getting them wet....or me for that matter! :lol:

Regarding the action popping open on the Wolf, this is a problem I have also. I have only found one posting on the 'net so far where someone fabricated essentially an oversize trigger guard to protect the release. Anyone have any other ideas? Other than that, I like the gun. It does what I need, kills deer. Have no need for a more expensive gun.

I have a CVA Wolf and love it but will be updating to a CVA Acura LRX. I currently shot Hornady sst 250 gr low drag sabot with BH209 86gr by weight. Very accurate.

Optima V2. I had one before I got my CVA Scout 45-70 conversion. I usually recommend the CVA Scout 45-70 conversion over both of them but of those two, Optima V2, for sure. The Optima I had liked just about any bullet from 185 to 260 grains in smooth MMP sabot with 63grW to 70grW of BH209.