Welcome to our annual Golden Bullseyes, an award program that honors pinnacles of design, innovation, performance and value produced for American hunters.
Golden Bullseye winners are selected by a panel of experts representing more than a century of collective experience in shooting, hunting and outdoor trade. To qualify for consideration, a product must have been:
• Recently introduced and available to consumers prior to nomination;
• Used/tested by AH staff or our contributors;
• Reliable in the field and thus meeting the consumer’s expectations;
• Innovative in design and function;
• Readily perceived as a value to the consumer;
• Styled in a manner befitting the trade and its enthusiasts.
2022 Muzzleloader of the Year: CVA Paramount HTR .40-Caliber
With its hunting-style stock, adjustable comb and premium Bergara barrel, the .40-caliber CVA Paramount HTR is capable of producing centerfire velocities previously thought unattainable from a muzzleloader: 2740 fps, to be exact. If you didn’t know it, “HTR” stands for “Hunter.” Indeed, this is a truly long-range hunting rifle designed to handle magnum charges of Blackhorn 209 powder or a substitute.
The stock’s comb is adjustable so a hunter lying prone for long periods can find just the right sweet spot. This allows for perfect eye-to-optic alignment, and less fatigue behind the optic. An internal aluminum chassis cradles the barreled action to create a rock-solid foundation. The stock is dipped in Realtree’s new Hillside pattern.
The 26-inch, Nitride-treated, free floating, stainless-steel barrel is pure premium Bergara quality and is threaded ¾x20 at the muzzle to accept CVA’s Paramount muzzle brake.
CVA’s VariFlame breech plug is specifically designed for use with large rifle primers. The design keeps the flash hole debris-free after repeated shots with fine, loose powder.
The rig weighs 9.6 pounds. It includes two ramrods: a collapsible carbon fiber unit and a one-piece solid aluminum range rod. It also includes a lifetime warranty.
If you want to hunt long range, you want your muzzleloader to be a CVA Paramount HTR .40-caliber. MSRP: $1,240; cva.com.
To see the full list of American Hunter's 2022 Golden Bullseye Award winners, click here.
