Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Help choosing a muzzleloader scope

Picked up a savage 10ML-II this week to hunt whitetails in Kansas. Hunting open terrain with possibility of long shots. Looking for recommendations on a scope. Bought the smokeless Savage hoping for a little better range than blackpowder. Considering a scope with some type of reticle or turret to maximize this setup for "long range" relative to a muzzleloader. Any suggestions?

Depends on what price range your looking, but the Burris Ballistic plex is a good one on the low end for ML ....Russ

My buddy swears by his Nikon ML scope

I just put a new Leupold 4.5X14 with the CDS dial on my Knight Long Range hunter. The scope is working out great so far to 200 yards. #3 is dead on at 150, and #6 is dead on at 200. Hoping to shoot 250 this week. Tom.

I'm planning on buying something with CDS type turrets for mine. Depending upon your load combo, the B&C type reticles might work out fine but I'm leaning towards the turrets so I can fine tune the scope to whatever bullet/load I decide to use.

The B&C reticle on the Leupold does work well. That is what I had on my Knight LRH before I bought the one with the CDS dials. The B&C is good. The CDS is great(a step up). And best of all the CDS dial is cheaper. Tom.

A VXII 2-7 or 3-9 with LR duplex reticle (or dotz as Dober calls them) will work well. Dead on at 100, the first dot should be good at 150 and second dot at 200.

Thanks for the suggestions. Any others? Will definitely take a close look at the ones suggested.

What's your price range? If you want something in the $200 range the Burris FFII scopes are a great buy. If you have more to spend look into the Ziess Conquest.

I'd consider anything less than 1k as far as price range...but would really rather spend half that if there's a scope that works well in that range.

Nikon Omega I have had one for a few years and it is a great scope..

Another vote for the Omega solid scope that just "works"

I love the Nikon Omega with the drop reticle. 5" of eye relief is awesome. You don't have to worry about the scope kissing your noggin when that Savage bucks, which it will...

Thanks for all the suggestions...went with the Leupold 3.5-10 CDS.

Since Whitetails are crepescular, you will want a scope that is bright and can be used at pre-dawn and post dusk times. Also. you wiil need a thick reticles that can be seen at these times. 6X magnification seems to be the happy compromise. Generally, a fixed power glass will be a tad brighter than a variable.

My pick: Leupold fixed 6X42.

Ive read that Leupold scopes are actually a little less or more than the stated magnification. Do you know if the 6x42 is more like a 5.5 actual magnification or is it more than six. Ive always wanted to try one but 6x is too much in the woods usually.