Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Favorite Scope for In-line

I use the discontinued Pentax Pioneer with the Ballistic Plex that I got cheap from Doug at Cameraland. I had to calculate the distances where the hash marks were dead on, but you would have to do that anyway with a dedicated muzzleloader scope. There are so many powders and bullet combinations that it is unrealistic to expect the hash marks to line up with all of them. There is no need to pay higher prices for a muzzleloader scope. Good glass and a lot of eye relief are what I want.

Another alternative to a ballastic plex reticle is develop a load that shoots reasonably flat. At a 150 yards a good load won't drop like a rock. Here's the data I use for my ML.

yards/drop
50 .6"
75 .6"
100 0
125 -1.4"
150 -3.7"
175 -7.0"

TC Omega, 105 grains (by volume) BH209, WW 209 primer, 250 gr Hornady SST, red HSLD sabot, chronographed 10 shot average 1992 fps @ 10 feet. This is the most accurate load I've found ... in my ML.

I hunt in Utah where you can't use a magnified scope and no one makes a 1X with hash marks. All three mulies I've shot with my ML were at less than 75 yards so this is what I've settled on for zero distance and holdovers. With the 1X I'm not comfortable taking a shot past 130 yards unless it was the absolutely ideal shot. Good lighting, broadside, standing still ... etc.

Mine wears a new VX2 3-9x40 with heavy duplex. Nothing better for $300 IMO.....

That is a tremendous difference from my observations. I wonder what I am doing wrong? I have not finalized sight in with the Weaver yet, but my recollection from the last range visit was that there is roughly 4 inches difference beteen 50, 75, and 100 yd point of impact. The results very much mirror trajectory from a 44 mag lever action we have.

Interesting!

You're not doing anything wrong per say it's just the load you're using doesn't shoot as flat. The first difference is 100 gr of Pyrodex will not produce near as much velocity as 105 gr of BH209. A full bore (.50 cal) 250 gr Powerbelt Aerolite has a slightly less efficient BC compared to 250 grain SST (.452 cal) in a sabot. Powerbelts don't seal as well as a sabot which also decreases velocity.

Here's some test results (take it with a grain of salt - it's a promotion for dead center bullets) but it does show the difference in drop of various projectiles.

https://www.prbullet.com/drop.htm

I put a Leupold 2-7 ML scope on my Knight, but a 1-4 would have served just as well. I have no need for long-range index points as I hunt in the woods and it's very unlikely I would get a chance at over 100 yards, which is where I'm zeroed. Folks that hunt over fields or food plots might make use of them I suppose.

For me, optics on a ML are to accomodate my old eyes, not for long range, as I still view MLs as relatively short-range weaponry, despite advances in bullets and such. No doubt they're capable at longer ranges if the shooter is up to it.

I wouldn't mind airing my rifle out a bit at the range just for fun though.