Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Muzzleloader Scope???

Looking for a new scope for a Thompson Encore 50 cal muzzleloader for a trip to Illinois this coming November. Have 2 old Nikon Buckmasters on other barrels but just tired of taken off and on and back and forth. Looking for best bang for the buck in maybe the $3-400 range. Have been buying higher end scope for my rifles the last few years but cant justify $1000 or so on a gun I haven't used in 10 years or so and don't know if I will continue to use much after this year. Suggestions??? Thanks in advance!

Randall

I recently bought a tract turion its now on my muzzleloader great scope. I have leupolds muzzleloader scope there pretty close. Also have nikons not as good as either.

What kind of cover do you hunt in, what kind of shots will you be taking?

I like the Leupold 2.5X ultralight with its 4.9" of eye relief, and it can be purchased for less than $300.00. That said where I hunt a 50yd shot would be the maximum I would normally get.

I've never been where I'm going but I was told to be prepared to shoot out to 150yds. So obviously that means I dont need a ton of magnification.

Randall

On my muzzleloader I use an IOR 6x42. I like it because of the generous eye relief, the good glass, and the fact that it’s a fat, heavy pig of a scope. My muzzleloader is a Knight 54 cal with a 20” barrel and I like the extra weight when shooting it because it can be... festive shooting it. If you shoot a light rifle or hot loads, or a mix of the two a heavy scope is a good idea. If those don’t apply, consider a Meopta 6x42 or Leupold Fx-2 6x36. Both have generous eye relief and are good clear scopes. I prefer the Meopta by a long shot and used the should both easily come into your price range.

When I describe a day shooting my muzzleloader as festive, I mean: it’s a whole lot of fun but you feel it the next day.

Edit - If you have a muzzleloader with a longer barrel or want to try your hand a 250+ yard shots the SS 6x42 is a great option and new it fits in your price range.

I use a 1.5-5X VX3 or a VX1 hog. No shots over 100 yards here in the woods.

My Knight Ultra Lite wears a Leupold ML 2-7, basically a VX-1 with parallax set short. Being lightweight, it's pretty sporty on the back end. After about 100 or so shots (and 5 deer in various hands), it hasn't budged. The reticle is quite bold.

Last year, I mounted and sighted in scopes on two other MLs. One was a VX-2 3-9, the other a spare FX-II 2X. No issues. The high power on both variables is mostly used at the range; in the woods, they get set on low.

I've got a fixed 6x SWFA on mine, with a dope card....grin...

I just knew there was gonna be at least one out there!

I have a Swfa 1-4x24 on my CVA and it’s great; love the illuminated reticle, low profile turrets, and ability to go down to 1x for tight spots. Wouldn’t hate a 6x42MQ either but that’s probably more magnication than you need.

I have the Leupold muzzleloader scope. Works great with my Savage

I definitely like the idea of the 6x Meopta. I've never had a fixed power on anything besides a.22 rifle before though...hmmmmm

FWIW, I had a lowly Bushnell Banner Dawn-Dusk 4-12 on my Encore 209x50 for several years and
it never let me down. The low light feature is just as good as any other low light scope I've ever looked
through. The banner is now on a 17hmr and works as well now as it ever did.

I had a CVA Apex with a Nikon XR 3-9x40 scope. I shot a doe at almost 200 yards with it , by far the longest muzzleloader kill for me.

If this is the last year, do the take off and move from another rifle one last time.. Save money,

Jack

Leupold or Nikon muzzleloader scope. I have a Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x40 on my TC Omega (stainless fluted, laminated Thumbhole stock).

I put a 6x36 Leupold on my Ultra Lite and have been pleased.

300 grain billets and max charge of BH209 can be a bit snappy in these light rifles. No issues with the 6x. Most shots 30-85 yards.

Older vx 1 3-9x40
Only lupy I got left
Musta been a good dice throw for me 8 yrs ago
Ain't had an issue with it
Kinda amazing actually
On a Kodiak pro mag .45 with 95grs 777 2f 195gr Barnes mz expander ,ww 209
Killed alot of deer with it.

If it ever goes south
I will send it in
And sell it the day after I get it back for 100 bucks
And look for a Sightron.