Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Scoping a CVA Optima

I purchased a Optima shortly before muzzle loader season here in Minnesota and now want to scope if for next year. Most of the scope I do have higher magnification. With that being said, I'm on the hunt for a low magnifying powered scope.

Interested in knowing what you have mounted on your ML's and what you like/dislike about your setup? Whitetails are what I'm hunting. Eyes are old.

Your experiences would be appreciated here.

Bigstone

We don't have to just use muzzleloaders here anymore for early and late seasons, as it is now "Primitive Weapons" season, and we can use .35cal or larger single shots with exposed hammers. For several years, it was .38cal or larger, so we all shot .444 and .45/70 rifles that pretty much mimicked the ballistics of a good inline ML. Most of used a decent 2-7x or 3-9x and a 100-150yd zero. With the polymer tipped ammo, I was fond of a 150yd zero and a BDC-style scope (I liked the Leupold/Redfield models). Hits at 200 and 250yds were made possible with little fuss. If I were scoping another, I'd look for a 2-7x or 3-9x Redfield Revolution with the Accu-Range reticle or a Leupold with the LRD/Creedmoor reticle.

I installed a Bushnell scope on my Optima featuring 1.5 - 4.5X settings. Bright and clear optics for an affordable price! - Sherwood

On my V2, I tried some waver style bases because I couldn’t find pic bases. My weaver had a peep back up that made the scope sit to far forward for me. I used DNZ one piece and they work great with a SS3-9 this year.

I know a couple people that use the Leupold Freedom 3x9 .450 Bushmaster scope to good effect on muzzleloaders. It's comes with a turret set for a 250 grain .45" bullet at 2200 fps which is close to what you can get with a heavy BH209 load.

I have had a Sightron 1.5-6 on my Omega for years. It had been a rock solid scope

My Optima has a Burris Droptine 3-9 and that has been a good scope also.

2x7 Leupold on mine. I used many cheap scopes for years before it and they all worked.

For a better scope base take a look at Evolution Gun Works bases. It is a picatinny style with way more options on ring placement than the one they come with.
I have two CVA handguns with this base. One is a Muzzle Loader, and the other a 357 Mag rechambered by White to 357 Maximum.

For a scope I would pick a variable that will dial down to around 2.5X-4X on the low end. I like a variable so that I can zero on the higher power setting, and then hunt with it turned down.
Next you will need to decide between a full size scope and a compact.
The last ones I have bought have all been 30mm tube.
The last Five I have bought were Weaver Classic Extreme scopes sold through Natchez. The Classic Extreme scopes are all gone, however they now have the Classic Series back for sale at Natchez.
Do not get a cheap made scope! Your CVA should drive tacks. It will work much better with a quality scope. The Weavers are made in the Philippians and the reviews were very good. This is about as cheap as I would go.
One of my later scope purchases was a 2.5 Power Leupold Compact for a Ruger Ranch Rifle. I am not all that impressed with it. It will probably end up being replaced by a something like a 2-7 Burris.

I picked up the Blackhorn Breach Plug for mine for loose powder. Blackhorn 209 is the cleanest powder I have tried to date. It was still extremely expensive last time I checked the price.

I hope your build turns out great.

Bob R