Scopes for muzzleloaders?

brewer12345 · Jul 2, 2022

I am sure a bunch of you won't like this question much, but here goes:

I was shooting an inline with a scope today. The store bought bullets barely stayed on paper at 50 yards, but my home cast maxi balls grouped within about an inch. Considering they cost me a nickel to cast, yay. The problem is that the scope that came mounted on the rifle is trash. Can I just buy any center-fire rifle scope as an upgrade, or is there something special that makes it a muzzleloader scope?

Damn glad I brought the slip on recoil pad. A 370 grain conical over 80 grains of powder in a light rifle is pretty hefty recoil.

nettlle · Jul 2, 2022

I have a 3x9 Leuplod Compact mounted on my inline. I have shot it enough the the finish is burned off the bottom of the scope just above the percussion cap. The scope is on Warne QD mounts which makes cleaning a whole lot easier.

Starter52 · Jul 2, 2022

You are correct. I'm sure a bunch of us don't like this.

But, on an inline, I can tolerate a scope. I've seen enough of them over the years.

Get a new one if you want. I expect any scope would work.

brewer12345 · Jul 2, 2022

Starter52 said:
You are correct. I'm sure a bunch of us don't like this.

But, on an inline, I can tolerate a scope. I've seen enough of them over the years.

Get a new one if you want. I expect any scope would work.

Inlines aren't really my thing, but I picked this one up cheaply and I thought it would be a hoot to use it for beaver hunting if I could get good enough groups. We generally use 3X or 4X scoped centerfire rifles with a light clamped onto the top of the scope. It was printing inchish groups with the load I was using which is fine, but the scope is junk. Would like to slap a fixed 4X bushnell or something similar on it.

nettlle · Jul 2, 2022

A good inline these days will outperform iron sights by a considerable margin.

Hugger-4641 · Jul 2, 2022

No just any scope will not work, or not for long. I've had a Tasco and a Simmons die from the recoil. Lost the windage adjustment on both. You need to get a scope rated for at least 30 cal rifle or for a shot gun. It doesn't have to be an expensive scope but it does need to be designed for deer hunting or other big game.
My CVA Wolf has a Sig Buckmaster. My Traditions in line .50 is the one that killed the other two scopes. It now has a Burris E1 that's been on it about four years.

nettlle · Jul 2, 2022

I would say that the Leupold 3x9 on my inline has 1K + through it. Still works great.

brewer12345 · Jul 2, 2022

I have been happy with a Bushnell Banner fixed 4X for short range, but they discontinued the scope. Ordered a similar scope, a Banner 1.5-4X and will see how it works. Read a bunch of reviews that spoke positively even mounted on slug guns, shotguns and 45/70s, so should be OK on a ML.

tws3b2 · Jul 3, 2022

Scope on a Muzzleloader??
Sacrilegious. Can't be done. Shouldn't be done.
Bad Boy.

brewer12345 · Jul 3, 2022

tws3b2 said:
Scope on a Muzzleloader??
Sacrilegious. Can't be done. Shouldn't be done.
Bad Boy.

For a sidelock hunting big game, I tend to agree. However, when we are beaver hunting I am trying to hit a moving dollar bill at up to 50 yards in the dark, and generally it is cold as b***s. I've tried this with open sights and peeps, and I simply don't have good enough eyesight to consistently make the shots, so scoped it is.

CoalCrackerAl · Jul 3, 2022

I have a centerpoint on my CVA wolf. I forget the model. But it's been fine. My neighbor used it to take a deer at 78 yards. He as a range finder.

I like star wars · Jul 5, 2022

I got my first inline muzzle loader back in 2001 its an CVA Stag Horn 209 Magnum after I got the open sights set I put an Tasco 2.5 x shotgun Blackpowder scope on it and its been perfect ever since. I like it

Armored farmer · Jul 5, 2022

A scope on an inline is completely acceptable, if not expected. However, a scope on a traditional sidelock is beyond unacceptable and crosses into sacrilege.
....of course I'm kidding!

(Not really)

Choctaw · Jul 6, 2022

When I knew everything there was to know (before I got married and was still young), I was always horrified by people who scoped levers and sidelocks. My gosh, how could they possibly do something like that? Now I'm 58 and totally understand that if we want to shoot some of us needs glass. But a recoil pad, never! Unless you have blown out your shoulders like I have.

Armored farmer · Jul 6, 2022

Choctaw said:
When I knew everything there was to know (before I got married and was still young), I was always horrified by people who scoped levers and sidelocks. My gosh, how could they possibly do something like that? Now I'm 58 and totally understand that if we want to shoot some of us needs glass. But a recoil pad, never! Unless you have blown out your shoulders like I have.

Ditto.
Same age too.
I even criticized someone on thr about putting glass on a lever action rifle.....(sorry :uhoh:

) duh

Paul R Zartman · Jul 6, 2022

So....just wondering....have I crossed any lines here?

brewer12345 · Jul 6, 2022

Choctaw said:
When I knew everything there was to know (before I got married and was still young), I was always horrified by people who scoped levers and sidelocks. My gosh, how could they possibly do something like that? Now I'm 58 and totally understand that if we want to shoot some of us needs glass. But a recoil pad, never! Unless you have blown out your shoulders like I have.

I am even worse. I added two modern cartridges to my retinue because they don't kick but will do short and longe range respectively.

J-Bar · Jul 7, 2022

Probably a stupid question:

Can a red dot/dot magnifier be mounted successfully on a sidelock rifle? If so, please share recommendations on brands, models, etc.

Thanks.

brewer12345 · Jul 7, 2022

J-Bar said:
Probably a stupid question:

Can a red dot/dot magnifier be mounted successfully on a sidelock rifle? If so, please share recommendations on brands, models, etc.

Thanks.

I think if you have a rifle drilled and tapped it is possible. Not my bag, so I have seen the results but never done it.

gila_dog1 · Jul 7, 2022

No recoil pad on a muzzle loader? Try shooting 150 gr of Pyrodex and 300 gr bullet (your basic elk load) without a recoil pad. Your shoulder could be damaged for life. Or at least really sore.

And only Superman could do it very much without developing a bad flinch.
I have a T/C Omega 50 cal inline and it has a fairly cheap Cabela's 4x rifle scope on it. It's probably been fired 100 times and it's still ok.

hawg · Jul 8, 2022

gila_dog1 said:
No recoil pad on a muzzle loader? Try shooting 150 gr of Pyrodex and 300 gr bullet (your basic elk load) without a recoil pad. Your shoulder could be damaged for life. Or at least really sore. And only Superman could do it very much without developing a bad flinch.
I have a T/C Omega 50 cal inline and it has a fairly cheap Cabela's 4x rifle scope on it. It's probably been fired 100 times and it's still ok.

I've shot a 490 grain ball with 100 grains of 2F Swiss out of a shotgun that weighs less than 6 pounds with no recoil pad. It is a thumper but it's not that bad.

Malachi Leviticus Blue · Jul 8, 2022

Don't try to be super man, or an oak tree and recoil is no where near as bad on your body.
You need to learn to roll with it, not 100% stop it in place.

hawg · Jul 8, 2022

Malachi Leviticus Blue said:
Don't try to be super man, or an oak tree and recoil is no where near as bad on your body.
You need to learn to roll with it, not 100% stop it in place.

What he said. Snug that butt into your shoulder tight and don't fight it. If you hold it all loosey goosey something as mild as a 30-06 is going to stomp a mudhole in your butt. If you have a crescent butt plate it goes against your upper arm not your shoulder. I'm 65 years old and I hate a recoil pad.

gila_dog1 · Jul 8, 2022

hawg said:
I've shot a 490 grain ball with 100 grains of 2F Swiss out of a shotgun that weighs less than 6 pounds with no recoil pad. It is a thumper but it's not that bad.

hawg said:
What he said. Snug that butt into your shoulder tight and don't fight it. If you hold it all loosey goosey something as mild as a 30-06 is going to stomp a mudhole in your butt. If you have a crescent butt plate it goes against your upper arm not your shoulder. I'm 65 years old and I hate a recoil pad.

There's a bunch of tough hombres here, for sure. But I agree that if you are flexible you don't feel recoil as much as if you are rigid. I had one friend who was skinny and could shoot anything with no pain, and another who was solid and rigid and got beat up bad. I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. For me a recoil pad helps me to shoot better. Less pain = less flinch.

CraigC · Jul 8, 2022

gila_dog1 said:
No recoil pad on a muzzle loader? Try shooting 150 gr of Pyrodex and 300 gr bullet (your basic elk load) without a recoil pad. Your shoulder could be damaged for life. Or at least really sore. And only Superman could do it very much without developing a bad flinch.
I have a T/C Omega 50 cal inline and it has a fairly cheap Cabela's 4x rifle scope on it. It's probably been fired 100 times and it's still ok.

Not a big deal. Stock fitment and technique have more to do with it than squishy materials. My 1895 .405 has a steel buttplate.

Scopes for muzzleloaders?

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