Muzzleloader scope

[HoosierHunter128]

Just bought a new muzzleloader. Ended up with a CVA Optima LR. Same Bergara barrel as the Accura according to CVA... I called. Most of my shots will be within 100 yards. I've come to like illuminated reticles. What scope would you suggest? Is there a dedicated muzzleloader scope that has an illuminated reticle? Not looking to break the bank on a scope I'll only use a couple hunts a year, if at all. Best case scenario would be illuminated, and a muzzleloader reticle with drop out to 200 or so. I've looked around and haven't found exactly what I'm looking for. Maybe its out there and I've missed it.

 

[Skylerbone]

If such an animal exists, I have yet to see it. I switched last season to a Bushnell Prime 3-12 x 40mm Multi-Turret for my T/C Pro Hunter with satisfactory results. It’s a solid performer for an inexpensive option and allowed me to swap the standard elevation turret for for a calibrated version shooting 3 pellets. Result was a dead deer hit precisely where I aimed. I had previously ranged my field and set ribbons out so a simple twist was all that was needed. The scoped combo was range tested the prior month and spot on to 200 yards.

North of that on the $ scale would be a good scope with illumination that includes a custom dial, which, same as mine, will be an approximation, though muzzleloading for me has always been inside 175 yards.

I did once hunt a season with an illuminated reticle, using the lowest setting to take a buck at last light.

 

[LoonWulf]

Im probably going to put my 2.5-15x50 midas btr on the savage ml2 i just picked up. That will give me decent turrets and an illuminated reticle if I ever use it in the two places it gets dark enough to need them during shooting hours.
Things gonna weigh a ton, but ill tote the weight to get the versatility.

There are some illuminated Athlons in the 150-200 dollar range i can recommend, tho none are MZ specific. Ill have to look again but I'm pretty sure there are some others im forgetting.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I think if you can find and older Nikon shotgun scope with a BDC reticle, you will nearly be where you want with your scope.

Unfortunately, Nikon is out of the riflescope game and they dropped their shotgun scope line several years before they called it quits.

I cannot recall but they may have made one for MLs too.

 

[BigBL87]

Burris has/had a muzzleloader specific reticle on one version of their Fullfield E1 3-9x, but it isn't illuminated.

Konus has this scope. They have a decent reputation and from what I've read make pretty good spotting scopes especially, haven't owned one myself though.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1009553960/

Hawke has this scope as well, they have a pretty good reputation for their price range.

https://us.hawkeoptics.com/vantage-ir-3-9x40-slug-gun-muzzleloader.html

 

[HoosierHunter128]

I think if you can find and older Nikon shotgun scope with a BDC reticle, you will nearly be where you want with your scope.

Unfortunately, Nikon is out of the riflescope game and they dropped their shotgun scope line several years before they called it quits.

I cannot recall but they may have made one for MLs too.

I have a Nikon Inline XR that they aren't making anymore on the TC rifle I'm replacing, but its not illuminated. I plan on moving it over if I can't find what I'm looking for.

 

[HoosierHunter128]

Burris has/had a muzzleloader specific reticle on one version of their Fullfield E1 3-9x, but it isn't illuminated.

Konus has this scope. They have a decent reputation and from what I've read make pretty good spotting scopes especially, haven't owned one myself though.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1009553960/

Hawke has this scope as well, they have a pretty good reputation for their price range.

https://us.hawkeoptics.com/vantage-ir-3-9x40-slug-gun-muzzleloader.html

I really like that Hawke. I wonder what the quality on that would be? I have no experience with Hawke. Has anyone used this scope, or had good or bad experiences with Hawke riflescopes? 50 cal muzzleloaders produce quite a bit of recoil. You have to have a pretty solid scope on them. I broke a cheap scope the first day I shot with it, before buying that Nikon.

 

[HoosierHunter128]

https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/fullfield-e1-riflescopes-series/fullfield-e1-riflescope-3-9x40mm

They do make this in an illuminated reticle, but not specifically muzzleloader also. My fear is that a scope that's not a muzzleloader specific scope will not have enough eye relief, and not robust enough. I wish that Leupold super slam muzzleloader scope had an illuminated option...

 

[BigBL87]

Found this review over at ChuckHawks, seemed pretty happy with it. His addendum at the end talks specifically about the slug/muzzleloader version which he wasn't personally a fan of but only because he didn't like the reticle.

https://www.chuckhawks.com/hawke_endurance_3-9x40.html

I wouldn't be too worried as far as durability, Hawke makes scopes for springer air rifles and they are well liked in that community so they definitely have experience making durable scopes. Spring air rifles are hell on scopes.

 

[LoonWulf]

Ive had a couple Hawks but none of the nicer ones, same with the Konus. I doubt there would be any issues with the higher end versions of either.

 

[Skylerbone]

The Bushnell Prime I mentioned earlier, showing the various turrets included. I considered the Leupold but I’m just not over sold on them these days.

Muzzleloader-wise I’ve hunted with a Williams peep, Tasco World Class, Nikon, Sightron IR, Leupold Rifleman, and now the Bushnell which is my favorite for the application. Despite the disparity between nearly $1,000 spent on rifle and an inexpensive scope, I don’t feel it’s mismatched.

 

[HoosierHunter128]

Ive had a couple Hawks but none of the nicer ones, same with the Konus. I doubt there would be any issues with the higher end versions of either.

The rifle I bought actually came with a boresighted Konus 275 muzzleloader scope. It feels very cheaply made. The manager I talked to at CVA strongly recommended I replace it… I feel like if CVA is saying that, I probably should

 

[LoonWulf]

Yeah probably lol. I didnt have any issues with the two konus pros i had, those arnt real highend optics and you could tell. They did what they were supposed to tho, still are as far as i know.

 

[BigBL87]

I swear I'm not a Chuckhawks homer, haha, but I've always liked this list as kind of a starting point on quality. There's obviously some subjective opinion to it and its getting dated with some of the product lines, but it was part of what pushed me to the Fullfield E1s I've come to love. As someone who has limited experience with most brands, it's a nice resource.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recommended_riflescopes.htm

 

[Elkins45]

I have an older Leupold 2-7 on my Savage smokeless ML and am well pleased with it.