i have a little of each....my muzzleloader is a flintlock so theres not much hope for a scope....and their illegal here in flintlock season...and i dont want one...my shots are almost always within 30yds...i dont need a scope...i dont need sights at all for that shot...i can probally do it from the hip! lol...though my mauser does have a leupold 3x9x40 on it...i was in a pinch and the season was close and i found it cheap.....it never leaves 3x except when im at the range...its almost like having a reticle in your eye when your using that thing that low....i was able to shoot a running deeer in a thicket like i was swinging a shotgun....i kinda like it but kinda dislike it...its alot of bulk and weight...but being in a pinch i didnt have time to goto a smith to fix my sights....they are set for 100 or 200m...at 50 yds it hits about 6 inches high and at the time i was to young to learn to shoot them like that so i put the scope on it and it hasnt left yet.....but i can see 2-300 yds down the trails sometimes on my walk in and out....so i just might need that 9x one day.....so each has its advantages.....