Scopes?
 

Here is a questions for everyone that has a scoped muzzleloader. What type of scope do you have on your muzzleloader? Brand, Model, power, etc...

RE: Scopes?
 

ruben:i have a 3x9x32 bushnell sportman on my 50 cal @ a 3x9x40 millet buck silver on my t/c thunderhawk 54 cal.I think for the best value the millet scope is the way to go.

RE: Scopes?
 

I have a 2.5x10x50 Bushnell elite 4200 on my 50 cal. I have also used a fixed 4 power Leupold and 3x9x40 bushnell elite 3200 on previuos MLs. I sold a CF' s and swapped the 4200 and 3000 around, since I wasn' t going to get my moneys worth out of the 4200. All three worked very well. I like variable power and all my CF' s have 50MM objectives. Didn' t want the smokepole to feel left out;).

RE: Scopes?
 

I had a Luepold 2-7x33 Shotgun / Muzzeloader scope on my Rem 700ML. Love that scope, but it will probably go back on my 11-87 slug gun. Looking at either a Luepold 3x9 or standard Luepold 2x7 for the new Encore .50. Ive had 5 Luepolds, all have performed flawlessly and have been the only scopes I have ever owned which kept a zero from year to year. Ive got a luepold 3.5x10 on a .308 that has bounced around in my trunk 5 days a week for three years. I have to shoot that rifle monthly and have never had to re-zero it. The other nice thing is they hold their value, only ever sold one and actually made money on that one after 9 years of service. Now thats value! (Can ya tell I' m partial to Luepold :D?) In all fairness to other brands, the Luepolds are the only scopes Ive spent much over $100 on, I would imagine the upper end scopes of other makes are of equal quality.

RE: Scopes?
 

I put the Simmons 1.5-5 X 32 pro-diamond on one and thought I would try the Cabela' s 2-7 X 32 Pine Ridge on the other. That was before I read all the negative post here on the board regarding the quality of the Pine Ridge. I recently got a great e-bay deal on a scope. There were 3 scopes in 1 auction, 3-9 X 50 Tasco Pro50, a 3-9 X 32 Hamlet? and a 2.8-10 X 44 Simmons Aetec. Got all 3 for $108, turned the tasco and the Hamlet back on to ebay and recooped $75 so the Aetec only cost me roughly $40.00! Its going on the new Whelen as soon as she is finished.

RE: Scopes?
 

I have Swarovski PH4-16x50 scopes on all my inlines. ;)



Okay, outside of the BS, I have a 3x9 Leupold on one, a Bushnell Banner 1.5x4.5 on another, and a Millett Buck Silver 3x9 on yet another. One currently without a scope but have a 1.75x4 Bushnell Trophy I could put on it.

Agree with Lonewolf on the value of the Millett scope. Very solid and seems to perform exceptionally well. Check ' em out at Graf' s.

RE: Scopes?
 

I too am partial to Leupold! No scoped gun of mine will ever where anything different. I asked the question because I am trying to decide between the Leupold VX-II 3-9X40 or the Leupold 2-7X33 Shotgun/Muzzleloader. I have the 2-7X33 on my old ML and slug gun, but was thinking about trying something different. Mainly because of the 40 mm objective lense. It seems like my ML shot are usually and very last light or first thing in the morning and I think that would gather more light. I am hesitant about the 3-9X40 due to parallax setting of 150 yds. Yeah, my gun will shoot 150yds. There are also times (when in a treestand) when I have had 10 yd shots. The 2-7X33 Shotgun/Muzzleloader scope is parallax free at 75 yds.

RE: Scopes?
 

I have a p.o.s. trashco on my Knight right now. [:' (][:' (][:' (]
It' s coming off....and I' m trying to decide what to put on it. I' m a Leupold man all the way, but I' m not sure I' ll be able to afford one for this (part of the reason I have the trashco on it now). I' m actually looking at Sightron as one that I may get. I just can' t seem to find anywhere that sells them, so I could actually look at one in person. I' ve heard alot of good things about them, and not much negative. If all else fails, Loopy it will be. Does any of you have experience with Sightron' s?

RE: Scopes?
 

I have a Leupold 4X on mine.

RE: Scopes?
 

Ruben- I was also thinking of going to a 3-9x40 for the possibe increased brightness as well as more precise aiming at long range targets when sighting in. Tell you what, since I have both the Leupold 2-7 and 3-9 right now I will try to remember to test them both near dark to see which one is brighter and let you know what I think if you would like.

RE: Scopes?
 

TimberPig, if you have a digital camera you could shoot a pic through each scope with both pointed to the same object. Probably wouldn' t be able to get full view but enough for a comparison. I don' t think there will be any dramatic difference though. :)

RE: Scopes?
 

Ruben, assuming the scopes are the same quality(model, coatings, etc) the difference will be about 2% more light gathering on the 40mm objective. Much the same with a 40-50mm objective in comparison. It will make a difference, but many will really not notice this difference either. Boils down to preference and what your use is. For me I prefer a 50 bell, a good # of my shots are in low or poor light...I don' t need the 50mm, I just prefer it!!

As far as power, you should assess what your normal shot range would be, not the chance shots. I personally have no problem with my rifle scopes on a ML. I have taken game at 25yards to 147yards. If I am hunting in tight I just leave it down at 2.5-4 power, if some room I may go to 6 or 7. The nice thing with variable, if you need it you got it. If you' ll never need it, don' t buy it - get the Loopy M8 fixed 4 power.

Good Luck...:)

RE: Scopes?
 

Well tonight would have been the perfect night to take them out and test them, but I forgot. Went out to waste gas and look at deer instead (all skinheads BTW). I do have a digital camera but I have taken pics through a spotting scope before and it came out so poorly that it would never make for a good comparison. That and I am entirely to PC illiterate to ever post such a photo anyway! I really think Skeeter is right though, I doubt there will be much noticable difference. I have yet to ever run out of usable shooting light during legal hours anyway. Gotta work tomorrow night, might try it this weekend.

RE: Scopes?
 

Well, I have a Lyman All-American on one, and a Redfield 2-3/4X (round field) on the other scoped one.

RE: Scopes?
 

TimberPig,

Did you ever mount the 3-9 on the ML? I am still going back and forth on this!

RE: Scopes?
 

Ruben, no, I havent done anything with it yet. Been busy as heck trying to build a new house. I am also undecided. I have a 2x7 Leupold Shotgun that will go back on the 11-87. I wouldnt go the Shotgun scope route only because the heavy duplex reticle tends to obscure your aiming point in long range practice. Still waffeling back and forth between the VX-2 2x7 and VX2 3-9.

I honestly cant see the need for 9 power on a ML, except for practicing, and the 33mm objective will let me mount the scope as low as I want. I must have a goofy face because most scopes seem to high. So I guess I' m leaning towards the 2x7. Maybe.

RE: Scopes?
 

Still trying to decide on between a 2-7 X 33 and a 3-9 X 40 for my ML. Timberpig, I was looking at mounts and the Leupold Site says that the mounts are the same for both of these scopes. Anyone else have any other thoughts?

RE: Scopes?
 

I have decided to go with a Conquest 3-9x40 on my muzzleloader. Good luck.

RE: Scopes?
 

Burris signature 3-9x40 electro-dot on my Knight Master Hunter, burris mount and rings

RE: Scopes?
 

Rueben- The mounts for these scopes would be the same, but the smaller objective would allow for the use of lower rings and still let the scope clear the barrel or rear sight.
I havent decided either because Ive been too busy trying to build a new house. However, the 2x7 is lighter, shorter, has a wider field of view, should be plenty of power for all hunting situations and is even $10 cheaper. Pretty sure thats what I' m getting. The only advantages I can see to the 3x9 is for target practice or if you happened to want to use that scope later on a centerfire.
I' ve never been dissatisfied with any of my Leupolds and I dont think you can go wrong either way.
Good luck...Timber

Oh yeah, I just picked up a TC weaver style mount for mine, now I' m curious what the Leupold mounts look like. Thinking of going with Warne quick release rings, the L' s are mighty pricey!

RE: Scopes?
 

Leupold, Lyman, and Redfield, 2.5X, 4X, 2.75X, both post/crossshair and regular crosshair reticles.

RE: Scopes?
 

I bought the Simmons Aetec 2.8-10 X 44 in silver matte finish for my T/C Encore. I' ve only shot it on one occasion though, so I haven' t determined how I like it. I will say that the scope is much clearer and brighter than any I' ve used so far, however.

RE: Scopes?
 

nikon monarch 3.3-10x44AO on my model 93 gonic and the same thing on white odysey. U can' t get no clearer than nikon.