Today I was going to see how well the Knight .50 caliber Wolverine with the 3-9x40 Sightron S1 scope would shoot 300 grain Sabertooth Conicals at 100 yards. I also took along some of the rifle's favorite loads, that being a 300 grain Hornady .44 caliber .430 dia XTP and some green Harvester crushed rib sabots. I decided to shoot Graf's & Sons 2f black powder and use RWS 1075 caps.

When I was all set up to shoot, and even loaded mind you I took the lens caps off the scope, settled in behind the Sightron S1 and all I could see was a fog bank. The entire scope was fogged over. Needless to say I was not happy.

So I looked and could pick out the steel bullet traps and emptied the rifle. Then got some tools and took the Sightron S1 off. Then I remembered I had bought a new Simmons 2.5x20mm fixed power scope for my black powder shotgun. So I went and got that. Since the scope has 5.5 inches of eye relief, I figured it would work just fine.



In no time I had the new Simmons scope on and bore sighted range style. So I moved the bench all the way up to 25 yards and shot two shots. I was shooting the XTP's. They were low without a doubt. Shots 1 & 2 and a little to the left.




Made my first adjustments and shot #3. I then noticed that this scope only did 1/2 movements at 100 yards, so I gave the scope a lot of adjustment for the next shot. I then shot #4 and was surprised it had moved the POI that much, so I shot again just to be sure. #5 kind of proved it had moved that much. And I was kind of pleased with the group at this point.

I cranked it back down for #6, then a little too much again for #7. Next adjustment of #8 & 9 had me happy. So I adjusted for the wind and shot #10. That looked just about right.

Then I moved the target back to 50 yards. Believe me, when you're used to shooting 2-7 and 3-9 power, a simple 2.5 is kind of a culture shock to your eyes.

At 50 yards I shot three shots, still with the 300 grain XTP's and I was swabbing between shots. I found two of the hits, #11 & 12 but could not swear that #13 shared #12's hole. So I might have lost one there.

The without swabbing I loaded 80 grains of the same powder and a 300 grain Saber tooth conical. I shot #13and no swab, #14. They did pretty good actually for not being swabbed.

This scope is just what I suspected it would be. First off I paid $18.99 for it. Not big money. Since it was for a shotgun I knew it would have eye relief and should be able to stand some recoil. So far, it does. This is not the clearest scope in the world, but for the money, what do you expect. Its a lot more clear then trying to look through the fog bank on the Sightron S1.

So I have a new scope. Its fun to shoot, and for a short range weapon should do real well. And I will get to see how well Sightron's customer service is soon...

The moon must be wrong for scopes this week end, I when out to shoot and the first 5 shot group was a 3 in one hole two in the other all in an inch at a 100yd, the second group was all over the target the last one was actually half off the paper. Looking for what was wrong checking scerws to see if the mounting screws had backed out and I brushed the scope ring, it floped around, now its wearing a new set of steel Millet rings and expectto sight it inMonday. Lee

I have a Simmons ProDiamond 4X "factory reconditioned" scope on one of my cartridge rifles. I bought it for about $20 a couple of years ago, from either Midway or Midsouth - can't remember which. Regular price is somewhere around $80. I really like it and it has held up well. Crisp and clear imagewith about 5" eye relief. For all practical purposes, 4X is just about right for deer out to 175 yards. I wish I had bought three or four when they were available.

I have a Simmons 4X ProDiamond too - paid $40 for it new. It seems to be a pretty decent scope for the price - like Semisane said - good enough for deer out to 175 yards or so. I like the 4" of eye relief.

I bought this scope to throw on my Knight TK2000 and see if I could extend the range of that bad boy even more. In fact it came friday in the mail. When that Sightron S1 went out, I was kind of mad. I am so careful with my scopes and stuff, and expect them take moderate abuse. Well this scope never took any abuse. And it was fogged full. So I took it off and sat there thinking, now I have to clean this rifle and I only fired one shot out of it... Then I remembered the Simmons 2.5 so I went and got the scope and tools and in five minutes was shooting again...

Somewhere on one of these forumsI read that Simmons was bought up by Bushnell. Bushnell also made all the scopes for Browning... So it should be interesting to see what they do with the name and the line.

I went out today with a bunch of different projectiles and some Graf's & Sons 2f black powder to see if I could shake that cheap scope apart. I was only shooting 85 grains of powder today.

I started with the (green) Saber Tooth Conicals in 300 grain. I fowled the rifle first, then swabbed. I then loaded the Saber Tooth conicals that loads very nice and does not shake off the load. My first shot hit right above the center of the X and I was pleased. So without swabbing I loaded the next. I noticed this one did not load as nice. Also it was my last one in the pack. Well it still hit higher in the general area, but it was alright.

I then swabbed the barrel clean and loaded the .44 caliber .430 diameter 300 grain Hornady XTP in a green crushed rib sabot (blue). I was swabbing between shots. And like yesterday, they were hitting a little high and to the right.

So I then adjusted the scope down (but not to the left yet) and swabbed the barrel clean. I then loaded some 375 grain Spitzer tip Buffalo Bullet SSB's (yellow). With that 85 grains of powder they had some definite power and they shot really well. I was surprised.

So I then adjusted for the wind and moved the POA over to the left a little too much maybe. I loaded the 200 grain Hornady 10mm XTP's in blue MMP sabots (red). These things shot much better then in my Disc rifle. Maybe the trick to them is not to push them too fast.

To end the day, and since the rifle was really filthy from all the black powder.. I loaded some .44 caliber 240 grain Hornady XTP in the green crushed rib sabots. I then shot them and swabbed every other shot.

Its is amazing what swabbing does for accuracy, but to be honest, I would be willing to hunt with this rifle tomorrow. It is a very easy to shoot and handle little rifle...

Those 375gr Buffalo Bullets get a big WOW from me. Yeah, I'd be willing to hunt with it too.

It's nice when you don't have to settle for just one load for a gun. Then again, now you have to choose which one to use. Life is tough.