I have good shot placement out to 60yds with my barrel sights (Optima Pro). I will be hunting public land again this year. I can use my climbing tree stand or my newly purchased pop-up ground blind. My hunting spots will offer up to 150 yard shots. Should I buy a scope or be content with my 60 yard limit???

That really depends on you. If scopes are legal for black powder season (which they are not here) you can bet everyone else will have one. If you had a chance at a nice deer and could not take it because you were limited to your range due to lack of a scope, I am sure you would have given your eye teeth to have had one.

Myself, I started black powder hunting because I enjoyed the challenge of the weapon and its limitations to some extent. I have never shot at an animal over 80 years away with a muzzleloader, and still use a side lock with open sights. And I will go on record that I have missed two oppertunities at tremendous bucks because of the open sights and the limited range. If I had been holding my Ruger M77 in 7 mag at the time, those two would have been hanging on my walls, but thats all right too. At least I was out in the woods.

Being that you are on public land, and if it is anything like hunting public land here, put the scope on. You will increase your chances at harvesting a nice deer, and it gives you an oppertunity to go and shoot some more and really see what your rifle can do. Good luck.

A scope allows you to take shots you might not get with iron sights regardless of range. It allows you to see thru holes in brush, etc., and see the target at dawn and dusk when it is too dark to see your irons! I always use a scope, wherever legal!

Ultimately - it' s whatever you are comfortable with and what you want.

I' d have to say a scope is the way to go w/ the inlines. Much more accurate and you range will expand beyond the 60 yards (whether you need it or not)

I would put a scope on it. Good luck.

Scope....as long as it is a decent one. Don' t waste your money on junk just to have a scope on it

i faced the same question myself but decided to would put more time into shooting at 75 or 100 yards . if your on at those ranges i wouldnt worry about the scope as much. i think traditional muzzleloaders look ugly with scopes but bottom line is if your gonna kill and not wound and be able to see better with a scope as far as shot placement go with it. i myself will stick with the iron sites and keep a little more of the challenge in it at the shorter ranges.

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