Are you searching for the best muzzleloader scope? Feeling a little confused and conflicted when you look at all the options that are out there? Or maybe just a little worried that the scope you choose won’t work out?
Buying a scope for a muzzleloader is a little different from buying a scope for a modern-style rifle, and that can make choosing the right one a challenge.
Don’t worry though. We’re here to help.
First, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about choosing the perfect muzzleloader scope. Then, we’re going to give you our picks for best scopes for muzzleloaders overall, so that you can then pick the perfect one for you. We’ll even show you where to get rock-solid mounting hardware for whichever one you pick.
Let’s get started.
If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time for the details, here are our best picks for muzzleloader scopes:
- Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40 Ultimate Slam
- Vortex Optics Copperhead 3-9×40 SFP
- Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 1-8×24
- Burris Fullfield II Ballistic Plex Scope
Table of Contents
How Are Scopes for Muzzleloaders Different?
You might be wondering how muzzleloader scopes differ from regular rifle scopes, and why you can’t just pull a hunting scope off a standard bolt-action and use that.
The short answer is; you can, but you probably shouldn’t.
Basically, the inherently shorter range on a muzzleloader, the fact that you only get one shot, and the intense recoil all combine to make many modern rifle scopes a bad option. What you need instead is something with lower magnification, and that’s a little more robust than normal.
If you’re hunting with your muzzleloader, you’re also going to want to make sure you have something that has good light transmission so that you can make the most of that meager pre-dawn and post-dusk light.
Lastly on the muzzleloader-specific side of things, we aren’t going to be sniping anything at 500 yards with our blackpowder smokepole, so we don’t need to pay extra for a lot of magnification like we might with a more modern rifle option like .30-06.
Beyond that, all the normal things you look for in a good rifle scope do still apply as well, so be sure to keep the basics in mind.
Things to Look For in a Muzzleloader Scope
Here are the things you need to keep in mind when choosing a muzzleloader, whether you’re choosing from our list below, or just evaluating one you found online or in a brick and mortar retailer.
Either way, follow these tips to get the best muzzleloader scope for the money.
Durability
First and foremost, most muzzleloaders are slinging large, .45 and .50 caliber projectiles that have a lot of mass, and a lot of powder behind them. This translates into a lot of recoil not just for you, but your shoulder.
In order to handle that recoil without losing your zero and sending your shot somewhere you don’t want it to go, you really need a durable set
In addition to that, the act of loading a muzzleloader, as well as the cleaning process, can easily lead to bumps that can ruin the zero of a low-quality scope as well (though this is less likely with an inline muzzleloader).
All in all, many options under $100 will simply not hold up, though you can find some good budget options, especially in the under $200 category.
You also have to consider things that can impact all types of optics, such as whether or not your scope is gas-purged to keep it fogproof. Argon or nitrogen purging will keep moisture from fogging the lenses of your scope, which is absolutely essential if you’re going to be in the field for a while, or if you’re doing serious hunting.
You also want something that’s very waterproof so don’t have issues with rain, or if you have an issue when cleaning your muzzleloader and you get some water where you don’t want it.
Low Magnification
Muzzleloaders aren’t long range weapons. You just don’t have the power to be accurate much past 150, maybe 200 yards. For that reason, you don’t need a lot of magnification, and 3-9x is more than sufficient here. You could even go with a low-powered variable optic like 1-8x, which may be an even better option.
Having that 1x on the low end is great if you’re going to be stalking through brush especially. This gives you something close to an illuminated red dot on the low end, which is phenomenal for those quick shots on a close-in target. We love having this for brush hunting wild hogs with a muzzleloader.
Beyond that, it’s very hard to make an ethical shot on an animal with a muzzleloader beyond 200 yards or so anyway, so you just don’t need these super high powered scopes with 12x or more magnification.
Effectiveness in Low Light
The vast majority of muzzleloaders are used for hunting, particularly deer hunting, and of course that means you’re going to be spending a lot of time scanning fields at dawn and dusk when you don’t have a lot of light.
For that reason, you want something that can gather as much light as possible, which means a large objective lens, and glass that has good light transmission. Always try to go for a hunting-specific scope, as these will often have light-boosting lens coatings and a larger objective lens.
You may also want to go with an illuminated reticle, which makes target acquisition in low light much easier. We’ll talk more about reticles in general in just a second, but an illuminated option is very effective at close ranges when the sun is rising or setting and you don’t have a lot of light available.
The Right Reticle
Sure, you can use pretty much any hunting or target reticle on a muzzleloader, but a muzzleloader-specific reticle is a great help when it comes to making those longer shots quickly.
This is especially important when you’re hunting and you have to pick your broadside shot very quickly in case you don’t get another one.
For that reason, we’re going to want to focus on scopes that have muzzleloader-specific bullet drop compensators built in that will allow us to quickly figure out how high we need to hold so that we can be sure to get the shot we need, even if we only have a small window to take it.
Best Muzzleloader Scope on the Market Review
Now we’re going to dive into our top recommendations for specific scopes. These are the scopes we’ve tested, reviewed, and abused, and we’d still use these on our own guns come hunting season.
1 Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40 Ultimate Slam
First up, we have the Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40 scope with the Ultimate Slam reticle. This is a muzzleloader-specific scope from one of the most well-respected names in the industry (maybe the most respected when it comes to hunting optics) so you can rest assured it’s a quality option.
In addition to being water and fogproof, the scope is made of a single piece of aircraft-grade T6 aluminum, which means it can stand up to whatever you throw at it.
Mounting Rings & Lens Covers
As far as rings go, we recommend the Leupold PRW Weaver-style rings, and maybe add on a Leupold scope cover to provide some extra protection for your scope.
Is It Worth It?
This scope is a great overall option, and the muzzleloader-specific reticle makes adjusting for distant shots a breeze.
- Extensively evaluated with Leupold’s Punisher test.
- Muzzleloader BDC Reticle
- Twilight light management system gives you more time in the stand and on the hunt
2 Vortex Optics Copperhead 3-9×40 SFP
Next up, we’re going with our favorite budget option, the Vortex Optics Copperhead 3-9×40. This second-focal plane scope is extremely affordable at just under $130, but don’t confuse “affordable” with “cheap”.
Like all things Vortex, this is a well-made scope, and it carries Vortex’s transferable, no-questions-asked lifetime warranty, so you don’t have to worry about it breaking. It’s also the cheapest scope that reliably held a zero during our testing, so no worries on that score either.
It has fully multi-coated lenses that boost light transmission and eliminate glare, so you get more safe and effective shooting hours as well.
Mounting Rings & Lens Covers
For rings on this one, we’re going to keep it budget-friendly with Vortex’s Hunter Riflescope rings. This may be one worth upgrading, if you find yourself losing zero, though we didn’t have any problems on our budget-minded build.
Is It Worth It?
This is by far the best option on the list if you’re looking to do some hunting on a budget with a muzzleloader.
- Very affordable
- Excellent warranty
- Very high quality glass and coatings for the price
3 Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 1-8×24
Now, what if you want to do some hunting in thick cover? Well, we’ve got a great option here in the Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 1-8×24.
This is a low-powered variable optic (LPVO) that has an illuminated center dot and standard mil-dot reticle that makes it great at those close-in shots, as well as for reaching out to the absolute limits of what your muzzleloader can do.
We find 8x magnification to be a great level of zoom for those 150+ yard shots, and nothing beats a 1x with an illuminated center dot for those sub-25 yard shots.
Mounting Rings & Lens Covers
When it comes to mounting, you can go with standard rings, or if you want to keep with the Vortex theme you can get their awesome Sport Cantilever Mount. And to keep your lenses safe when you’re trekking through that thick brush, some Vortex Defender Flip Caps are basically necessary.
Is It Worth It?
This is an absolutely great option for hunting in close quarters, as well as for hunting from a stand or blind. Basically anything you can hunt with a muzzleloader, this will be a good option for.
- Excellent warranty
- Best option for hunting in close quarters/stalking game
- Reticle is illuminated
4 Burris Fullfield II Ballistic Plex Scope
For our next scope, we’re going back to the world of muzzleloader-specific scopes with the Burris Fullfield II Ballistic Plex Scope. This is a great option that includes a BDC that’s tuned for muzzleloaders, and is absolutely great for hunting.
The Ballistic Plex reticle gives you a minimalist BDC coupled with a Duplex style crosshair, which keeps the reticle from looking too cluttered, while still giving you the info you need to make those longer shots.
Burris also has some great glass and some of the best lens coatings in the business, making this one of the better hunting scopes around. The fact that it comes with the muzzleloader-specific reticle is just the icing on the cake.
It’s also plenty durable, even though it comes in at a very affordable price point.
Mounting Rings & Lens Covers
If you go with this option, Burris has you covered when it comes to mounting. Just pick up a set of their signature Zee rings or your preferred 1” rings.
Is It Worth It?
This is a great muzzleloader specific option that gives you lots of flexibility and features at a very attractive price.
- Excellent muzzleloader specific Ballistic Plex Reticle
- Great light gathering for low-light shots
- Awesome value for the price.
Final Thoughts
Hunting with a muzzleloader, or even just practicing with one, can be extremely rewarding. To be really successful though, you probably need a quality scope, unless you’re really committed to living life like our ancestors in the 1800’s.
Thankfully, there’s plenty of great scopes out there.
Buying the perfect scope for your muzzleloader might have seemed difficult before, but you should now know everything you need to choose the absolute best one to meet your specific needs. As long as you go with something durable that’s suited for hunting at close ranges, you should be just fine.
And if you need a little help, you can always refer back to our top picks for the best muzzleloader scopes around.
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