What is the difference between a muzzleloader scope and a scope for a centerfire rifle? I have a TC contender w/ a Gonic 45 muzzleloading barrel and 1 inch rings. I need a scope and was thinking I could use cheap centerfire scope will that work ??????? I will be target shooting with it ... Thanks,Randy
muzzleloader scope ???????????
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scrat
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i have too asked my self the same question. i gather there isnt much a difference but lets see what others say.
DavidVanVorous
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No difference
Zip, zero, none-no difference except iffen yer trying to be historically correct on a later ML, then the Malcom style shows up that may or may not have optics inside and can be up to 24x.
Just keep an eye on the front lens as it can get fuzzy from the smoke now and again and get one thats designed for a more heavy recoil (maybe).
D.
Zip, zero, none-no difference except iffen yer trying to be historically correct on a later ML, then the Malcom style shows up that may or may not have optics inside and can be up to 24x.
Just keep an eye on the front lens as it can get fuzzy from the smoke now and again and get one thats designed for a more heavy recoil (maybe).
D.
Chawbaccer
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It is optimized for shorter ranges, such as the patalax and reticle range finder. Go ahead and use the cheap rifle scope, that is what I did with my 22's
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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It should work fine. Typically the only real difference is that the parallax-free setting is set to a distance of either 50 or 75 yards; whereas centerfire scopes are set to be parallax-free at either 100 or 150 yards.
arcticap
Member
Shotgun/muzzle loader scopes usually have longer eye relief so one doesn't get scope eye'd. 
The eye relief is usually about 4-5 inches instead of about 3-3.5.
Some scopes work well for both, but it needs to be adjusted right. If the eye relief/scope positioning is adjusted for having winter clothing on, then in the summer the scope may be situated too close.
Adjust it during summer shooting and then when heavy clothing is put on, the scope may not offer enough eye relief.
So that's partly why some shotgun/ML scopes have that extra eye relief. They afford a larger margin of eye relief for shouldering the gun and placing the head on the stock to help avoid the dreaded
!
The eye relief is usually about 4-5 inches instead of about 3-3.5.
Some scopes work well for both, but it needs to be adjusted right. If the eye relief/scope positioning is adjusted for having winter clothing on, then in the summer the scope may be situated too close.
Adjust it during summer shooting and then when heavy clothing is put on, the scope may not offer enough eye relief.
So that's partly why some shotgun/ML scopes have that extra eye relief. They afford a larger margin of eye relief for shouldering the gun and placing the head on the stock to help avoid the dreaded
!
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DavidVanVorous
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Eye relief depends on the scope optics design. I say this because the MVA scope on my Sharps .45-70 is set up roughly around 2-3" per their idiot book and havent been dinged yet. Might add that a typical pistol scope has the 6" or longer relief because of how one holds at arms reach (as it were)
http://www.montanavintagearms.com/scope_instructions.html
If your barrel is not already drilled for scope mounts, there are some things you need to consider before doing so. The first consideration is your eye relief (distance between the eyepiece lens and your eye). The scope has close to two inches of eye relief, which is sufficient for eyeglasses to be worn while shooting. The main factor in deciding where on the rifle to position the scope is where the front mount must be in order to place the scope close to your eye wile in the shooting position.
I highlighted a particular passage from the MVA instructions off their web site.
D.
alemonkey
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Scope? On a muzzleloader? For Shame!
DavidVanVorous
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Fer some of us with old wore out eye balls its either that or move the rear sight forward about a foot or 2...
D.
alemonkey
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I hear ya, just kidding.....I'm only 32 and I already have trouble reading the markings on a vernier sight unless I hold it out at arms length.
Loyalist Dave
Member
Sounds like a great excuse to get a longrifle! OR to get a fowler! OR BOTH!
Seriously, while they prohibited muzzleloaders with scopes in my state, I allowed two old-salts to try my longrifle. They were having problems with using their Winchester '94's, due to vision problems, bifocals not working well with the iron sights; both didn't like scopes for various reasons. (Well their reasons were problems they had encountered decades before with scopes, generally corrected with modern scopes, but they were still dead against them on their lever-action rifles.) Anyway, they tried my longrifle with the sights a bit farther forward than on a 16" barrel .30-30, and found they could still see my sights, and they could hit the target downrage quite well. They both switched to longer barreled muzzleloaders and started hunting closer to home ("high powered" rifles are prohibited in most of the counties in the PRoM) as they didn't have to travel to the MD pan-handle to hunt anymore.
LD
DavidVanVorous
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My shortest ML is my '76 vintage T/C Hawken. Both home builts are 32 and 36" barreled. I have a LONG way to go before I run out of barrel length to relocate the rear sight...
Off the cuff I dont own any rifle with a barrel shorter than 26" and the 12 ga is a M97 with the full choke 32"
D.
I use a Tasco or Barska Varmint scope on my Armisport P-53, to "tacticalize" it for long range plinking.
And after the scope is mounted and strapped to the gun, the P-53 looked exactly like a World War II rifle used by Chinese partisans against the Japanese. Especially since I wrapped hospital-green rubberized cloth around the area of the stock and barrel where my support hand holds the rifle. That way, no sweat can get onto the barrel.
And after the scope is mounted and strapped to the gun, the P-53 looked exactly like a World War II rifle used by Chinese partisans against the Japanese. Especially since I wrapped hospital-green rubberized cloth around the area of the stock and barrel where my support hand holds the rifle. That way, no sweat can get onto the barrel.
Omnivore
Member
There is also the issue of the scope's recoil tolerance. If it's a decent scope it may be fine. Then again, it may start to fall apart from the G loads if you shoot very much, especially if you're using hot hunting loads in your 45.
kBob
Member
Um if recoil and paralax setting are concerns how about trying an air rifle scope?
I beleive there are a couple of adjustable parralax scopes in the round about $100 range these days if looked for.
It's getting so you almost never see a cheater (Stainless in-line in a camoed plastic stock) in muzzle loading season that does not have a scope.
-Bob Hollingsworth
I beleive there are a couple of adjustable parralax scopes in the round about $100 range these days if looked for.
It's getting so you almost never see a cheater (Stainless in-line in a camoed plastic stock) in muzzle loading season that does not have a scope.
-Bob Hollingsworth
I found a Simmons 4 x 32 mm prodiamond shotgun scope on closeout at wall mart for 40 bucks I'll start with that ....Thanks for all the great advice, Randy
I agree a scope on a traditional muzzleloader seems wrong, but this is for an inline Contender barrel that came with a Lupold base and rings already mounted on it ......So to get it out to the range this year a cheap scope is the quickest way .....
I agree a scope on a traditional muzzleloader seems wrong, but this is for an inline Contender barrel that came with a Lupold base and rings already mounted on it ......So to get it out to the range this year a cheap scope is the quickest way .....
MISSEDSHOT
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comedy
A muzzleloader scope must use a ram-rod to install the lense covers....They have patch boxes....They must be washed in warm,soapy water after looking through them....You don't have to have a background check to purchase muzzleloader scopes in most states.....
A muzzleloader scope must use a ram-rod to install the lense covers....They have patch boxes....They must be washed in warm,soapy water after looking through them....You don't have to have a background check to purchase muzzleloader scopes in most states.....
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