Which muzzleloader scope?

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Axis II

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What do you guys have on your muzzleloaders? I picked up a cva optima V2 thumbhole with a Nikon Inline XR muzzleloader scope but after spending a few hours on the range with it and in the woods this last weekend I'm not really a fan. IMO its field of view is very small and the first BDC circle is very close to the crosshairs almost eliminating the crosshair. I was messing with it in the stand Saturday and FOV on 3x was very small. From all the research I've done this scope was paired with this gun because of the 5'' of eye relief due to the thumbhole stock.

Any suggestions are welcome.
 
My only scoped muzzle loader is a CVA Wolf. It inherited a 3-9x42 Sightron duplex reticle from another rifle and it works very well. I typically have it on a lower magnification and turn it to 9 if presented with a longer shot. I tape a trajectory chart to the stock.
Do you shoot with both eyes open when using a scope?
 
Fine Figure of a Man said:
My only scoped muzzle loader is a CVA Wolf. It inherited a 3-9x42 Sightron duplex reticle from another rifle and it works very well. I typically have it on a lower magnification and turn it to 9 if presented with a longer shot. I tape a trajectory chart to the stock.
Do you shoot with both eyes open when using a scope?
Click to expand...
Nope, I'm right eye dominant so i close the left eye. I noticed it when i was sighting in someone else's CVA optima with a TC scope that the field of view on mine was very tight. I picked something in the woods the other night and figured see how tight it got when i cranked it up or low and at 3x it was very tight. Id say maybe 15-20ft.
 
I have a Leupold 2x7 on mine. I had a cheapo in the past until it dawned on me that about 50% of the deer I have taken have been with a muzzleloader. That’s when I moved this scope from my centerfire rifle and put a new scope on it. This is the first good scope I ever bought and it’s still doing the job for me 32 years later.
 
I've got a cheap Korean Simmons on mine now. I was using a Bushnell legend UltraHD shotgun scope on it (the bdc lines matched up nicely). I liked that scope but honestly I prefer a standard duplex and only shoot in good light so I gave it to a buddy for his gun and went back to the cheap old Simmons.
 
I have 3 and presently only 1 with a scope, a Sightron 3-9x40 illuminated duplex. Been a favorite for a long time. The other two lost their glasses temporarily; one had a Nikon 2-7x32, the other a Leupold VX-1.

I ordered a VX-2 yesterday with more magnification than I need for either so the plan is to put a Zeiss Terra on the Encore, zero for 100 yards, then mark the turret for 225. My rangefinder does its homework ahead of time and I usually set orange tape out for distance/wind.

That system has worked well using a 3 pellet/250gr sabot in covering the field I hunt. Only failure was on a monster I somehow missed at close range this season. Easy 80yard shot that put him DRT on a well worn trail. I couldn’t believe I missed at that distance so I grabbed the rangefinder to recheck.

That’s when I spotted his lifeless antlers poking up above the weeds a few minutes later. As I gathered my pack to stow gear I put the scope on him again, noting all that bone gleaming in the sunlight. Then just as I took a knee to get up, he raised his head, shook it, stood up and looked around, then sauntered off casually as I frantically reloaded!

No idea how I put him down for a full 5 minutes plus but a buddy bagged that deer 3 days later with no trace of a previous hole in him. That’s what I get for not reloading as I should have. I can only reason I must have hit a stick somewhere and managed the perfect shot to bean him in the head because the rifle shoots flat enough to 175 that I don’t use holdover (these are 200-300 lb whitetail).

Stories aside, anything 9x or less, duplex to keep it simple. I’ve used Simmons, Tasco, Bushnell, and the above mentioned 3 and never failed to fill the freezer.
 
Leuipold VX-R 3-9 40mm Firedot 4 reticle on muzzleloader,slug gun and 7mm-08. All of which I hunt with so I standardized so every gun is the same in the field.:thumbup::thumbup:
 
2-7X would be my choice. 200 yards and in.
7X to make sure he's the one I want to shoot.
Drop it to 4X and pop him.
If he's moving through the woods, would prefer to have it at 2X.
 
Chucks, yotes, deer and squirrels.....Leupold boring old Duplex is fine by me.
Had an inline MZ years ago, ran reg 4X.
No issues.
 
Anyone see any difference between the new Leupold freedom and old vx2? Freedoms seem like lighter material.
 
I have one of these mounted on a 50 caliber White Super 91. The finish is cooked off of the bottom of it from repeated firings but still crystal clear and works like new. I have three more of these scopes. One mounted on a 12 Ga Mossberg 935 Ulti-Mag that I hunt with 3 1/2" magnums, one mounted on an 12 Ga Ithaca Model 37 Deerslayer II, and one mounted on a 12 Ga H&R Ultra Slug. These have been excellent hunting scopes for me over the years.

https://www.leupold.com/scopes/rimfire-scopes/vx-2-ultralight-3-9x33mm
 
ohihunter2014 said:
I picked up a cva optima V2 thumbhole with a Nikon Inline XR muzzleloader scope but after spending a few hours on the range with it and in the woods this last weekend I'm not really a fan.
Click to expand...

IMO: Those scopes are too much of a hassle.

Three of my inline muzzleloaders are scoped. One has the excellent Zeiss Conquest 4X. One wears an old Weaver Grand Slam variable. The last wears the Minox ZA-3 3x9x40 with BDC. Those muzzleloaders are zeroed one inch high at 125 yards. i don't use the BDC.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
Anyone see any difference between the new Leupold freedom and old vx2? Freedoms seem like lighter material.
Click to expand...
I think the lense coatings are different, updated maybe. I see better thru the vxf than I do vx2s.
I really like the 2-7x33 vxf I have on my sks.
 
I have a CVA Accura , it doesn't have the thumbhole stock . I put a Redfield Revolution 2-7x33 scope on it and I like it . It is pretty good in low light . Leupold was making them and they came with the Leupold warranty and great customer service . I think at the time they said it compared with the VI and made in the USA . I don't know if they are still making them though , Leupold has changed their scope models . Optics planet has them for around $168 dollars on sale . All scopes over $100 are 10% off now . It received 4.8 stars out of 195 reviews . Where I hunt I have never needed more than 4x . I am still good with 4x out to 100 yards with my eyes . I sometimes think of going with a peep on my muzzleloader or a 1-4x20 . I don't like big objectives on a muzzleloader , lever action or rimfire rifles , but if I needed it , I would get it .

I also like the Weaver Classic V 2-10x 38 if I thought I needed more power . It is around $195 dollars . I haven't looked through it , but I have another Weaver scope and like it as well as any I have . It got 5 stars with only 6 reviews .
 
red rick said:
I have a CVA Accura , it doesn't have the thumbhole stock . I put a Redfield Revolution 2-7x33 scope on it and I like it . It is pretty good in low light . Leupold was making them and they came with the Leupold warranty and great customer service . I think at the time they said it compared with the VI and made in the USA . I don't know if they are still making them though , Leupold has changed their scope models . Optics planet has them for around $168 dollars on sale . All scopes over $100 are 10% off now . It received 4.8 stars out of 195 reviews . Where I hunt I have never needed more than 4x . I am still good with 4x out to 100 yards with my eyes . I sometimes think of going with a peep on my muzzleloader or a 1-4x20 . I don't like big objectives on a muzzleloader , lever action or rimfire rifles , but if I needed it , I would get it .

I also like the Weaver Classic V 2-10x 38 if I thought I needed more power . It is around $195 dollars . I haven't looked through it , but I have another Weaver scope and like it as well as any I have . It got 5 stars with only 6 reviews .
Click to expand...
Those are good suggestions as well.

The revolutions us made, the revenge was not. I'd actually thought the Redfield name was out of use again.
Both are good scopes tho.

The Weaver classics are Japan made still and are also very good scopes for the money. I buy them when I see them around 100 used.
 
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