Most standard bolt action hunting rifles have a standard optical riflescope.
However, I was curious about the hype around muzzleloaders and decided to try it out.
These muzzleloaders offer some advantages to centerfire rifles and may even be granted special or extended seasons in some places.
I didn’t own a muzzleloader scope at the time, so all I had was a regular rifle scope, but I wasn’t sure if it would work.
Now the question remains: can a rifle scope be used on your fancy new muzzleloader?
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So, Can You Mount Rifle Scopes on Muzzleloaders?
I am glad to report that YES, most standard optical rifle scopes work on muzzleloading rifles!
It turns out they are not that different from each other; most modern muzzleloading rifles have similar ballistics (in some aspects) to centerfire rifles.
Thus, with some exceptions, a standard optical riflescope can be mounted to a muzzleloading rifle.
How is a Muzzleloader Different from a Rifle?
There are several key differences between muzzleloaders and rifles.
Let’s delve into these differences to understand if your scope can be used on a muzzleloading rifle.
Recoil
Recoil is the backward energy that results whenever you fire a rifle. Everything on the rifle, including the scope, ABSORBS some of this energy.
While both centerfire rifles and muzzleloaders have significant recoil, a muzzleloading rifle delivers MORE recoil.
Naturally, muzzleloader scopes are more ROBUST to handle the greater recoil.
Compared to scopes made for muzzleloaders, regular riflescopes may not be sturdy enough to handle the recoil from a muzzleloader.
Bullets
The bullets used in a muzzleloading rifle are usually BIGGER and HEAVIER than those used by centerfire rifles.
These differences in size and weight cause them to have different ballistic characteristics.
To this end, the reticles on centerfire rifles usually include bullet drop compensation.
However, the reticles for muzzleloading rifles do not provide this type of adjustment.
Eye Relief
Eye relief refers to the distance of the shooter’s eye from the scope.
This is EXTREMELY important when it comes to using a muzzleloading rifle due to the immense power of its recoil.
As such, muzzleloader scopes need LONGER eye relief than centerfire rifles.
While most centerfire rifle optics have an eye relief of at least three inches, muzzleloader scopes need at least four inches of eye relief.
I got scope bite with a muzzleloader rifle once. It’s not fun.
Parallax
Simply put, parallax causes focus problems when shooting at long ranges.
This usually manifests in a target that may appear out of focus with the reticle or vice versa.
Parallax is especially important when looking for a scope for your hunting rifle.
Most scope optics, especially those built for long range, have factory parallax settings between 100 and 125 yards.
However, unlike centerfire rifles, muzzleloading rifles are mostly used for shots under 150 yards.
Because of this, parallax settings on most muzzleloading rifles are set between 50 and 75 yards.
Factors to Consider When Buying Muzzleloader Scopes
Are you looking to purchase a new scope to mount on your muzzleloader?
Here are some things shooters need to look out for:
Durability
Durability is one of the most important things to look for in a scope. Make sure to search for a scope that is O-ring sealed.
I always look for O-ring sealed scopes to protect them from rain and dirt. After all, sometimes the shooting conditions aren’t ideal.
Additionally, check to see that the scopes you’re getting are argon and nitrogen purged for that tank-like indestructibility.
In addition to helping with light transmission, this also keeps your scope from fogging.
Another very important thing to look for in a muzzleloader scope is that it is shockproof or recoil-proof.
This is especially important as muzzleloading rifles have much MORE recoil than most centerfire rifles.
You also don’t have to worry about it shattering into pieces if you drop it! You wouldn’t want broken optics when the perfect target is within sight.
Glass Clarity
Glass quality is one of the MOST IMPORTANT things when choosing a scope. After all, you wouldn’t want a scope that you can’t see out of!
It is best to purchase a scope with fully multi-coated lenses.
If you’re confused about the different levels of coating, here’s a quick guide:
- Coated: a single layer of coating on a single surface of at least one lens
- Fully coated: at least one layer of coating on both surfaces of all lenses
- Multi-coated: multiple layers of coating on at least one lens
- Fully multi-coated: multiple layers of coating on all lenses
The coatings on lenses help to improve light transmission and reduce glare.
Thus, fully multi-coated lenses guarantee a CLEARER and BRIGHTER sight picture without harsh glare or reflections.
I can vouch that once you get fully multi-coated lenses, your images look like that of a movie!
Elevation and Windage Adjustment
Elevation and windage knobs, also known as turrets, allow the shooter to fine-tune adjustments to their scope.
These turrets can zero in your optic so that your bullets land where you want them to.
The ELEVATION knob moves the s