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Muzzleloaders and scopes

J

jdavis

Guest
I bought a knight MK85 50cal. and want to put a scope on it. I have bow hunted for 25 years and any shot over 40 yards seems too far. They tell me with a good scope a 130 - 150 yrd. shot with a muzzleloader is common. How long of shot would you take and feel comfortable? What kind of scope do you like? What power would you recommend for Iowa whitetail. Any tips for the late season would be helpful. Thank you!
 
I put a Cabela's Pine Ridge scope on my Knight several years ago and love it. It is a relatively inexpensive scope, but performs very well for the money. It is variable 2.5x7. Although I've taken deer very cleanly out to 130 yards, I'd prefer shots under 100. At that range it's within an inch or so every time. Good luck!

NWBuck
 
QDMer,

You may want to check out the "Scopes Decision" in the Tech Talk forum. Some good information there.

As I indicated in a post there, I chose a 1.5-4.5 X32 BSA scope since most of the shots I'd take are 100 yards or less and quite often in timber. I wanted the low power so can pick up the deer quickly up close, or pick them up and then zoom in. Haven't shot a deer with this new setup but plan to get out the day after Christmas and at least take a doe for meat and then spend the next two weeks looking for a shooter buck.
 
QDMER
My rule of thumb is wherever 1000 ft/lbs of energy run out is where I quit. With my particular gun, I am shooting a 250 grain XTP at 2300 fps MV. This yields just over 1000 lbs energy at 200 yards. The Burris fullfield scope with the ballistic plex reticle lets you hold "dead on" out to 300 yards with this combo if you so desire.
 
I also use the Cabela's Pine Ridge scope. Great scope, and only $70 - CamoKid and I each have them on our Knight's.
 
I'm also a longtime bowhunter gone smokepole. I have an Mk-85 with a Tasco world class 3x9 scope on it. Don't like taking shots over 100 yards. Average shot 40-80 yards. So far 10 shots, 10 deer. Not quite the kick as bowhunting but a good excuse to stay in the woods.
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180bc- thanks for the info. I happened to be looking at the Burris 3X9X40 fullfield 2. It sounds like you have one and really like it. How far out would you take a shot? Thanks for the help!
 
I have a mueller red dot scope 4x16x50. I paid around 150.00 shipped to me.I put it against a burris or leupold for a lot less.If you practice have the right charge and match the bullet.I recommend a 245 grain or smaller I think you could feel comfortable at 150 yrds.Look on ebay for scopes.You can get some good deals.If you want to know more about mueller scopes you can P.M. me or blake for more info.
 
I just bought a cheap($70) BuckRidge 1.5x4.5x50 for my Knight Wolverine. I took a doe at 45 yds. I sighted in at 50 and 100, but I don't think I would take a shot more then 75 yds, I felt too inconsistent at 100 sighting in. I hunt in timber so over 75 yds probably isn't going to present itself to me.
 
i gotta agree 100% with threebeards. many people have 3x9's, but for a deer and 200 yards and under, it seems to be a bit of over kill to me. and even the 3x can make it tough to pick up a deer in eavy cover, and even more difficult if you are trying to make a running shot.
 
I went with a Bushnell 3200 1.5x - 4.5x 32mm Firefly scope for my Omega. It took me a while to get used to shooting with a scope, having shot a GPR for the last 15 years, but I'm very comfortable with it now. I usually hunt with it on 2x and dial it up to 4.5 if needed. I don't and am not going to be shooting at deer much past 100 yards, so I don't need or want a 3x-9x scope.

My philosophy on purchasing glass (or anything for that matter) is this; buy good enough so you won't be disappointed and have to buy the same thing all over again later on. I call it the "economy of quality" (actually my wife calls it that, I call it getting what I want the first time).

If you can live with cheap glass, then buy cheap glass; if you want something with a lifetime guarantee, then spend more and do it right the first time. It's up to you.
 
I've owned a mk85 with a 20" barrel for 14 years,topped with 3-9bdc.Shoot 250gr. barnes,110grains triple7,shoots 6" groups at 200yds.All my deer have been shot at under 125yds.Everything would have to be perfect for me to take a shot at 200yds,including a solid rest.I guess its just what you like,because things work different for everyone.
 
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