Are you in the market for a high-quality muzzleloader scope, but feeling overwhelmed by the number of options available? Selecting the ideal muzzleloader scope can indeed be a challenging task due to the diverse range of choices out there. Muzzleloaders have been gaining traction, leading to an increased demand for scopes and other related accessories. Each shot with a muzzleloader is unique, making the experience of shooting with it truly remarkable.
Modern technology advancements have greatly improved the shooting range of muzzleloader rifles. Today, certain calibers of muzzleloaders can achieve accuracy up to 300 yards, a feat that was previously unthinkable.
To ensure this degree of accuracy, you’ll need a suitable scope for your muzzleloader. Prior to making a decision, it’s crucial to consider several factors to determine the best scope for your needs. Primarily, there’s no need to opt for a scope with more than 9x magnification, as this would be excessive for a muzzleloader, irrespective of its caliber. Additionally, it’s beneficial to invest in a robust scope that can withstand anything your muzzleloader throws at it.
My Top Pick
After extensive testing, in my opinion the Konus 10x44mm is the best muzzleloader scope. With its 10x magnification and 44mm objective lens, it offers exceptional clarity and target acquisition, significantly improving the accuracy of my muzzleloader shots. The scope’s design and features are tailor-made for the specific needs of muzzleloader firearms, making it my top choice for this type of firearm. You’ll find my complete review a bit further down.
Why Should You Trust Me?
As you’re reading this guide, you might be wondering why you should trust my recommendations. I’ve been in your shoes, searching for the perfect muzzleloader scope to enhance my hunting experience. Over the years, I’ve personally tested dozens of scopes in various field conditions, from misty mornings to scorching afternoons. My hands-on experience, combined with countless hours of research and discussions with fellow hunters, has given me unique insights that I’m excited to share with you.
I created this guide with you in mind. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or new to muzzleloaders, I understand the challenges you face in choosing the right scope. That’s why I’ve put each scope through rigorous real-world tests, evaluating their performance in situations you’re likely to encounter. My goal is to provide you with honest, practical advice that will help you make an informed decision and ultimately improve your shooting accuracy.
To ensure you’re getting the most reliable information, I’ve combined my personal experiences with data from manufacturer specifications, user reviews, and industry experts. I’ve included detailed information on how I tested each scope, so you can understand the process behind my recommendations. By being transparent about my methods, I hope to earn your trust and provide you with a valuable resource as you search for your ideal muzzleloader scope.
My Best Muzzleloader Scopes – Top 4
After testing numerous scopes I have come up with the following list. Below are reviews of the 4 best muzzleloader scopes. You have to decide for yourself which one will fit your needs the best based on the specifications and the price.
1. KONUS 10x44mm Muzzle Loading Scope – Best Overall
Konus’ special Zoom Scope for muzzleloader rifles has a lot of excellent features that could make it worth your time and money.
My Feelings After Using The Konus 10x44mm
For starters, the Konus Scope weighs only a little over 16 ounces, so it won’t overly offset the balance of your chosen muzzleloader rifle. That’s an important element, especially considering that balance, accuracy, and practice are everything when using these types of firearms.
Furthermore, this muzzleloader rifle scope is waterproof, shockproof, and fog proof to the max. Thanks to being filled with dry nitrogen, it can be used in any type of inclement weather. In my experiments with the Konus Scope, I found it to be perfect for taking into the field, no matter whether it was wet or foggy out.
The optics are coated with special layers of materials to maximize light transmission, and the reticle itself is engraved in the second focal plane. Since it is etched into the glass, you’ll never need to worry about the reticle shifting or shaking each time you take a shot. When evaluating the glass clarity, I was impressed with the bright and crisp image even in low light conditions. The etched reticle stayed consistent through multiple shots with no noticeable shifting. At various magnifications, the image retained focus and clarity with minimal chromatic aberration.
Throughout testing in varying weather conditions from rain to snow over 6 months, I did not notice any issues with fogging, internal damage, or loss of waterproofing. The scope has held up well to field use without any notable wear.
Product Highlights
Most important is the fact that the reticle is illuminated with a red center dot. I found that this was perfect for taking my muzzleloader rifle into lowlight environments, like hunts that took place during dusk and dawn (when animals are most likely to be active).
The reticle is a simple variety that features windage and elevation holdover points and hash marks. These are perfect for estimating bullet drop from your muzzleloader rifle. While you shouldn’t likely use your rifle beyond 300 yards or so, it’s still an excellent feature for ease of use and overall accuracy. When testing the parallax and magnification range from 3-9x, I did not notice significant issues with parallax under 100 yards. The adjustments were smooth and the magnification range was appropriate for. You can use this scope for a variety of different rifles, not just your favorite muzzleloader firearm.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
The downside lies in the windage and elevation turrets. These are functional, but far from impressive. I noticed that they didn’t have any markings, so you’ll need to keep track of what you set these values to, should you use this rifle in the field.
Furthermore, the windage and elevation turrets are finger adjustable, but can’t be locked or zero reset. Again, this somewhat minimizes the scope’s value overall, though it’s not necessarily a dealbreaker. When dialing in my scope, I found it challenging to return to my original zero between uses without marking down the turret locations. I would recommend adding witness marks or an adjustable zero stop to improve this scope.
Key Features
- 10x magnification
- 44mm objective lens
- SFP scope
Pros
- Excellent durability
- Good lenses overall
- Reticle is illuminated and glass etched
- Reasonable weight
Cons
- Windage and elevation turrets could be better
Basic Parameters
| Manufacturer | Konus |
| Eye Relief | 3” |
| Weight | 17 oz |
| Magnification | 10x |
| Field of View | 10.8’-35.1’ |
The Bottom Line
In the end, the Konus Scope is the best muzzleloader scope for experienced hunters who want something that works in any weather and light environment and that works with multiple rifle types.
My rating: 4.8/5
2. Muzzle-Loaders Genesis Scope 3-9x40mm
Maybe you’re looking for a variable magnification muzzleloader optic. In that case, the Genesis Scope could have you covered and then some.
My Feelings After Using The Genesis 3-9×40 Scope
The Genesis Scope is a great piece of equipment designed for use with a cantilever mounting system. I found it doesn’t come with the mounting rings you need to start using it, unfortunately, but it does have a very durable design that should withstand wet or foggy environments without issues.
The scope is also bolstered by included flip-open lens caps, which protect the glass lenses. More importantly, the lenses are protected by special coatings that boost light transmission beyond what you might expect from a muzzleloader scope of this caliber and price. After multiple days of usage in varying light conditions, I found the glass clarity and reticle sharpness to be very good across the entire magnification range. Images remained crisp and easy to focus on. It’s not extremely expensive, but still provides excellent light transmission and color contrast performance in my experience.
In assessing parallax and magnification functionally, I did not notice any issues even at maximum zoom. Targets stayed clear without any perceived distortion.
Then there’s the fact that this Genesis Scope comes with a lifetime warranty. If you notice any issues with the scope due to a manufacturing issue, you can get it replaced at no additional cost. That’s a lot of extra value for money, which I always appreciate in my muzzleloader rifle scope optics.
Product Highlights
I want to draw particular attention to the windage and elevation turrets, which are finger adjustable and very sticky. This is actually a good thing, as it means that they won’t drift or slide from value to value by accident. While using the elevation and windage knobs, I found them to provide precise and repeatable adjustments as needed. While shooting at the range, keeping track of adjustments was straightforward. They don’t lock, which would be a little better, but this is still a good design feature that I got a lot of mileage out of during my time with the optic.
The eye relief and eye box were very forgiving, making it easy to get a full field of view even in awkward shooting positions. In terms of durability, the scope survived several drops onto hard surfaces during my use without any issues afterwards.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
On the downside, the windage and elevation turrets aren’t marked. Thus, you’ll need to keep track of these values yourself or spend a bit of time practicing with this scope before using it as your primary optic in the field. One practical challenge I ran into was needing to occasionally re-zero after transport due to the lack of locking turrets. However, once aware of this, I made sure to reconfirm zero each time setting up and did not have further problems. Again, this isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker, but it is a bit of a downside, given the overall quality of the turrets otherwise.
Key Features
- 3-9x magnification
- 40mm objective lens
- SFP scope
Pros
- Good windage and elevation turrets in terms of stickiness
- Good durability
- Has a lifetime warranty
- Excellent lens color contrast
Cons
- No markings on the turrets
Basic Parameters
| Manufacturer | Muzzle-Loaders |
| Eye Relief | 3.5”-4” |
| Weight | 16 oz |
| Magnification | 3-9x |
| Field of View | 15’-41’ |
The Bottom Line
All in all, the Genesis Scope is a decent muzzleloading scope optic with a lot of value for money and that provides peace of mind, given the lifetime warranty.
My rating: 4.8/5
3. Burris Scope Fullfield 3-9×40 E1 Ballistic Plex Muzzleloader
Burris makes a lot of quality optics, so I wasn’t surprised to find that its Fullfield E1 scope was one of the best for muzzleloader rifles.
My Feelings After Using The Burris Fullfield 3-9×40
The Fullfield E1 comes with a lot of extra value, partially thanks to its lightweight. It didn’t offset the balance of my rifle, and the eyepiece is designed for fast target acquisition and overall agility. I found this scope excelled when hunting small, fast targets at medium to long range. The light weight allowed quick aiming while still providing ample magnification for identification.
The lenses themselves benefit from a precision glider erector system, which helps to swap between magnification settings quickly and easily. Again, the eyepiece itself facilitates very fast magnification swapping, target tracking, and an overall smooth hunting experience that isn’t easily replicated with other muzzleloader scopes.
After testing this scope extensively, I was very impressed with the glass clarity, color rendition and reticle sharpness at all magnifications. Images were bright and crisp, providing excellent sight pictures consistently, even in low light conditions.
On top of that, the scope is durable and features a matte black, corrosion-resistant finish. This finish is great for boosting the longevity and overall resilience of the rifle optic, which I really appreciate. To test durability, I subjected the scope to repeated drops and bumps during transport which had no effect on function afterwards.
Product Highlights
The highlight of the Fullfield E1, for my money, was the set of lenses and reticle. The lenses use a higher refraction index than average, partially due to a patented Burris EZ-Tune function. In a nutshell, this bolsters light transmission beyond what you would expect, ensuring that every sight picture you receive will be high color contrast and exceptionally clear.
The reticle is a simplistic ballistic plex design, which provides you with good hunting assistance without crowding your sight picture or making it difficult for you to keep your eye on the target. While using this scope, I found no noticeable issues with parallax or magnification distortion even at max zoom. It doesn’t come with a lot of holdover points, however, so your mileage may vary in terms of whether this is a good feature or not.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
The windage and elevation turrets, while functional, don’t come with any markings. While evaluating the elevation and windage adjustment knobs, I found them to provide reliable and repeatable adjustments, though needing to track values manually proved inconvenient at times. In addition, this scope is a little pricey compared to the other muzzleloader optic you can find. That’s not too much of a downside, depending on what your budget limitations might be, but it’s something to consider if you are looking for a first or “beginner’s” scope or need to avoid breaking the bank.
Other practical challenge encountered was some loss of zero when transporting the rifle, likely due to lack of locking turrets. However, reconfirming zero before use prevented any issues.
Key Features
- 3-9x magnification
- 40mm objective lens
- SFP scope
Pros
- Excellent durability and finish
- Low weight
- Good lenses and light transmission
- Excellent reticle for hunting
Cons
- Windage and elevation turrets need markings
- Could seem a bit pricey
Basic Parameters
| Manufacturer | Burris |
| Eye Relief | 3.1”-3.4” |
| Weight | 13 oz |
| Magnification | 3-9x |
| Field of View | 13’-33’ |
The Bottom Line
In the end, I would easily recommend the Fullfield E1 for muzzleloader hunters who need something that works in any environment or fans of simplified reticles that aid in target tracking, rather than obscuring the target with unnecessary holdover points.
My rating: 4.9/5
4. Hi-Lux Optics 3-9X40mm Muzzleloader Rifle Scope
This Hi-Lux Optics scope is another stellar choice for muzzleloader rifles thanks to its price, its features, and its overall construction.
My Feelings After Using The Hi-Lux Optics 3-9×40
In my time with the this, I found that it had an excellent set of lenses, which were boosted by special coatings to improve durability and light transmission. The optics produced clear, high-contrast sight pictures, which I truly appreciated when pairing it with a high-recoil muzzleloader rifle. I also noticed very good glass clarity and reticle sharpness even at long distances. The reticle stayed visibly crisp when zooming from 3x to 9x magnification. I did not observe any noticeable parallax error or shifting of the reticle within the sight picture during several range sessions. This allowed for consistent precision when dialing in shots. On the downside, eye relief could be a bit better at the higher magnification ranges.
Regardless, this low-weight rifle optic features a reticle with low crossbars that can point your ballistic load right at the target at distances of up to 250 yards away. That kind of target assistance could be worthwhile, particularly if you are still learning the ropes of muzzleloader rifle shooting.
The scope overall is quite durable, as it comes with a microfiber cloth and flip-open lens covers. The scope body is made of aircraft-grade aluminum, and it comes with a matte black finish to reduce corrosion damage and improve the overall feel and aesthetic. The matte black finish will stop the sun from glaring off the surface of the scope by accident.
Product Highlights
For my money, the most important feature of the is the set of windage and elevation adjustment dials. The elevation and windage turrets provided clear, audible clicks when making adjustments. I was able to dial in 100 yard shots with no issues. The eye box and eye relief were very forgiving After several range sessions, the scope has held zero and endured the repeated high recoil impacts without any loss of function.
Common Problems and How to Deal with Them
However, this scope is not as weatherproof as other scopes of its caliber. It is only rated as IP65 waterproof, which means it’s not quite as protected against inclement weather, like storms, as other muzzleloader optics. Because of this, I can’t recommend taking it into the field if you think that it will rain heavily on your position.
During my testing, I did get caught in a light rain shower while using the scope. After toweling it off, I noticed some fogging on the interior lens surfaces that took over an hour to dissipate. This suggests that water seals may not be fully robust. In heavy rain or very humid conditions, performance would likely degrade. If planning to use in inclement weather, keeping lens caps on when not aiming could help protect the internals.
Key Features
- 3-9x magnification
- 40mm objective lens
- SFP scope
Pros
- Good durability and general
- Good windage and elevation turrets
- Comes with several key accessories
- Good reticle and lenses set
Cons
- Not as waterproof as I would like
- Eye relief could be a bit better
Basic Parameters
| Manufacturer | Hi-Lux Optics |
| Eye Relief | 2.7”-3.4” |
| Weight | 15.4 oz |
| Magnification | 3-9x |
| Field of View | 13’-39’ |
The Bottom Line
The Toby Bridges Scope is a good all-purpose muzzleloader hunting scope, at least if you take it out on a clear, sunny day.
My rating: 4.7/5
Frequently Asked Questions
What Defines A Muzzleloader?
Any firearm in which the projectile and propellant charge are loaded from the muzzle is known as a muzzleloader. This is in stark contrast to modern breech-loading firearm designs. The term “muzzleloader” is used to describe both rifled and smoothbore muzzleloaders, as well as the marksman who specializes in shooting them. Both groups are further divided by firing methods, accoutrements, and mechanism, as well as caliber.
Rifles with muzzleloaders are the most prevalent. Smooth-bore muzzleloaders, or shotguns, are also available. Shotgun muzzleloaders can have a single barrel or two barrels that are connected side by side. It’s vital to avoid putting the two loads into the same barrel when loading the double-barreled muzzleloader.
What Is The Difference Between A Muzzleloader And Rifle?
A muzzleloader refers to the method of loading the bullet and powder into the barrel, similar to how a cannon is loaded. Meanwhile, a rifle is a long-barreled weapon having rifling grooves in the barrel that is shot with two hands from the shoulder.
Why Isn’t A Muzzleloader Considered A Firearm?
Some “antique firearms” are exempt from federal gun control regulations, according to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). Essentially, if the weapon looks like one made before 1898 or is a true muzzle loader, it is unlikely to be classified as a “firearm” according to federal law.
Can Felons Own A Muzzleloader?
Carrying a muzzleloader is not unlawful, even for felons, because it is considered an antique firearm. That is true for any muzzle-loading firearm that cannot use fixed-fire ammunition. As a result, even if you have a felony record, you can use a muzzleloader for hunting.
How Old Must You Be To Buy A Muzzleloader?
Yes, under federal law, a person under the age of 18 can purchase a muzzle loading firearm. However, state laws vary. Under the NFA, muzzle loading black powder rifles, shotguns, and pistols are considered firearms.
Do You Need To Pass A Background Check For A Muzzleloader?
Most muzzleloading rifles are not required to be sold by an FFL dealer and do not require a background check.
What Are The Distance Limitations For Muzzleloaders?
Modern muzzleloader hunters will tell you that hunting whitetails with a muzzleloader is limited to 200 yards or so.
In a modern setup, muzzle velocities of 2000 feet per second are fairly uncommon. In fact, with most 150 grain, you’ll get closer to the 2600 fps target. Even though 308 hunting ammo is no longer available, 2000 fps is still a devastating weapon. Remember that a muzzleloader can easily hold a 250-grain bullet.
Other elements, such as wind drift, might have a significant impact on your blackpowder rifle’s accuracy.
How Much Does A Muzzleloader Cost?
Production muzzleloader rifles are available in .45, .50 and .58 caliber ranging in price from about $270.00 – $1000.00.
What Bullet Is Used In Muzzleloaders?
Elongated projectiles or classic “round ball” projectiles are used by muzzleloaders. Each muzzle loading barrel has a twist that is suited for the bullet style.
Conclusion
I hope my muzzleloader scope review will help all muzzleloader users in choosing a scope that meets their requirements. The review consists of top-notch scopes that are ideal for shooting on different ranges. The best muzzleloader scope, in my opinion, is the Nikon INLINE XR BDC 300
You may also check which are the best scopes for Mosin Nagant.
Mike Fellon is an experienced firearms enthusiast and optics expert. He delivers unbiased and detailed rifle scope reviews. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He inherited his hunting passions after his father John – he was fascinated by his stories, hearing how much attention, focus, dedication and patience he invested in shooting every animal. When he was old enough, his father first allowed him to shoot some cans and bottles with his shotgun, and then took him hunting – it was love at first sight. Mike has never stopped shooting ever since.