Today I’m going to show you the best muzzleloader scope.
In fact:
I’ve hand-tested over 10 scopes alone for this review.
The best part?
I’ve sorted the scopes by use. So whether you’re on a budget or need the best muzzleloader scopes, you’ll find it here.
Let’s dive in!
How to Choose a Muzzleloader Scope
Optics can be a crazy expensive addition to your firearm.
But don’t just go throw any old scope on top of your boom stick.
There are considerations you need to make in your purchase, and you need to be more selective if you’re putting an optic on your muzzleloader.
Glass Clarity & Reticle
One of the most important aspects of choosing a scope is to consider the glass quality. You can only shoot as well as you can see. And if you can’t see well through your new optic, you wasted your money.
Higher end scopes from brands like Nikon and Leupold will have excellent glass with crystal clear picture clarity and color fidelity.
If you choose a more affordable scope, don’t cut corners on glass. Vortex Optics makes many scopes that fall in affordable price ranges while still having a wonderfully bright sight picture.
When choosing a scope, you want to pick one that lists having fully coated lenses. This means that all of the exterior lenses have a coating that increases light transmission to your eye-this will give you a bright sight picture.
Ideally, getting fully multi-coated lenses is best. This means that all of the lenses have many coatings that improve the light transmission and cut down on glare. You’ll get a clear and bright view through the optic. And the anti-glare coatings will prevent objective lens reflections that could give away your position.
The reticle you chose is up to you. You can choose to get a reticle that is hashed to account for bullet drop (BDC reticle) to help you estimate holdover for your shots. Some shooters prefer a clean and simple duplex crosshair. I’m not sure if an illuminated reticle is really beneficial for a muzzleloader, but if you want one, no one will stop you.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
As a muzzleloader shooter, eye relief is a spec that you can’t ignore like some centerfire riflists do.
If you have an eye relief that is shorter than 3 inches, your scope is going to scrape off your eyebrow when you shoot. That’s both painful and embarrassing.
Save yourself the trouble and get a longer eye relief scope with at least 4 inches.
You also want a generous eye box with room to adjust behind your optic and still get a good sight picture. The bigger your ocular lens is, the better this feature will be.
Durability
If a scope isn’t listed as being o-ring sealed. Pass on it. It’s worth spending your hard earned money on an o-ring sealed optic. This makes it rain and waterproof.
You also should look at getting a scope that is argon or nitrogen purged. This will not only help with light transmission but will keep your scope from fogging in crummy weather.
You don’t want a hunt ruined by less than ideal weather. Invest in a durable optic from the start.
Another special consideration for muzzleloaders is to make sure that the scope you choose is shockproof or recoil proof. Your firearm has harder recoil when you shoot compared to many centerfire rifles.
You will want a scope that can handle the extra kick.
Leupold boasts that all of its scopes must survive 5,000 rounds on the Punisher- a device that mimics recoil 3x stronger than a .308.
Vortex also makes nearly indistructive scopes that are a bit more budget friendly.
No matter which brand you choose, do your homework and sift through product reviews looking for durability or other shooters using it on a muzzleloader.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
Elevation and windage knobs, also called turrets, are what you use to make fine-tuning adjustments to your scope. You use these to zero your optic, or adjust it so that your shots actually land where you’re aiming.
The elevation turret will move your shot up and down. The windage turret will adjust your shot from left to right.
Ideally, you want turrets that have a tactile and audible click that you can hear and feel when making adjustments.
Getting locking turrets that can not be accidentally turned are a nice feature, but those will add to the cost. Less expensive optics will have capped turrets with screw on caps that cover both turrets.
Some brands will send you elevation turrets that are marked to compensate for bullet drop for your particular load upon request.
Parallax & Magnification
Centerfire rifle scopes often have the parallax fixed at 100-150 yards for centerfire rifles. That’s pushing the range for a muzzleloader, where parallax should be fixed to about 75 yards.
If you want to put a centerfire rifle scope on your muzzleloader, you need to take this into consideration.
Some more expensive scopes have a side parallax adjustment so you can lock it out for your shooting distance.
Some brands will factory adjust it for you if you send your new scope to them.
A muzzleloading rifle cannot fire shots that move as fast or as far as centerfire rounds. You will not be making shots from several hundred yards away from your prey, so don’t go crazy on magnification.
A high powered scope will hurt more than it helps because it will bring your target too close to you. If you take a high powered scope on your next deer hunt, all you’ll be able to see will be a big hairy patch on the animal’s hide-if you can even find the animal at all.
High powered scopes will have a narrow field of view too-which will make it harder for you to spot your target.
When looking at scopes, the magnification is the first set of numbers before the “x”, so 1-5×24 would be a scope with magnification powers that will make your target 1 to 5 times bigger than what you can see with your naked eye.
You don’t want anything higher than 5x.
Many muzzleloading minutemen prefer a 1-5x or even 1x, 2x, or 3x fixed magnification. For muzzleloading, smaller magnification is better.
The number after the “x” is the size of the objective lens (the lens at the end of the scope) in millimeters. A 1-5×24 scope has an objective lens that’s 24 mm in diameter.
You can look here for a list of the best 1-4x scopes.
Mounting & Rings
Because your muzzleloader kicks like a mule compared to many centerfire rifles, it will do a number on your scope and the equipment you use to attach it.
You want to be sure to use a solid mount (if you need an aftermarket one) and solid rings. You don’t want to cut corners on your mounting hardware.
Here’s a great video that will help you pick top notch mounting hardware:
Final Thoughts
You can easily pick a top-notch scope for your muzzleloader. You just need to keep a few key points in mind.
You want:
- Quality Glass
- Low magnification
- Highly durable scope design
- At least 4 inches of eye relief
- Heavy duty mounting hardware
With these 5 things in mind, you’ll be able to pick an optic-at any price range- that will fit your budget and your needs.
If you’re also looking for an ACOG, look here.
The 4 Best Muzzleloader Scope
If you’re pressed on time, here’s a quick list of the best muzzleloader scope:
- Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5×32: Best Overall
- Bushnell Banner 3-9×50: Best Muzzleloader Scope Under $100
- Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10×40: Best Long Range Muzzleloader Scope
- Simmons Truplex Prohunter 3-9×40: Best for the Budget
1. Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5×32: Best Overall
The Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5×32 is the best overall scope on the market, especially for hunters.
In fact, it’s got all the features and qualities that you could need at an affordable price that won’t break the bank.
I put this on my AR-15 to test it out months ago and have yet to take it off because it works so well.
Want to hear more? Keep reading…
Glass Clarity & Reticle
The first time I looked into this scope I was surprised to find the glass was just as clear as other scopes that are twice the price!
The lenses are fully multi-coated, which means you get a nice, bright sight picture, even in the midday sun.
The Dead-Hold BDC reticle is my favorite part of the Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5×32.
Having a bullet drop compensation reticle means that you’ll easily be able to estimate your holdover at varying distances, even as far out as 500 yards.
The reticle is second focal plane, which means that it doesn’t change size with magnification. With 1.75-5x magnification, this works great.
If you had a higher magnification to shoot at extra long distances, you might need the reticle to increase in size. But since I’m not using this scope for 3-gun competitions, my average prey is usually only around 100-300 yards.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
The Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5×32 has 3.5-3.7 inches of eye relief.
If I have one complaint about this scope, it’s that the eye relief does seem to be a little unforgiving, depending what you mount it on.
On my AR-15 it’s tolerable with a good cheek weld, but on something like 6.5 Creedmoor, it would be pretty tight.
However, I do really love that this scope has a fast focus eyepiece. This allows you to get the reticle focused quickly.
Target acquisition is fast and easy, almost as good as a prism scope or red dot sight.
Durability
This scope is built like a tank and can handle whatever you throw at it.
It’s a one-piece tube with a hard anodized finish that can take a beating. This finish also helps to keep your setup camouflaged when you’re out hunting.
Plus, it’s O-ring sealed and Argon purged, which makes it waterproof and fogproof.
If that’s not enough, it’s backed by Vortex’s unlimited lifetime warranty that covers anything that could go wrong.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
The elevation and windage turrets are ¼ MOA click adjustments.
The turrets give nice, audible clicks and have a zero reset under the caps.
Speaking of zeroing, it couldn’t be easier. After only a handful of shots, I was hitting a half inch target easily and exceptionally accurately.
And, after at least 400 rounds or so, the zero has held. I even accidentally dropped it on the gravel road and it was still dead on.
Parallax & Magnification
The Vortex Diamondback has 1.75-5x magnification.
This is the perfect range for brush hunting and big game hunting. It gives you an accurate sight picture from 100-500 yards easily.
For deer hunting, you’ll be hard pressed to find a scope that’s better than this one.
As for parallax, it’s fixed at 100 yards and I really haven’t noticed a problem.
Mounting & Rings
This scope is an excellent value, but you will need to buy your own mount.
I’d recommend getting Vortex Pro Series Rings. That’s what I used and they’re great.
As for other accessories, it doesn’t come with much. Just removable lens caps. I’d suggest getting some flip-up caps like the Vortex Optics Defender Flip Caps.
Is the Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5×32 worth it?
This scope is really the best overall scope for hunters, with all the features you need.
It has:
- Audible click turrets
- Fast focus eyepiece
- 1.75-5x magnification
- Dead-Hold BDC reticle
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Shockproof, waterproof, fogproof
If you’re an avid hunter and want a scope that has all the features you’ll need to bag your prey, try the Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5×32. You won’t be disappointed.
2. Bushnell Banner 3-9×50: Best Muzzleloader Scope Under $100
The Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 is by far the most elite budget friendly muzzleloader scope I have found throughout my hunting career.
Not only does the scope come in at an amazing price, but the quality and attention to detail is apparent.
If you want to learn why this scope hasn’t come off my muzzleloader setup since the day I purchased it stick around.
Glass Clarity & Reticle
The Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 is a scope with unbelievable brightness and glass clarity.
Even with the impressively low price, Bushnell did not sacrifice any quality with the building of this scope.
The dusk and dawn brightness multi coated lens provides amazing improvements to both the clarity and brightness of the scope.
In addition, the scope has a fast-focus eyepiece that makes target acquisition even easier.
The Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 gives me great confidence whether I am out for a day on the range or sitting in a tree stand during muzzleloader season.
The reticle that comes on the Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 is the multi-x reticle.
This was my first experience with this particular reticle and I am really enjoying it so far. I tend to be slightly picky about my reticle and this one has fit my shooting style unbelievably well.
This scope was an absolute dream addition to my muzzleloader setup.
Not being my main form of hunting, I try to keep my muzzleloader setup on a tight budget and the Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 fit right into that.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
The eye relief on the Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 is very forgiving and a great option for any setup.
I have found that with the forgiving eye relief, the sight can be mounted in a comfortable position on any firearm.
I have used this primarily on my slug shotgun setup and muzzleloader setup.
It would also work great on any other rimfire options.
In addition, the scope has a fantastic field of view which makes this a great option for any hunting setup.
The Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 has got to be one of the best budget muzzleloader scopes I have used.
Also, here are some great options if you are looking for a handgun scope for those long muzzleloader hikes.
Durability
The durability so far on the Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 has been fantastic.
My muzzleloader definitely takes the stress of long hikes and some crazy weather. This scope has seen it all and continues to perform like I just took it out of the box.
The Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 is waterproof, fogproof, shockproof, and dry-nitrogen filled.
This scope has taken a beating and keeps on going. Especially in my muzzleloader setup, I need a scope that works 100% of the time no questions asked.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
The elevation and windage knobs have performed surprisingly well for the low price tag this scope comes in at.
Usually on budget scopes I find the turrets are often mushy and inconsistent.
This is not the case with the Bushnell Banner 3-9×50. The turrets have been precise and accountable every time I have used them.
They have well defined movement and sound that makes it a satisfactory scope to zero.
My zeroing process was surprisingly easy. I took the scope directly out to the range right after I got it.
In maybe 30 minutes I was able to achieve some of my best muzzleloader groupings at 100 yards.
In addition, I have rarely had to touch the turrets since I zerod for the first time.
This tells me that the zero holds fantastically well on the Bushnell Banner 3-9×50.
Parallax & Magnification
I have been using the Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 for a few months and have noticed a slight parallax as I get higher in magnification.
It is nothing excessive and certainly doesn’t hinder my shooting abilities; however, it is something that I noticed throughout my testing.
The Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 has a magnification of 3x to 9x which is perfect for my usage.
This being on my muzzleloader setup means that it is not often I am taking shots beyond 100 yards.
9x is far more magnification than is needed for a shot at that range, but it is certainly nice to have when the heart is racing and the hands are sweating.
Mounting & Rings
The Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 did not come with mounts so I purchased a set of Warne 1inch Quick Detach Rings in a Low Matte finish.
I ended up going for the quick detach mounts because I thought I was going to be swapping it out on my slug setup.
This was not the case and I can’t seem to take it off my muzzleloader because I like that setup so much.
I would also recommend getting Monstrum Rubberized Flip-Up Lens Covers (Objective Lens: 37-42mm).
These have been some of my favorite flip up lenses I have found to date.
Is the Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 worth it?
I am very cautious about spending money on budget scopes because I am unsure how long they will last me. The Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 has put all of my worries to bed and has become my favorite muzzleloader scope in my entire arsenal.
Here’s why:
- Price
- Clarity
- Durability
In short: the Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 is a fantastic scope that will outperform scopes that cost over double the price.
If you are still unsure whether the Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 is the right scope for you, give it a try. I am sure you will be just as thrilled as I am.
3. Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10×40: Best Long Range Muzzleloader Scope
For the true muzzleloader fan, a high quality scope is a must.
Whether hunting or target shooting, accuracy with a muzzleloader can be tough.
The Leupold VX-3i can remove one part of that difficulty.
Glass Clarity & Reticle
The glass is some of the finest I’ve seen on a rifle scope.
A military-grade coating called DiamondCoat 2 is the reason. It allows maximum light transmission while being very scratch resistant. The lenses are built for life.
The DiamondCoat 2 also lets all colors of light in, so there is no tinting whatsoever, and it shows when you have a big buck sighted near twilight. The only thing brighter is night vision.
The duplex reticle is pretty plain, but for a muzzleloader it isn’t a big issue. You aren’t going to be taking game at 300 yards. It’s perfect for a muzzleloading application and many others.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
I’ve found the scope to be very comfortable on top of my modern front stuffer, then I found the reason.
Even at maximum magnification, the spec sheet on the Leupold boasts 3.6 inches of eye relief. It’s even greater at 3.5x power, a whopping inches. I could mount this thing on my shotty and fire 3.5 inch shells without worry of scope bite, much less the kick from any black powder rifle out there.
That said, you won’t need to adjust anything on your rifle’s mounting location to plop this guy on. It’ll work fine for pretty much every rifle out there on a standard rail.
Durability
Leupolds are tough. I’ve owned several over the years and this is one area where they never cut corners.
They have a special scope torture device at their lab, called the Punisher. This machine bangs the test design 5000 times with three times the force of a .308, and any design that doesn’t pass gets sent back to the drawing board.
It’s one of the main things I love about this brand. They are simply the toughest scopes out there, and the new DiamondCoat 2 coating adds another layer of military-grade durability to the lenses themselves.
They’re also waterproof to 33 feet and have a special proprietary gas blend inside to keep moisture out. They won’t fog or falter, even at 40 below.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
Super reliable turrets, but what else would you expect?
The clicks are firm and precise, which makes zeroing the scope a breeze.
It won’t be too often on your muzzleloader that windage and drop will be an issue, but if you do want to take a long shot, you know the drop on a lead ball can be tremendous.
Being able to click down for some skill shots to impress your friends is important, and the scope has an adjustment range of 52 MOA. It’ll give you the adjustment you need for any range you would ever want to shoot your muzzleloader.
Parallax & Magnification
Magnification ranges from 3.5 to 10, and adjusts easily with the smooth turning dial.
The adjustment is perfect for a muzzleloader scope. At 3.5x, you have a wide enough field of view to hunt accurately while still getting a huge boost in the accuracy of your shots, and 10x makes even the tiniest targets at 100 yards big enough to see.
10x is also a great magnification for testing the accuracy of your loads. We put so much effort into weighing bullets, picking the right wadding, carefully measuring powder, and greasing with the right lube, that it’s nice to see how reliable all that work really is at the range.
If there was a complaint about this scope, it would be that the parallax is non-adjustable. It’s set at 150 yards with Leupold. But again, for hunting or target shooting, the scope is still going to be tighter than most muzzleloader groups.
Plus cheek rest is a skill, and most of use wouldn’t be shooting black powder if we didn’t like a challenge.
If you won’t need the high magnification, of course, you might consider something designed for a battle rifle.
Mounting & Rings
No rings are included with the scope, and while any ole one-inch rings will do the trick, you are pairing a rugged muzzleloader to a rugged scope. Prudence dictates using something sturdy to do it, like Leupold Permanent Weaver-Style Cross-Slot rings.
Leupold also makes lens covers to work with their VX-3 line.
Is the Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10×40 worth it?
If you are looking for a budget scope, this probably isn’t it. That said, one feature of the VX-3i is that it was designed to be a bit more wallet friendly than some other Leupold scopes.
If you want the absolute best value in a quality scope for your muzzleloader, this is the one.
Let’s recap.
- Crystal clear view
- Military-grade coatings
- Tremendously long eye-relief
- Passed Leupold’s torture testing
- Great magnification range for muzzleloaders
And it comes with the best lifetime guarantee in the world of shooting.
Really, you can’t go wrong with the Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10×40 scope. It’s the obvious choice.
4. Simmons Truplex Prohunter 3-9×40: Best for the Budget
The Simmons Truplex Prohunter 3-9×40 is a versatile scope and great quality for the price.
In fact, it’s less than half the cost of other brands and has most of the same features and qualities.
I am an avid hunter and use this scope regularly on my trips.
Want to know why? Keep reading…
Glass Clarity & Reticle
With this scope you’ll get a sharp, bright image.
The glass is high quality and the scope has multi-coated lenses to cut down on glare and give you a crystal clear sight picture.
And what about the reticle?
The Simmons Truplex Prohunter 3-9×40 has a Truplex reticle, as it says in the name. What that means is that the edge of the posts are thicker and then the crosshairs thin out towards the center.
This makes it much easier to target in low light and thicker background brush. It also makes target acquisition super quick and easy.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
You’ll get 3.75 inches of eye relief with this scope.
That’s pretty great compared to most similar scopes. And it means you won’t have to worry about how much your rifle kicks.
Plus, the Simmons Truplex Prohunter 3-9×40 has Quick Target Acquistion (QTA) eyepiece. This, along with the Truplex reticle, makes target acquisition incredibly fast. And easily comparable to something like a red dot sight.
Durability
Even though this scope is extremely affordable compared to most, Simmons didn’t stinge on the materials or features.
It is O-ring sealed, making it completely waterproof. And, it has a nitrogen purged housing too. So you don’t have to worry about your optic fogging up.
It’s also recoilproof and can handle whatever caliber rifle you want to put this scope on.
From personal experience, I can tell you that the Simmons customer service is excellent. So, even if you have a problem, you can rest assured they’ll take care of you.
And Simmons makes a lot of other products too, including scope for air rifles. Which means if you love the Truplex reticle, you can get it in different types of scopes.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
The elevation and windage turrets are easy to adjust and give you ¼ MOA adjustment clicks.
This scope has the TrueZero elevation and windage adjustment system, which gives you a locked in zero.
And speaking of zeroing, it only took me about 15 minutes, if that, to get this scope set.
The TrueZero system helps the scope hold zero extremely well. I’ve taken mine hunting many times and never had to readjust.
Parallax & Magnification
You’ll get a lot of versatility with this scope because it has a variable magnification of 3-9x.
With that range, you can shoot accurately from around 100 yard out to about 900 max.
Which makes this scope the perfect attachment for your hunting rifle. I use it mainly for varmint hunting, but feel confident I could take bigger game at greater distances with this scope.
It’s also great for just target plinking and is a lot of fun to use for shooting at the range.
Plus, the parallax is fixed at 100 yards and I haven’t had any noticeable issues with it.
Mounting & Rings
The downside to this scope is that it doesn’t come with a mount.
But, when you’re buying a scope at such a great price, you can’t expect to get too many accessories.
I went with AccuShot Picatinny/Weaver Medium Profile 2-piece 1-inch Rings for mine.
It does come with lens caps, but they’re not flip up. You just put them on when you’re not using the scope. If you want flip up covers, these Monstrum Rubberized Covers work pretty well.
Is the Simmons Truplex Prohunter 3-9×40 worth it?
This scope is the perfect choice for any avid hunter.
It has:
- Clear Glass
- Truplex reticle
- Unbeatable price
- TrueZero System
- 3-9x variable magnification
If you’re looking for the best quality scope that’s budget friendly, try the Simmons Truplex Prohunter 3-9×40. You’ll be happy you did.
Now It’s Your Turn
I hope you enjoyed my best muzzleloader scopeguide.
Now I want to turn it over to you:
Which scope will you pick for your rifle?
Let me know by leaving a quick comment down below.
