Top 6 Best Muzzleloader Scope 2024 – Guide & Reviews

Ever heard of a muzzleloader scope?

It’s the trend nowadays. If you don’t have one, you’re now getting left behind. Check this article out for the best muzzleloader scope 2024!

In the past, people don’t use optics that could have improved their gun’s accuracy. Now, it’s fortunate for all shooters today to be able to take advantage of technology’s advancements in weaponry.

There are now muzzleloader-specific scopes that greatly improve your gun’s aesthetics.

Top 6 Best Muzzleloader Scope 2024 on the market

Here are the ideal muzzleloader scopes you might want to have.

1 Nikon INLINE XR 3-9X40 – Best Scopes for Muzzleloaders

INLINE XR is one of the best scopes for muzzleloaders because of its technological features which differentiate it from others.

Starting with its Spot On Ballistic Match Technology, the scope is capable of delivering varying exact aiming points at various yardages on your reticle. This is good when you need to guess the bullet drop. You can calculate shots up to 300 yards.

INLINE XR comes with a Bullet Drop Compensation or BDC reticle which is considered as one of its highlights.

This patented reticle has ballistic circles which are the instant aiming points.

These can help you do some guesswork to take down the target at longer ranges. Because of its unique open circle design, you can shoot at distant and smaller targets easier and it doesn’t obscure your field of view.

For gun enthusiasts out there, you should know that INLINE XR has a 5-inch eye relief. It’s plenty generous to have so you don’t need to worry about black eyes and scraped noses due to recoils and severe shooting angles.

INLINE XR offers quick focus eyepiece through the adjustment turrets that are easy to manipulate. After you sight in your target, lift the spring-loaded adjustment knob. After that, rotate to your zero and re-engage.

Reticle adjustments are made easier through ¼ MOA click-stop moves which you can zero in quicker while maintaining your sight on the target. It won’t be affected by the repeated recoils and rugged conditions.

The adjustments you set won’t arbitrarily change which is a great advantage.

This is a case-to-case basis but if you look for a wider field of view, this one could turn out to be narrow. At 100 yards, the maximum magnification of 9X has a FOV of over 8 ft while the 3X has 25 ft.

This muzzleloader scope still maintains its best performance even in lowlight conditions. With fully multi-coated lenses, about 92% of light is transmitted through the anti-reflective compounds.

It’s made of aircraft grade aluminum which makes it almost indestructible. The O-ring is sealed so that the scope is waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof.

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2 Leupold VX-2 3-9X40mm – Lightest Muzzleloader Scopes

Leupold VX-2 is one of the lightest scopes on the market with its weight a little more than 11 oz. Other features that make it a popular go-to when it comes to rifles and muzzleloaders alike are the apt sizing and its rigidity.

It’s known that the Leupold is one of the pioneers when it comes to waterproofing technologies and all of their scopes are waterproof, too.

The main lens of VX-2 is filled with a gas blend of krypton and argon, a perfect combination to provide waterproof and fogproof characteristics. The two elements are superior to the nitrogen-filled lenses of some scopes.

In relation to the lenses, they’re coated with Leupold’s DiamondCoat to make them scratch-resistant. Furthermore, the lenses have blackened edges so as to reduce glaring and diffusion of the light.

These further improve the resolution and contrast at sight. From the official information, about 94% of light can be transmitted into the scope so you have a bright and clear image even in low light conditions.

VX-2 steps up the game through the five varying reticle options which aren’t common to standard muzzleloader scopes. You can choose from Duplex, Wide Duplex, LR Duplex, Leupold Dot, and German #4.

There are subtle differences between the five in their maximum yardage and field of view. For this article, we feature the Duplex version. This version provides excellent aiming in all magnification settings and is also the least expensive among the bunch.

The VX-2’s eyepiece focus is quite superb with its eye relief at 4.2 inches. No heavy recoil or extreme shooting angles can hurt you. The field of view generated is quite large, so you can set up from shooting at close to far distances with little effort.

Should you have any adjustments, it is quick and easy through the finger-adjustable ¼ MOA elevation and windage adjustments with no tools required.

Aside from the incredibly high price which makes VX-2 be the most expensive scope in this article, other minor setbacks include: the scope does not come with a sunshade and no illuminated reticle option.

Leupold VX-2 is made for hunters that spend an extended amount of time in the field. Its durability is reinforced with 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum, aimed for hard field use.

It is virtually indestructible and if you’re set on buying it, you won’t need any other scope.

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3 Nikon Buckmasters II 3-9X40mm – Great Muzzleloader Scope for The Money

A great muzzleloader scope for the money is the Buckmasters II by Nikon. It’s a well-known fact that Nikon produces scopes of varying quality and price ranges.

But one thing which makes them similar with each other is they bring out the best in you.

Like in all Nikon models, the BDC reticle utilizes a set of circles or ballistic circles which serve as aiming points at different ranges in order to compensate for the bullet drop.

You can adjust it up to 300 yards. The reticle works best with Spot On Ballistic Match Technology, which is again, common in all Nikon scopes.

The smartphone app provides the shooter with exact aiming points at a specified range.

The eyepiece allows for an extremely quick focus while also making quick adjustments on the fly as your target moves.

This is all thanks to the ¼-inch at 100 yards quick adjustments along with Spring-Loaded Instant Zero-Reset turrets. The turrets can be returned to the zero-mark after sighting in.

Buckmasters II is quite a capable scope. It provides a comfortable eye relief at 3.6 inches so you can shoot at ease despite the repeated recoil and even in extreme shooting angles.

It must be emphasized that this version of Buckmasters II performs best at short to mid shooting ranges. Should you aim for longer ranges, a 4-12X40 mm is most preferable.

The lenses are nitrogen-filled which makes the scope fogproof and waterproof. To add to that benefit, the multicoated optics helps with the light transmission generating at 92% which makes it good to use even in low light conditions.

The sight image retains its bright and clear quality at all light conditions.

By the way, Nikon Buckmasters II also offer additional sunshade that improves both vision and accuracy of the shooter throughout the day. Hunting at low light is greatly improved by the addition of large exit pupils.

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4 Nikon ProStaff 4-12X40 mm – High-end Muzzleloader Scope

ProStaff is a high-end scope which is applicable to muzzleloaders despite being originally designed as rifle scope.

As a Nikon scope, you are guaranteed exclusive benefits and long-lasting, high-quality muzzleloader scope that you will keep for many, many years.

Using Nikon scopes are as advanced as they come with the smartphone app. This is called Spot On Ballistic Match Technology and you can get the BDC you need for adjusting by inputting the ammo information, gun information, and what scope you’re using.

You will get instant results since you share similar data with about a million users globally.

One of the common features among the Nikon scope is the BDC reticle that displays ballistic circles to aid you in long-range shooting as well as close-range shooting.

It is aimed for you to grow to become experienced as a hunter with a deadly shooting aim. You can take your shooting as far as 600 yards.

ProStaff provides you with a 3.7-inch eye relief which protects you from the muzzleloader’s recoils. Another feature is the quick focus eyepiece that is easy to adjust due to the hand-turn ¼ MOA click adjustments.

The settings don’t arbitrarily change (thanks to zero-reset turrets) which is very beneficial when making split decisions in stalking your prey.

Due to the larger magnification range compared to standard 3-9X magnification, ProStaff performs better in mid to long ranges compared to closer distances. This scope is excellent in most aspects but it is observed that at 12X or at the highest power, the reticle becomes fidgety and the light transmission decreases.

Since we all like that what we buy would be worth our money, then, ProStaff wouldn’t disappoint you. The lenses are nitrogen-filled to provide us the desired waterproof and fogproof capabilities.

The optical system is, in fact, multicoated to aid you to shoot better even in undesired conditions.

The lenses have a 98% light transmission boost to produce bright and clear sight images even in low light. This percentage is extremely good that makes ProStaff one of the superior muzzleloader scopes on the market.

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5 Nikon P-223 3-9X40 mm BDC 600 Rifle Scope

Just like ProStaff, Nikon P-223 BDC 600 Reticle belongs to the selected high-end scopes which aim to maximize the performance of the muzzleloader as well as you, the shooter.

This particular rifle scope is capable of shooting from 100 to 600 yards, good for long-range hunting trips.

The BDC 600 reticle is aimed specifically at AR-15 model rifles with bullets either 5.56 NATO or .223 Remington.

As common with all Nikon scopes, you can compute your bullet drop compensation through the Spot On Ballistics Match program downloadable into your smartphone.

Just input the necessary data and the crosshairs of the reticle adjusts to specific increments.

Adjustment system is the same as with all other Nikon scopes.

Just like with other Nikon scopes, there is abundant eye relief in P-223 measured at 3.6 inches, protecting you from repeated recoils of the muzzleloader and rifles for every bullet shot.

Lighting conditions are critical for all kinds of scopes so as to determine if you can still hunt even in low light conditions without a drop in performance.

Don’t worry, the multicoated lens of P-223 guarantees a max of 98% light transmission which turns out to be pretty excellent. This is also why the P-223 belongs to the ranks of higher-end muzzleloader scopes.

Virtually no product has no drawbacks. Fortunately, for P-223, there’s only a few setbacks. One of them is the slight blurring and fidgeting of the sight image when you zoom at the highest power (9X). Since P-223 is specifically designed for a specific series of models, there are some guns that can’t be mounted because of incompatibility.

Belonging to the more expensive side of the spectrum in relation to scopes, the O-ring is sealed and nitrogen charged to make the scope more durable. Its additional characteristics are being waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof.

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6 Nikon P-223 3×32 mm BDC Carbine Rifle Scope

This version of P-223 uses BDC Carbine reticle designed for specific bullet drop compensation of guns with 5.56 NATO or .223 Remington ammunition.

P-223 is able to provide a 200-yard increment on the crosshairs with hash marks at 400 and 600 yards.

P-223 BDC Carbine is more affordable compared to its counterpart, the P-223 BDC. That’s because there’s only one magnification setting at 3X.

In that setting, the field of view is large and you can do your shooting within 300-600 yards. It’s perfect for hunting at close to mid ranges.

However, since this scope only offers one power setting, your accuracy can take a toll because there are no options to see at farther distances e.g. 600 yards. If you prefer hunting at long ranges with little to no risks, better invest in the P-223 BDC 600. It has basically the same features as this one, but its price is greater by at least $50.

There are features wherein the P-223 is in common with all other Nikon scopes. These are: the ¼ MOA adjustments, zero-reset turret system, Spot On Ballistic Match Technology

The lenses are multicoated, and just like the other P-223 model, a 98% light transmission rate can be achieved for bright and crisp sight images even in low light conditions.

It’s a fact that a higher light transmission rate means more dollars, but since P-223 BDC Carbine has only one power setting, the price is neutralized to be at an affordable cost.

P-223 has aluminum construction, with its O-ring sealed and nitrogen-filled lens to make the scope more durable. It has fogproof, scratch-resistant, and waterproof capabilities.

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Advantages of Muzzleloader Scopes

Some hunters nowadays like to hunt the traditional way. That is to say, through muzzleloaders. Muzzleloaders have their ammunition loaded from their mouth or called the muzzle.

Ancestors didn’t use any optics back then. But if you want to bring home the game by maximizing your performance, you should consider installing a scope.

Why is it more advantageous to own a scope? Scopes are known for their simplicity over iron sights. Sighting in with scopes are easier through the crosshairs or also called reticle. It is important especially if you do the long-range shooting.

The marks spread vertically and horizontally help adjust the calculation of the bullet path or bullet drop depending on the windage and elevation.

Of course, one other thing why scopes are preferred is because of the glass lens for zooming options.

Muzzleloader Scopes Buying Guide

Choosing them might be difficult in the beginning because there are some technical terms that are new to you.

Know that the listed below are some of the factors you need to consider in your first purchase. Other specifications may come up as you use your muzzleloader scope more.

1. Magnification

The lens of a muzzleloader scope is definitely the most important feature to look at. This fact is also channeled to other specialized long-range scopes.

Shooting at far distances means that you need to be able to read the wind between you and your target. This is because the bullet path may be greatly affected by the state of the wind, either you will miss or hit.

When you look for a scope, you will notice a string of numbers. This entails about the magnification of the scope.

For example, a muzzleloader scope has a 4-12X40 specification. This means that the image you see through the scope is four times (4X) closer than the naked eye. The magnification can go up to twelve times (12X).

You can set anywhere in between. As for the last two digits, they are about the objective lens diameter in millimeters.

Larger magnification ranges tend to be more on the expensive side.

2. Scope Body

Since you need a scope that can withstand the constant recoil of the gun, it should be durable and rigid. One of the preferred choices is the aircraft grade aluminum.

The scope body is important to consider because it could affect the accuracy of your optic sight.

3. Eye Relief and Light Transmission

It is known among the experts that the greater magnification a scope has, there’s greater the amount of light will be transmitted to the scope. Most standard scopes are about 90-95%. Above than that is already considered premium grade and expensive.

Eye relief is the distance wherein the eye must be close to the ocular lens to get a clear picture through the sight. Scopes that have a small magnification range or power have a larger range of distance available for viewing.

The standard eye relief for most scopes is about four inches, and that’s ample enough so that the recoil of the gun won’t hit you square in the eye.

4. Parallax

The main difference between the rifle scopes and muzzleloader scopes is the parallax. For rifles, the parallax set are either 100 or 150 yards because they shoot at longer distances than muzzleloaders.

Muzzleloader scopes have lesser parallax. At average, the parallax on standard muzzleloader scopes are set at 70 yards.

5. Objective Lens

The 40 to 44 mm objective lens sizes are the most common for scopes. Some high end scopes can even reach 75 mm or more.

Some beginners think that larger objective lens sizes are better because they transmit a high level of light transmission. But, there’s really not much difference if it’s past 50 mm.

Large objective lenses aren’t recommended because they mean that you need higher scope mount. It could reduce the overall precision of your gun. The mount height that is preferred is if it’s closer to the barrel.

6. Coated Lens

This one is an important factor to consider because they reduce the glare from the sun and aid better light transmission. Another thing is they make the scope scratch resistant. Coated lens are kind of expensive but they add to the aesthetics for your scope.

The lens must also be waterproof and fogproof for untainted visibility.

Conclusion

Choosing the best muzzleloader scope can be difficult as there are a lot of factors you need to consider like magnification, eye relief, the field of view, adjustments, light transmission, etc.

Through this article, we intend to help you narrow down your choices so you have an inkling of what to look for in scopes that will suit your needs and inclinations.