Muzzleloader Sights & Scopes: Choosing the Right Optic

Choosing the right muzzleloader sight or scope can make a major difference in how effectively you can use your rifle. Today, muzzleloader hunters have more options than ever, ranging from traditional open sights and peep sights to 1x optics and magnified scopes designed specifically around muzzleloader ballistics.

The right option depends on your muzzleloader, hunting conditions, expected shooting distance, budget, and—most importantly—your state's current regulations.

In this guide, we'll look at the major muzzleloader sighting systems available, including 3-9x40mm scopes, 1x scopes, red dots, fiber-optic sights, peep sights, and globe sights.

Choosing a Sight for Your Muzzleloader

There's no single sighting system that's ideal for every muzzleloader.

A hunter using a modern long-range muzzleloader in a state that permits magnified optics has very different needs from someone hunting in a Western state with restrictive muzzleloader regulations.

Before choosing your sight, consider:

• Your state's current muzzleloader regulations
• Your expected shooting distance
• Your muzzleloader's capabilities
• The terrain and lighting conditions you'll encounter
• Whether you prioritize magnification, low-light visibility, or precision
• Your scope base, rings, and mounting system

Once you understand those requirements, you can narrow down which type of sight makes the most sense.

3-9x40mm Muzzleloader Scopes

Where magnified optics are legal, a 3-9x40mm scope remains one of the most versatile options for muzzleloader hunting.

This configuration gives you enough magnification for longer shots while maintaining a practical field of view at lower magnification.

There are also more muzzleloader-specific scopes available today than there were in the past. These optics can include features such as reticles designed around common muzzleloader trajectories and velocities.

For a typical modern inline muzzleloader, a quality 3-9x40mm is a great place to start.

Muzzle-Loaders.com Genesis 3-9x40mm Scope

For hunters looking for a straightforward muzzleloader-specific optic, the Muzzle-Loaders.com Genesis 3-9x40mm is a practical option.

It's designed specifically for muzzleloaders and focuses on the features most hunters need: good optical quality, durability, repeatable adjustments, and the ability to maintain zero.

We've spent considerable time shooting the Genesis and have found it to track well and maintain its zero through regular muzzleloader use.

It doesn't try to add every premium feature available on more expensive optics. Instead, it's designed to provide the fundamentals needed for a dependable muzzleloader hunting setup.

Leupold VX-Freedom Muzzleloader Scope

For hunters looking for a step up in optical quality and additional features, the Leupold VX-Freedom muzzleloader scope is another option discussed in the podcast.

One of its primary advantages is its glass quality.

It also offers a muzzleloader-oriented BDC reticle, providing additional reference points that can be useful as distance increases.

A BDC reticle doesn't eliminate the need for range testing. You'll still need to determine exactly where your particular load impacts at different distances.

However, once you've verified those points at the range, the additional references can provide a more precise aiming system than estimating holdover with a basic reticle.

Burris Fullfield E1

The Burris Fullfield E1 provides another option between a straightforward hunting scope and some of the more premium optics available.

The Fullfield E1 discussed in the podcast offers a BDC-style reticle along with the durability and repeatable adjustments Burris scopes are known for.

For a typical muzzleloader hunting setup within normal hunting distances, it provides another solid option to consider.

Ultimately, choosing between the Genesis, Leupold, Burris, or another quality scope will depend on your budget and the features you want from your optic.

Premium Optics for Long-Range Muzzleloaders

Modern muzzleloaders have become increasingly capable, and some rifles can take advantage of more sophisticated optics.

Premium muzzleloaders designed around higher velocities and longer-range shooting can be paired with optics from companies such as Burris and Nightforce.

The important consideration is matching the optic to the capabilities and intended use of the rifle.

A premium long-range muzzleloader may justify an optic with more advanced features, while a straightforward hunting muzzleloader may perform perfectly well with a simpler 3-9x40mm scope.

More expensive isn't automatically necessary.

The objective is to build a balanced system where the muzzleloader, load, optic, and shooter work together.

Don't Overlook Your Scope Rings and Base

A quality scope can't perform correctly if it isn't securely mounted.

Your scope base and rings are critical components of the sighting system.

Loose, improperly installed, or low-quality mounting components can create accuracy and zeroing problems that are easily mistaken for a problem with the scope or muzzleloader.

Choose a base designed for your muzzleloader and rings that correctly fit both the base and scope tube.

Once installed, periodically inspect the mounting system and verify that everything remains secure.

A dependable mounting system can be just as important as the optic sitting on top of it.

Open Sights for Muzzleloader Hunting

Not every muzzleloader season allows magnified optics.

Some Western muzzleloader seasons have restrictions that make open sights, peep sights, globe sights, or other non-magnified systems important options.

Open sights can be very effective, but they present different challenges than a scope.

One of the biggest is target obstruction.

At longer distances, a traditional front fiber-optic bead can cover a significant portion of the target. That makes precise aiming increasingly difficult as distance increases.

This is where more specialized open-sight systems can provide an advantage.

Williams Western Precision Sight Set

One of the sight systems discussed extensively in the podcast is the Williams Western Precision Sight Set.

This system combines a rear peep sight with a front globe sight.

The front globe accepts interchangeable reticle inserts, allowing you to select a sight picture that works for your preferences and hunting conditions.

The sight card included with the system provides multiple reticle options, including fine crosshair-style inserts.

Compared with a larger traditional fiber-optic bead, a fine crosshair can provide a more precise aiming reference and obstruct less of the target.

For hunters who need or prefer an open-sight system, this can bridge some of the gap between traditional open sights and the precise sight picture provided by an optic.

Combining Crosshairs With a Fiber Optic

The Williams system can also be configured with a fiber-optic insert.

This creates an interesting compromise between precision and visibility.

Fine black crosshairs can be excellent in good lighting but become difficult to see as light fades. A fiber-optic element provides a brighter aiming reference that's easier to pick up during early morning or late evening conditions.

Pairing the two can provide the surrounding reference of the crosshair with a visible fiber-optic aiming point in the center.

The best configuration ultimately depends on your eyesight and the conditions you encounter most often.

The Challenge of Low-Light Performance

Every open-sight system involves compromises.

A very fine reticle provides excellent precision but may become difficult to see in low light.

A larger fiber-optic bead is easier to acquire in darker conditions but covers more of the target at longer distances.

That's why there's no perfect open sight for every situation.

Think about the conditions where you actually hunt. If most of your opportunities occur near dawn and dusk, visibility may be more important than having the finest possible aiming point.

If you're primarily shooting in good daylight and want maximum precision, a finer reticle may be preferable.

Williams Micro-Adjustable Rear Peep Sight

Another option discussed in the podcast is the Williams micro-adjustable rear sight.

Instead of making adjustments by loosening a screw, manually repositioning the sight, and tightening it back down, the micro-adjust system provides positive adjustment clicks.

This can make sighting in easier and more repeatable.

It also gives shooters a more precise way to make adjustments once they've determined how their muzzleloader performs at different distances.

For hunters who spend significant time developing an open-sight muzzleloader setup, that added adjustment precision can be valuable.

1x Muzzleloader Scopes

Another increasingly important category is the 1x muzzleloader scope.

A true 1x scope provides no magnification. Instead, it gives you an optic with a defined reticle while maintaining a 1x sight picture.

For hunters accustomed to open sights, this can offer a noticeably different aiming experience.

You aren't magnifying the target, but you're looking through an optic and using a defined reticle rather than aligning a traditional front and rear sight.

That can reduce some of the target obstruction associated with open sights.

Muzzle-Loaders.com Genesis 1x Scope

The Muzzle-Loaders.com Genesis 1x was developed specifically for hunters who need or prefer a non-magnified muzzleloader optic.

Although there's no magnification, a 1x scope can still provide excellent precision.

During our own range testing with the Genesis 1x, we shot a three-shot group measuring approximately 3/4 inch at 100 yards.

That doesn't mean every rifle and load will produce the same result, but it demonstrates the precision a quality 1x optic can provide when paired with an accurate muzzleloader and load.

For hunters in areas where 1x optics are permitted but magnified scopes aren't, this type of sight can provide an alternative to traditional open sights.

Red Dot Sights on Muzzleloaders

A red dot is another non-magnified option.

Instead of a traditional crosshair reticle, a red dot sight projects an illuminated dot that serves as your aiming point.

Red dots are available with different dot sizes, typically measured in MOA.

The size matters because a larger dot will cover more of your target as distance increases. A smaller dot can provide a finer aiming point, while a larger dot may be faster and easier to acquire.

For muzzleloader hunting, consider how much of your intended target the dot will cover at your expected shooting distance.

A red dot can be a useful option, but hunters looking for maximum precision may prefer the reticle provided by a 1x scope.

Always Check Your Current Muzzleloader Regulations

Optics regulations can vary significantly from one state—and sometimes one season—to another.

They also change.

A sighting system that was legal during a previous hunting season isn't automatically legal today.

Before purchasing an optic or heading into the field, check the current regulations published by the appropriate state wildlife agency for the specific season and unit you plan to hunt.

Pay particular attention to how the regulations define magnification, scopes, electronic sights, open sights, peep sights, and other optical equipment.

Don't rely solely on what was legal during a previous season.

Which Muzzleloader Sight Should You Choose?

The right muzzleloader sight depends on where and how you hunt.

If magnified scopes are permitted and you're using a typical modern inline muzzleloader, a quality 3-9x40mm scope is an excellent starting point.

If you're using a more specialized long-range muzzleloader, a premium optic with additional features may better match the rifle's capabilities.

For hunters who need an open-sight setup, a peep and globe system such as the Williams Western Precision Sight provides additional precision compared with basic open sights.

If your hunting regulations permit a 1x optic, a true 1x muzzleloader scope can provide the familiar sight picture of an optic without magnification.

Red dots provide another non-magnified option where regulations permit them.

Ultimately, don't choose an optic based solely on what's most expensive or technologically advanced. Match your sighting system to your muzzleloader, expected distances, hunting conditions, and current regulations.

Then spend time at the range learning exactly how that combination performs.

If you're unsure which scope, sight, base, or rings will work with your muzzleloader, contact the team at Muzzle-Loaders.com. We can help you identify options that fit your rifle and intended hunting application.