Muzzleloader scope mounts...

[PahtridgeHunter]

I risk getting flamed for this:lol: , but I am curious...have any of you ever scope-mounted a traditional muzzleloader? I have a TC, but it only has open sights. I've used it a little bit before, but would like to spend more time hunting/shooting it. Any suggestions? Do you recommend it?

[deepwoods]

I mounted a scope on my .50 cal. T/C Hawken. I believe they were produced by Thompson Center and were made so the scope was detachable. That was very handy when I was giving the gun a "bath". I didn't have to worry about soaking my scope. There is no better way for me to get that extra bit of light out of the day than with a scope. I am also hands down more accurate shooting the gun with a scope on it. Its all personal preference IMO.

Best of luck.

[PahtridgeHunter]

Thanks, Deepwoods! I have an extra scope and I figured it would make me a bit more accurate and I would get more use out of it!


Do you really soak your ML in the tub? I have heard of this before, but never done it...

[deepwoods]

I don't take a bath with it :lol: but I do soak it pretty good in my laundry tub and not having the scope to worry about makes it a lot easier.

[PahtridgeHunter]

Do you just soak the barrel or the entire gun? Forgive my ignorance...;)


I'll bet that would be a sight...if my wife came in and found me in the tub with my ML, washing it!!!:lol:

[deepwoods]

I just soak the barrel in hot, hot, hot, soapy water. The reason for having it so hot is that when you pull it out it evaporates very quickly and no moisture is left on the gun. Water would cause corrosion. On my in line I actually boil all the little pieces (bolt, nipple, etc..,) of the gun while cleaning the barrel portion. It seems to work well.

[huntingfool43]

PahtridgeHunter
The first 2 deer I took muzzle loading were with a borrowed 50 caliber TC (side hammer) with a scope. They work great and more accurate at least for me.

[Swamp Monster]

Many of them today come drilled and tapped for mounts. If a scope on a traditional gun helps to make a clean kill, then go for it! I used one on a tradtional once, worked fine. I did have to tweak the hammer a bit to get some clearance around the scope nothing a sturdy pair of pliers couldn't handle. This was a cheap, cheap gun, I do not recommend this on a nice Hawken replica etc. Depending on the mounts and the scope, it may or may not be an issue....and there are far more professional ways to make the hammer/scope combination work than a pair of pliers! (just saying that so you don't scream at me and blame me for the "teeth" marks on the fancy hammer of the gun your grandpa gave you on your 14th birthday!!)

[Pigpen69]

I have a cva side hammer that I used for my first ML, and I took it to Bobs In Hastings , and they charged me i think 25 bucks to drill and tap it. Keep in mind that as a side hammer, I also Put see thru mountss on it for dual purpose. I can see under the scope and the extra height brought it up over the hammer. Not by a lot mind you , but it was usable. As was said before, the ease of cleaning is thrown out the window, but I like looking thru the scope alot better. One last thing that wasnt mentioned by anyone yet. If you are married, prepare for divorce if you soak it in the tub while the Mrs is at home. Not only does it stink like hell, It leaves a nice black spot in the tub. Which i would guess is why deep woods soaks it in the laundry tub. Smart man or mean wife. You be the judge, I found out the hard way, so mean wife won that one. Lesson learned. I also would suggest something besides balls since the dang things never fly the same way twice. Again thats my exp. with them. regardless I got a new black diamond and its nice.

[PITBULL]

Been there done that. Black powder and hot soapy water cleans the muzzleloader fine but the water will smell like raw sewage.
Best done when the wife was not home.
A couple of friends had sidelock muzzleloaders with scopes. what they did was get some tubeing, the stuff you use for aquarium air hose. you put the hose end over the nipple and the other end in a container of hot soapy water then use a ramrod with a patch and pump the water in and out to clean.
I always heated mine up after cleaning with the wifes hair dryer to get all the water out. But thats another argument with her.