"Sort of" period looking scope options

[brownac1983]

I have a couple half stock Hawken style hunting rifles (a TC Renegade and a Lyman Trade) that I bought secondhand with scopes already mounted on them. They're nice rifles and they shoot fine, but I hate the way the newer scopes look on these guns. I usually hunt with peep sights, so I don't intend to shoot them a lot, and I can't see putting a Malcolm on them at twice what I paid for the rifles just so they look good.

That got me thinking about options that would look better even though they aren't era correct. I think the vintage single diameter scopes without the bell ends might be what I want to try. The ones I have in mind are something like a Weaver 333, 344, or Mossberg M4C. I understand that the optics quality is nowhere near on par with a new cheap scope, but they should be more than suitable for my purposes and they look good.

Is anyone running something like that on a sidelock muzzleloader? If so, I'd like to see some pictures to see if it looks as good in real life as it does in my head.

Thanks.

 

[Flintandsteel]

Ok, I’ll bite. Why?

 

[new2bp]

Ok, I’ll bite. Why?

Because some of us actually want to see and hit our targets at more than 25 yards....

 

[TFoley]

Look at the replication of the old Winchester A5 from MVA - totally US-made and just beautiful. Sadly, you seem to want the expensive look without the expense, and where optics are concerned, that just am'nt going to work. My experience with Malcolm scopes is outside the scope of this forum - suffice it to say that at the prices we pay for them here in UK, you'd be better off making your own from a bit of copper tubing and a couple of strands of elastic, and leave it at that.

 

[brownac1983]

Ok, I’ll bite. Why?

Why not? They already have mounts on them. Sure I could take them off and plug the holes, but then they'd be just like the other 20 muzzleloaders in the safe. Figured I'd try something different.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Target scopes have been used on muzzleloaders since the early 1840's. This one is 9x and on a picket rifle.

 

[TFoley]

Target scopes have been used on muzzleloaders since the early 1840's. This one is 9x and on a picket rifle.

A full-length image would be gratefully accepted, thanks.

 

[bubba.50]

Dixie at one time offered a relatively inexpensive brass tubed scope that looked good on the guns I've seen them on. Don't know if they still offer it but they turn up on gunbroker from time to time.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Do not sell the Malcome scopes short I have one on a un-mentionable sharps it does just fine. Years ago had one of the brass tube ones from dixie (dont think they carry them anymore) it was a four power was not worth the time to mount it.

 

[Black Powder Guy]

Go to The Possible Shop. They got them.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

A full-length image would be gratefully accepted, thanks.

 

[TFoley]

Just beautiful!!! Thanks.

 

[TFoley]

Do not sell the Malcome scopes short I have one on a un-mentionable sharps it does just fine. Years ago had one of the brass tube ones from dixie (dont think they carry them anymore) it was a four power was not worth the time to mount it.

The one we had on a S****s long-range express rifle ran out of focus at about 150 yards, although it WOULD focus down to ten feet. Not a lot use, I think you would agree. And it cost over $1000 here.

 

[user 48679]

IMHO, if a traditional muzzleloader needs a (relatively) modern (post 1850, say) scope for the owner to use the rifle, the scope throws "traditional" out the door, So I would just D/T the top of the barrel for whatever optic floats yer boat.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

IMHO, if a traditional muzzleloader needs a (relatively) modern (post 1850, say) scope for the owner to use the rifle, the scope throws "traditional" out the door, So I would just D/T the top of the barrel for whatever optic floats yer boat.

Telescopic sights were used on muzzleloading target rifles to win $$ in matches until the very late 1800's. Target shooting with scopes was a traditional use of the muzzleloader as they were used during the original period of use.

 

[appalichian hunter]

The one we had on a S****s long-range express rifle ran out of focus at about 150 yards, although it WOULD focus down to ten feet. Not a lot use, I think you would agree. And it cost over $1000 here.

The one on the sharps is good to 300 yards, As to agreeing not so, perhaps you needed to send it back where you bought it from, may have been a manfacturing issue. I am very pleased with mine.

 

[Greg_E]

Are the Malcolm style made by Hi-lux any good? I have a Williams peep sight that I'm going to try, but it won't mount close enough to really be right. Thinking with my eyes I might need a scope to keep shooting.

And yes I know, people here hate scopes, not forcing you to use them so please be considerate for those of us that want or need one. Not everyone wants to be 100% period correct, some of us just enjoy shooting, and don't want an inline because it just doesn't fit what they want.

 

[appalichian hunter]

The one I mentioned is a malcome by Hi-Lux. suggestion if you get one spend a bit extra and buy the up-graded adjustable bases.

 

[user 48702]

Midway has about three different styles on the Hi Lux Malcolm scopes, in the short or long length.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I've also read of what are called tube sights that you could make yourself if you're handy. Maybe someone here can add to what little I know about them but I think what they are is just a tube with a crosshair or post mounted inside towards the front of the tube. They give a better sight picture without any magnification.

Also, if you just want to see how well a rifle shoots you can JB Weld scope mounts to the barrel and with a little heat remove them later with no screw holes or damage to the barrel.