Scoping The Traditional Muzzleloading Big Game Rifle
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Tapping The Accuracy & Performance Of An Old-Style Muzzleloader
This is a website that's all about muzzleloader hunting today. It has absolutely nothing to do with reliving history through shooting and hunting with a rifle of very traditional design. As much as anyone who has been muzzleloader shooting and hunting for more than 46 years, I can truly admire and appreciate the old style rifles from the past. But, I did not get into muzzleloading for historical reasons. I got into muzzleloading so I could hunt white-tailed deer in my home state of Illinois with something other than a shotgun with slugs. Muzzleloading rifles offered that opportunity.
Back in 1964, when I took my first whitetail with a long-barreled .45 round ball muzzleloader, at the age of 15, I did so with open sights. And as I progressed into shorter half-stock bullet-shooting .50 caliber rifles during the 1970s, I sought to better tap the accuracy and harder-hitting performance of those conical slugs by installing scopes on several of those rifles. Now, I know this will ruffle the feathers of traditional purists, and that I will surely receive some hate mail from Jeremiah Johnston wannabies...but I've taken their hits before, and survived without any scars whatsoever. If you feel that scopes have no place on a muzzle-loaded big game rifle, all I have to say is... "You pursue muzzleloading in your fashion...and I'll pursue it in mine!"
One problem the muzzleloading shooter and hunter runs into when trying to install a riflescope on a muzzleloader of very traditional "side-hammer" design is getting the scope off-set enough to insure that the hammer can still be drawn back to full cock - and that it does not hit the scope tube when the trigger is pulled. No one mount arrangement works well with all rifles. However, for the vast majority of those who shoot and hunt with a rifle of traditional styling, their rifle of choice is three-fourths of the time a percussion ignition rifle with an octagonal barrel. And for those rifle owners, Hi-Lux Optics now offers a simple set of off-set bases that gives the scope plenty of hammer clearance, yet does not have the scope setting so far off to the side that the shooter has to pull his or her head off of the butt stock to properly align their eye with the rear lens.
Back in 1964, when I took my first whitetail with a long-barreled .45 round ball muzzleloader, at the age of 15, I did so with open sights. And as I progressed into shorter half-stock bullet-shooting .50 caliber rifles during the 1970s, I sought to better tap the accuracy and harder-hitting performance of those conical slugs by installing scopes on several of those rifles. Now, I know this will ruffle the feathers of traditional purists, and that I will surely receive some hate mail from Jeremiah Johnston wannabies...but I've taken their hits before, and survived without any scars whatsoever. If you feel that scopes have no place on a muzzle-loaded big game rifle, all I have to say is... "You pursue muzzleloading in your fashion...and I'll pursue it in mine!"
One problem the muzzleloading shooter and hunter runs into when trying to install a riflescope on a muzzleloader of very traditional "side-hammer" design is getting the scope off-set enough to insure that the hammer can still be drawn back to full cock - and that it does not hit the scope tube when the trigger is pulled. No one mount arrangement works well with all rifles. However, for the vast majority of those who shoot and hunt with a rifle of traditional styling, their rifle of choice is three-fourths of the time a percussion ignition rifle with an octagonal barrel. And for those rifle owners, Hi-Lux Optics now offers a simple set of off-set bases that gives the scope plenty of hammer clearance, yet does not have the scope setting so far off to the side that the shooter has to pull his or her head off of the butt stock to properly align their eye with the rear lens.
Off-Setting The Scope For Hammer Clearance
Depending on the caliber, load and especially the amount of recoil produced, these bases can be attached to the top flat of an octagon barrel using either two or three screws. Three holes for attaching are pre-drilled on each base. Off-set to the left side are two more holes, tapped for 6x40 screws - which perfectly match the hole pattern of the base blocks for the Leatherwood/Hi-Lux short "Wm. Malcolm" scopes. Once a gunsmith has drilled and tapped that barrel for the bases, the blocks are attached and one of the 1880s style Malcolm scopes can be easily slipped right on and tightened in place. (These come in 17" long 3x and 18" long 6x models.) Location of the bases on the barrel is determined by where the scope will need to set in order to provide the proper eye relief, which can be adjusted several inches forward or rearward by loosening the ring of the front Malcolm mount and sliding the scope in the direction it needs to go. (Also, the simple design of the Hi-Lux off-set bases allow them to be simply turned around and mounted with the blocks off-set in the other direction on left-handed rifles.)
The rifle in the accompanying photography is a custom half-stock I built back in the early 1980s, using the lock, triggers and furniture salvaged from a Thompson/Center Arms "Hawken" that a shooter had ruined by not cleaning the barrel after shooting black powder loads. For the past couple of years, I have been shooting and hunting with the muzzleloader with one of the 32-inch long T/C drop-in .50 caliber "Sharpshooter" turn-in-24 inches bullet barrels offered by Green Mountain Rifle Barrel Co.. That barrel is set up with one of the long 6x Leatherwood/Hi-Lux Malcolm scopes. And that combination has proven deadly accurate. For hunting, I wanted something just a bit shorter in length, using a much shorter scope as well. And one of the Green Mountain 28-inch .50 caliber "Long Range Hunter" barrels has filled the bill. This barrel has a turn-in-28 inches bore, with .005" deep rifling - and shoots wonderfully with shorter modern conical bullets, like the Hornady "Great Plains" bullet or Buffalo "Maxi-Bullet". It shoots even better with a modern saboted bullet.
The rifle in the accompanying photography is a custom half-stock I built back in the early 1980s, using the lock, triggers and furniture salvaged from a Thompson/Center Arms "Hawken" that a shooter had ruined by not cleaning the barrel after shooting black powder loads. For the past couple of years, I have been shooting and hunting with the muzzleloader with one of the 32-inch long T/C drop-in .50 caliber "Sharpshooter" turn-in-24 inches bullet barrels offered by Green Mountain Rifle Barrel Co.. That barrel is set up with one of the long 6x Leatherwood/Hi-Lux Malcolm scopes. And that combination has proven deadly accurate. For hunting, I wanted something just a bit shorter in length, using a much shorter scope as well. And one of the Green Mountain 28-inch .50 caliber "Long Range Hunter" barrels has filled the bill. This barrel has a turn-in-28 inches bore, with .005" deep rifling - and shoots wonderfully with shorter modern conical bullets, like the Hornady "Great Plains" bullet or Buffalo "Maxi-Bullet". It shoots even better with a modern saboted bullet.
Modern In-Line Accuracy Out Of A Very Traditionally Styled Rifle
For range work, I slip on one of the 6x short Malcolm scopes. The added magnification allows me to shoot hundred yard groups that will rival those produced by some of today's more advanced modern in-line ignition rifles. My favorite hunting load for the rifle consists of a 100-grain charge of FFg Triple Seven behind a saboted Harvester Muzzleloading 300-grain "Scorpion PT Gold" poly-tipped spire point. At the muzzle, the load is good for 1,815 f.p.s., with 2,190 f.p.e. At 100-yards, where the bullet is still good for 1,550 foot-pounds of knockdown power, this rig consistently punches 1 1/2-inch groups. (One of the best can be seen in the photo at left.) And at 200 yards, the 1800s style Malcolm scope and Green Mountain barrel will easily keep the modern poly-tipped spire point inside of 4 inches. At that range, the aerodynamic copper-plated bullet is still moving at just over 1,300 f.p.s. and will take a whitetail with nearly 1,150 f.p.e. (Note: For positive ignition of Triple Seven, an adapter was installed that allowed the use of hotter small rifle primers.)
The 6x Malcolm is a great scope, with clear, sharp optics - and is the perfect choice for hunting the open country of the West. However, when headed for the thick cover of typical whitetail country, I find the 3x Malcolm a better choice for getting on those deer inside of a hundred yards. The wider field of view of the lower magnification just makes it easier to find my target. Switching from one power scope to the other can be done in just a few seconds. But before heading out on a hunt, I find it a good idea to first hit the range and tweak the sight adjustment for very precise shot placement.
The Hi-Lux off-set muzzleloader bases and short Wm. Malcolm scopes make for a great post Civil War looking muzzle-loaded hunting rifle. And thanks to the fast-twist Green Mountain "Long Range Hunter" barrel, I now have a very traditional styled rifle that performs on par with most in-line muzzleloaders. The combination offers the best of both worlds. - Toby Bridges
(Note: More recently, I've installed one of the Hubbard "Mag Spark" ignition adapters that allows the use of much hotter No. 209 shotshell primers...and the ignition and accuracy with charges of Blackhorn 209 have been superb. In the not so distant future, I'll do an update report on the performance of the rig.)
The 6x Malcolm is a great scope, with clear, sharp optics - and is the perfect choice for hunting the open country of the West. However, when headed for the thick cover of typical whitetail country, I find the 3x Malcolm a better choice for getting on those deer inside of a hundred yards. The wider field of view of the lower magnification just makes it easier to find my target. Switching from one power scope to the other can be done in just a few seconds. But before heading out on a hunt, I find it a good idea to first hit the range and tweak the sight adjustment for very precise shot placement.
The Hi-Lux off-set muzzleloader bases and short Wm. Malcolm scopes make for a great post Civil War looking muzzle-loaded hunting rifle. And thanks to the fast-twist Green Mountain "Long Range Hunter" barrel, I now have a very traditional styled rifle that performs on par with most in-line muzzleloaders. The combination offers the best of both worlds. - Toby Bridges
(Note: More recently, I've installed one of the Hubbard "Mag Spark" ignition adapters that allows the use of much hotter No. 209 shotshell primers...and the ignition and accuracy with charges of Blackhorn 209 have been superb. In the not so distant future, I'll do an update report on the performance of the rig.)
Sources For Products Mentioned
For More Information On The Leatherwood/Hi-Lux Off-Set Muzzleloader Scope Bases And "Wm. Malcolm" Scopes - Call 888 445-8912 Or Visit Their Website At: www.hi-luxoptics.com
For More Information On The Green Mountain "Long Range Hunter" Or "Sharpshooter" Barrel - Call 603 447-1095 Or Visit Their Website At: www.gmriflebarrel.com
For More Information On The Harvester Muzzleloading "Scorpion PT Gold" Bullet - Call 800 922-6287 Or Visit Their Website At: www.harvesterbullets.com
For More Information On The Green Mountain "Long Range Hunter" Or "Sharpshooter" Barrel - Call 603 447-1095 Or Visit Their Website At: www.gmriflebarrel.com
For More Information On The Harvester Muzzleloading "Scorpion PT Gold" Bullet - Call 800 922-6287 Or Visit Their Website At: www.harvesterbullets.com
