Will a rifle scope handle the recoil found with BP?

Len Backus · #1 11-20-2007, 07:09 PM

My son is ready to move on to a scope after failing to recover 2 deer he shot last week using open sights.

Somewhere I seem to have read something about high recoil damaging rifle scopes. Is a scope made especially for BP needed?

7mmSendaro · #2 11-20-2007, 08:50 PM

Len,

I have used everything from Leupold VXII, Nikon Prostaff, and a variey of cheap Bushnells with no problems over the past 10 years of muzzleloader hunting. I have used them on CVA, Encore, and Austin&Halleck. IMO any good scope will hold up fine.

Brian

Len Backus · #3 11-20-2007, 09:00 PM

Thanks, I think I'll just put my old 3-9 power Leupold Vari-XIII on it.

J E Custom · #4 11-20-2007, 09:45 PM

len

The ones to watch out for are the high velocity air rifles.

I know it sounds funny but they have recoil in both directions
and rifle scopes are made for one direction and do not hold
up well.

BP rifles have a slower recoil velocity so they are easy on
rifle scopes except around the primer.

If exposed to these gases they will corrode the scope if not
cared for .

I hope this helps
J E CUSTOM

bwaites · #5 11-20-2007, 10:40 PM

I'm not a BP guy, but I also understand that BP scopes have a longer eye relief than is typical of rifle scopes.

I know my Nikon is about 3.25 inches, while many BP scopes are 5" or so.

Air rifles are hard on scopes, because they have recoil back from the air discharge, and forward from the air piston.

Bill

urbaneruralite · #6 11-21-2007, 05:37 AM

Nope. There's plenty of BP package guns out there with cheap scopes that hold zero fine. I've got a China Pentax on mine. When I'm dumb enough to put the whole 150 grains in there, it holds zero just like it does the rest of the time.

The only time I've had a problem with recoil damaging a scope on a centerfire was a semi-auto slug gun. I think that was due to the bolt slamming back.

Len Backus · #7 11-21-2007, 06:51 AM

Thanks, guys.

My scope is probably over 10 years old but I see that today's models of this one have 4.6 inches of eye relief at the lowest power. (Only 3.6 inches at the highest power)

For Andy's use, he would never use any power greater than 3.5X so it should work just fine.

I will stress to him that you need to clean the powder and primer gunk off the scope or it will quickly corrode.

On that subject, the owner of the company that makes the no-clean powder (American Pioneer) lives not far from me gave me a bunch to try. Anyone use it?