Glass

[Good Cheer]

You guys with failing eyesight that have found the need to go with scopes on your side lock muzzleloaders, what configurations have you found to work best?

[LAGS]

Before I had my eye correction surgery.
I put a scope on one of my TC's.
It is a model where you can still use the iron sights.
It sits right over the barrel and uses a standard 1" scope.
It was a little high.
But when I installed it on the one Renegade that had the least drop in the stock , it worked best for me.
But now my eyesight is much better.
So I don't use a scope any more except to shoot rifles past 200 yards.
Which I seldom do with a ML.
I can't remember who made the mount and it was one that I bought used.

[country gent]

For a while I had a bushnel 2 1/2 phantom on my renegade used the contender rail mount for it. mounted over where the rear site went. Was far enough ahead of the hammer that the spur didnt need bent. It was along the lines of what would be a scout scope mounting today.

It worked well and was low enough to allow a cheek weld

Being head of the nipple it would get some powder residue on the rear lens

[M-Tecs]

Red dots and scout scopes are an option also. Traditional scopes may require bending the hammer. The other issue is powder fouling damage to the scope itself. I am not much of fan of cheap scopes but for sidelock usage cheap disposable scope have some merit.

[LAGS]

I did find that putting a scope on my TC's did help me a lot to test accuracy in my loads for each rifle.
I would put the scope on each one and do a round of shooting with different loads.
I was able to find the most accurate load for each rifle quicker.
Then I knew what to load for each rifle was the most accurate.
I was really surprised at how much difference there was between rifles just in the different loads and projects.

[indian joe]

I have a little 32 wesson that I have kept with the idea of doing this (got several spare scopes stashed away) need something that I can shoot pest birds out of the trees around the place without acidentally potting the guy next door off his quad bike. I know that little gun is accurate enough at 50 yards but my eyes have slipped some and I figure a scope might stretch us back to 70 yards or so.

[Good Cheer]

Before I had my eye correction surgery.
I put a scope on one of my TC's.
It is a model where you can still use the iron sights.
It sits right over the barrel and uses a standard 1" scope.
It was a little high.
But when I installed it on the one Renegade that had the least drop in the stock , it worked best for me.
But now my eyesight is much better.
So I don't use a scope any more except to shoot rifles past 200 yards.
Which I seldom do with a ML.
I can't remember who made the mount and it was one that I bought used.

Hey LAGS,
What kind of problems did your eyes have and what kind of surgery did you have?

[LAGS]

I had Cataract and astigmatism
My eyesight went from 20/40 to 20/25.
Now I only need to put on glasses to read.
They replaced the lenses on my eyes and did an insert in one eye to correct the astigmatism to make my vision way better.

[Good Cheer]

Had my right eye peeled to remove washboard roughness and scarring and the surface is regrown. One more month until it can get final testing prior to cataract surgery with astigmatism correction. So I'm hanging fire on the scope.
If I go with a scope it will be on a lefthanded target piece.
Looking forwards to getting to eye upgrades done!

[winelover]

Mounted an Ultradot on my Renegade, in the scout position. Used the same drilled & tapped holes that held the rear site in place.

Winelover

[fastdadio]

I glued a 3" pic rail forward of the rear sight on my TC Hawken and mounted a red dot on it. It works well.

[charlie b]

I have an old TC pistol scope that was first used on a Contender (3x). I put it on my Lyman GPH for a while. D/T for a short weaver rail and mounted as low as I could get it. I used the original sight dovetail for one of the screws. It is in the 'scout' position, well forward.

The only real issue (besides not looking that great) is the residue from the percussion caps gets on the rear lens. That surprised me since it is about 8" from the cap. I ended up removing it and just using the peep sights (Lyman 57 rear and globe 17 front). I use the 'O' front insert and use targets with a bullseye that fits within that 'O'. If I hunted with it I'd go back to the scope.

[indian joe]

I had Cataract and astigmatism
My eyesight went from 20/40 to 20/25.
Now I only need to put on glasses to read.
They replaced the lenses on my eyes and did an insert in one eye to correct the astigmatism to make my vision way better.

My wife just had tthe same operation - now got better eyesight than she has had since primary school - three weeks now since the second op so still improving - getting used to the look of her without glasses is a bit of a puzzle my end - 1970 is a long time ago

[Graysmoke]

My better half her eyes done this summer and is mostly happy with it. Said if and when I need it maybe not getting the one near and one far lens, sometimes depth perception is affected like when threading a needle. I told her I was worried when she was recovered that she might not like what she sees looking at me! Oh well to late now!
She wanted to be without glasses totally, it worked but there is a give n take. I don’t think I like the one eye slightly blurry kinda makes you want to rub it to clear it allways. But then you’re stuck with readers.
Graysmoke

[Boerrancher]

I thought it was about optics time for my 36 cal as the sights on it were horrible. Then I heard about and purchased a Tom A Hawk folding rear peep sight and that seems to be a godsend. I like it so much I am going to order another for my mountain rifle. I found out about it from an Octogenarian acquaintance down in Texas who was complaining about his poor eyesight, yet I was seeing him shoot 2” groups at 100 yds and hogs in the head with his 54 cal Kibler. I was poking fun at him saying, he complains about bad eyes but I see how well he shoots. He showed me his Tom A Hawk sight, and said if it wasn’t for it he would have to mount a scope or quit shooting and hunting.

[Hamish]

I thought it was about optics time for my 36 cal as the sights on it were horrible. Then I heard about and purchased a Tom A Hawk folding rear peep sight and that seems to be a godsend. I like it so much I am going to order another for my mountain rifle. I found out about it from an Octogenarian acquaintance down in Texas who was complaining about his poor eyesight, yet I was seeing him shoot 2” groups at 100 yds and hogs in the head with his 54 cal Kibler. I was poking fun at him saying, he complains about bad eyes but I see how well he shoots. He showed me his Tom A Hawk sight, and said if it wasn’t for it he would have to mount a scope or quit shooting and hunting.

More info about the peep Joe is referencing here: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/t....145105/page-3

[Boerrancher]

More info about the peep Joe is referencing here: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/t....145105/page-3

Thanks Hamish! I forgot to post the link.

[AntiqueSledMan]

I installed a Marble's Bullseye rear sight with an Orange Fiber sight on front.
Not as good as a scope, but so far they seam to work for me.

AntiqueSledMan.

[Nobade]

If you really want deluxe, an underhammer with a Unertl on top is slick.

I like that peep sight idea! I need to come up with something like that for my Kibler SMR. That rifle is incredibly accurate but I can't see where I'm pointing it most of the time.

[rbuck351]

I got an adapter that uses small pistol or rifle primers instead of caps. I get no residue or leakage from it.
.