Experienced
riflemen know that the long recoil produced by a large-bore muzzle-loaded rifle
and hefty hunting load delivers more punishment to a rifle scope than the
recoil produced by the vast majority of center-fire big game rifles. No one in the U.S. does more shooting with
the popular No. 209 primer ignition in-line muzzleloading rifles than Toby
Bridges of the NORTH AMERICAN MUZZLELOADER HUNTING Association. During the course of an average year, he puts
between 3,000 and 4,000 rounds down range, and his muzzleloader hunting scope
of choice is the one he helped Hi-Lux Optics develop - the 3-9x40mm multi-reticle
TB-ML model.
Bridges conducts extensive testing
of muzzleloading rifles, powders, sabots and bullets, and in a single year any
given rifle or scope that he shoots with sees more service than the typical
scoped modern muzzle-loaded hunting rifle survives during the lifetime of its
owner. The silver finish TB-ML scope
shown in the accompanying photo has certainly been no exception. In less than 4 years, this scope has now had
11,000+ hefty muzzle-loaded hunting charges fired under it - including the one
that took this Montana whitetail buck at 140 yards in November 2013.
The load for the .50 caliber
Traditions Vortek Ultra Light LDR rifle consisted of 110-grains of Blackhorn
209 and a saboted Harvester Muzzleloading 300-grain Scorpion PT Gold
bullet. At the muzzle of the 30-inch
barreled No. 209 primer ignition rifle, the combination develops a muzzle
velocity of 2,009 f.p.s., generating 2,691 f.p.e. Due to the progressive burning tendency of
modern black powder substitutes such as Blackhorn 209, the load also generates
a long recoil that often proves destructive to lesser scopes. The scope shown here has already stood up to
nearly four lifetimes of modern in-line ignition muzzleloader shooting - and
it's ready to take on a fifth. For more
on Toby Bridges' testing of this scope, visit the NORTH AMERICAN MUZZLELOADER
HUNTING website at www.namlhunt.com.
The Hi-Lux Optics TB-ML models are
one of the very best buys in modern muzzleloading rifle optics today. The blued model retails for $179, and the
silver model retails for $189. Both come
with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
More than 1,000 rounds were fired to
develop the BDC style reticle of this scope, which allows a dead on hold at 100
yards and again at 200 yards, 225 yards and 250 yards. Other features that make this scope such a
great buy include photographic quality lenses which are fully multi-coated to
insure a bright, clear and super sharp sight picture. The TB-ML scope is also built with positive
1/4" click windage and elevation adjustment and Tri-Center spring tension
to insure that those adjustments are positive.
More on this scope and others in the
line can be found on the Hi-Lux Optics website at -
www.hi-luxoptics.com.
www.hi-luxoptics.com.
