Non Magnifying Optical Sights

[miked]

It seems that we are ever working toward that accurate 250 yard muzzle loader. However, a number of states impose limitations that prevent the use of non magnifying sights. Being at the line-less trifocal stage this has become more of an issue to me than it used to be. For those of you who hunt in states that do not allow magnified sights and whose eye sight is not what it once was, what have you found to be a reasonable alternative, especially when you are hunting in areas that may present longer distance shot opportunities. Thanks

[RandyWakeman]

You said "optical," so I take it you don't care for peeps.

That leaves 1X offerings, and sights such as the Bushnell Holosight . . . std. red Dots where legal.

[Carphunter]

I used to have an older model Tasco Propoint ona Ruger Goverment .22 I used to have.  I now have an Optima on the 10mm Glock I use for hunting.

I'll say that the older tube-style sights seem to be easier to use for hunting because I didn't run into much of a parallax problem with them.  On my Optima, if I don't keep the dot pretty much in the center of the window, I can see some real interesting results.  With the Propoint, I believe that I could get off-center a lot more without these affects.

IMSAO, I'd also guess that people who are used to magnifying scopes would probably be more used to a tube-style sight versus a window.

Oh, the other problem with the Optima's is that the window is plastic and kinda easily scratched.

All that being said...as long as I practice with it, the Optima still helps me whack deer quite easily.

[Firehawk]

FWIW,
 
I live in Utah where it is illegal to use a "magnifying" scope on a Muzzleloader hunt. I have used a peep sight for about 5 years and have taken deer past 130 yards.  Much beyond that, I have struggled keeping the bead in the right place and being precise enough to feel confident with the shot.

This past fall I bought a Knight Wolverine 209 and installed a Burris 1x scope.  I have found that much less is "covered" by the crosshairs at the longer distances than what I used to be faced with using the peep.  Having been somewhat limited in my range time, I still haven't shot it at long distances yet.  I will shoot some this spring and summer and report my findings.

My brother uses a Red dot scope and I have found that it is WAY too big of a dot for precise bullet placement at distances past 100-125 yards.  I am definitely glad I went to the finer crosshairs on the Burris 1x scope.  

So I am hardly the epidome of knowledge here, but I thought that maybe what I have found could be helpful.  I maintain that with the optical limitations here in Utah, prohibit me from ethically taking a 200+ yard shot at a living animal.  FWIW this is my $.02 worth.  Firehawk