The Hi-Lux Optics 3-9x40mm TB-ML multi-reticle muzzleloader hunting scope was developed on the very rifle one of the scopes is mounted on in the photo at left - a Knight Rifles .50 caliber "Long Range Hunter". To determine the location of the lower long range cross-bar reticles for shooting at 200... 225 ...and 250 yards, more than 1,000 saboted bullet rounds were fired through this rifle over the course of several months.

I know, because I did all of that shooting, loading with a wide range of currently popular sabot-bullet combinations. My goal was to not only determine where those longer range reticles needed to be located, but to also find the loads that could be recommended which would allow other muzzleloading hunters to duplicate the same degree of accuracy and performance. The primary bullets shot included the 260- and 300-grain Scorpion PT Gold from Harvester Muzzleloading, the 250- and 300-grain Hornady SST, the 245- and 285-grain Barnes Spitfire, as well as the 250- and 290-grain Spitfire TMZ also by Barnes, and the 250- and 300-grain Ballistic Extreme produced by Parker Productions. All were shot with powder charges that would get these bullets out of the muzzle at velocities ranging from 1,950 to 2,025 f.p.s.

All initial shooting was done with a 110-grain charge of FFFg Triple Seven and with the two weights of the Harvester Muzzleloading saboted .451" diameter Scorpion PT Gold. The charge would get the lighter 260-grain bullet out of the muzzle at around 2,018 f.p.s., and the heavier 300-grain bullet on its way at 1,955 f.p.s. With the rifle sighted "dead on" at 100 yards, the degree of bullet drop was then determined at 200...225...and 250 yards. I then did the same with each of the other bullets listed. What I discovered was, that at each range, all of these bullets printed within 3 inches of one another. From the data collected, the folks at Hi-Lux Optics determined where to locate the longer range cross-bar reticles in the first prototype of the TB-ML scope.


When the first of the TB-ML scopes arrived for testing, it was back to the range. I was amazed at how well the lower cross-bar reticles performed. Starting with the .220 ballistic coefficient 260-grain Scorpion PT Gold bullet, loading with 110-grains of FFFg Triple Seven, I made sure the rifle and load were "dead on" at 100 yards - then moved to a 200 yard target. Using the first (upper) of the three lower reticles, holding center of the 4" black bullseye, three shots all printed inside of 2 1/2 inches - about 1 1/2 inches above point of aim. At 225 yards, the 260-grain Scorpion PT Gold averaged hitting the target about 3/4-inch below point of aim. At 250 yards three shots averaged about 2 inches below point of aim. When I switched to the 300-grain version of the bullet, at 200 yards it printed about an inch below center of the bull...at 225 yards the bullet hit right at an inch above point of aim...and at 250 yards, point of impact was right at 2 inches above point of aim. The higher .250 b.c. of the slightly longer and 40-grain heavier bullet accounted for the higher point of impact at the longer ranges.

Subsequent testing with all the bullets previously listed, shooting either 110-grains of FFFg Triple Seven or three of the "50-grain" Triple Seven Pellets, I found that at all ranges each of these bullets would print within +/- of 1 1/2 to 2 inches of point of aim. With a center chest hold on a whitetail with the proper reticle at a carefully determined range, this scope will keep hits well inside of the 9-10 inch "kill zone" of a deer-sized target.

The buck in the photo was one of seven deer taken during my first season with the Hi-Lux TB-ML scope - and was shot at the farthest distance. It was a cold 8-degree morning, and just after good light, this ten-pointer jumped the fence and was skirting the far edge of a small pasture. I felt the deer was close to 200 yards away, and had already determined that it would pass near a huge old cottonwood tree. Still, I used a laser rangefinder to take a reading on the tree, which was 197 yards from my ground blind. As the whitetail walked directly in front of the tree, I placed the 200-yard reticle of the TB-ML scope dead center of the buck's chest cavity, and when the deer stopped to look around, my finger tightened on the trigger. The .50 caliber Knight rifle bellowed, and I heard the 260-grain Scorpion PT Gold drive home. The deer ran less than 30 yards and dropped in the fresh snow that had fallen through the night. When I walked over to admire the deer, there was a very well centered hole in the chest cavity, maybe an inch from where I remembered the crosshair being when the rifle fired.

I've since taken close to 30 whitetails with rifles topped with a TB-ML scope, including three other nice bucks taken at 170 to 210 yards. My longest shot on a deer with the same rifle and scope shown in the above photo was on a large doe taken for the freezer. I ranged the deer at 244 yards, and with a center chest hold using the 250-yard cross-bar reticle, the 300-grain Scorpion PT Gold used on that hunt hit less than 2 inches above my point of aim. The deer, hit with about 1,250 foot pounds of retained energy, literally dropped on the spot. Later that same day, I had the opportunity to take a long shot at a coyote, which I guessed to be at 250 yards. Placing the 250-yard reticle center of the chest cavity, that coyote flipped over backwards when the bullet hit, and was laying in the same spot when I walked over. Curious to see how closely I had guessed the range, I took a reading on the tree I had used for a rest. Ironically, it turned out to be 244 yards away.

The past couple of seasons, I've pretty much hunted exclusively with 110-grain charges of Blackhorn 209, and I now do a lot of test shooting with this powder. It is just a tad hotter than FFFg Triple Seven, and burns a whole lot cleaner. The added 20 to 30 f.p.s. of most loads has not affected points of impact at longer ranges enough to be noticeable. One test that I've performed with my TB-ML equipped Knight "Long Range Hunter" was to shoot 50 consecutive shots with Blackhorn 209...without wiping the bore once. Thanks to the precision of the Hi-Lux Optics scope and Knight rifle, plus the clean burning qualities of Blackhorn 209, I managed to put all 50 of those shots through one 1.6 inch hole at 100 yards. The combo shot and the group can be seen in the accompanying photo at right.

There are now a number of multi-reticle muzzleloader scopes on the market. I've shot with several of them, a couple which have made me happy to shoot and hunt with a rifle equipped with the Hi-Lux Optics TB-ML scope. I prefer the simple, non cluttered reticles of this scope. I know this scope does what it is supposed to do, and after putting nearly 8,500 rounds under the original prototype of this scope, it is still right on the money. The TB-ML is one very well built scope. Suggested retail for the scope with a black matte finish is $179, with a silver finish the TB-ML scope goes for $189. As with all Hi-Lux Optics models, the scope comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

For more on this scope and a great line up of other models, go to the Hi-Lux Optics website a www.hi-luxoptics.com. Or call 1-888-445-8912 Or contact Toby at the following e-mail for technical info of this scope: