Best 1x Muzzleloader Scope

Skip the history of our 1x scope experience and go straight to the list of our top 1x muzzleloader scope choices.

Back in the day before the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources decided to go back and forth with optics on muzzleloaders, I used both a Vortex 1x24 and the now-discontinued Nikon Buckmaster 1x20 Muzzleloader Scope on my muzzleloaders. With these 1x scopes, I could shoot out to 200 yards, but after that, the thick reticles would cover up much of the target, making it too difficult for me to shoot past that range.

A few years back, variable power optics were made legal by the UDWR to help get more people wanting to muzzleloader hunt and fewer people complaining that they can't get a general rifle deer tag. When this happened, I started working toward upgrading my muzzleloading system. I ended up purchasing a CVA Paramount in 45 caliber and a Vortex 4-16x44 HST scope. This system was money for me out to 500 yards. You can learn more about setting this muzzleloader up in this article: Go Long with the CVA Paramount Muzzleloader

For the 2024 hunting season, the UDWR went back to 1x power optics. Oh, how I wish they had never messed with this in the first place. Anyhow, it was time for me to find a new 1x optic for my muzzleloader, as well as Dallen's and Kaden's muzzleloaders.

I initially thought that the Leupold Freedom RDS BDC with dialable MOA elevation turret would be the right optic for my Paramount with a 1 MOA red dot. I purchased one and right off the bat, I didn't like the clarity of the advertised "1 MOA" sized red dot. The red dot looks larger than 1 MOA in size to me and is rather fuzzy for my eyes. I also found reflections within the optic to be quite annoying. You can see internal parts within the scope reflected in your view, things like a white rectangle around where the red dot is projected from. Because of this, I passed this optic along to Dallen for his CVA Accura V2 muzzleloader. The Leupold Freedom RDS is working great for him and he is dialing up shots out to 250 and drilling the targets.

With Utah hunters needing 1x optics Vortex brought back their 1x24 muzzleloader scope. I thought about getting another one of these scopes but having already used one in the past felt there had to be something better.

An EOTECH XPS2 Holographic Sight looked very intriguing. The technology they use on this red dot sight does indeed produce a very fine sub-MOA-sized red dot. If they were not so expensive and I didn't have to turn them on to see the sight, I might be using one of these optics. A friend of mine has one on an AR rifle and let me look through it. They are nice. Another bonus is that you could mount a magnifier on the rail behind the optic to help with sighting it in, just remove the magnifier for hunting, of course.

Ultimately, a Primary Arms SLx 1X MicroPrism with an ACSS reticle is what Kaden and I have gone with for our muzzleloaders. This is a true scope with the reticle etched in the glass. You can illuminate the reticle but so far I have preferred to shoot with the illumination turned off. The chevron aiming point is really small and gives me great target holding options out to 300+ yards. 

Primary Arms has two very similar models, the SLx (Silver series) and the GLx (Gold series). The SLx is made in China and the GLx is made in the Philippines. I have been very happy with my SLx but from what I can tell the biggest upgrade with the GLx is that it might be a little brighter with better glass.

At the range, I have been dead-on out to 300 yards with the Primary Arms 1x microprism on my Paramount muzzleloader. 

If the Primary Arms SLx with ACSS Cyclops reticle had a dialable turret with a zero stop, I believe shots out to 400 yards or more with a muzzleloader like the CVA Endura could be doable with some practice.

Kaden initially went with an older Bushnell HOLOSight (same technology as EOTECH sights). After missing a buck during the 2024 muzzleloader deer season with the HOLOsight, we decided to upgrade to a Primary Arms SLx 1X MicroPrism like mine, except he went with the FDE color while mine is black.

What are our top 1x optics for Muzzleloaders?

Let me preface this list by saying that if I were only going to shoot 200 yards or less, all of the 1x optics listed here would work well. Only the listed variations of my #1 pick give me the ability to shoot out to 300 yards and potentially beyond. My #3 choice also would work for shots out to 300 yards, but not as good of an option as #1.

8.24.2026 - We might have a new #1. I just learned about a new scope that, if the specs on their website ring true, it could be a great 1x scope. I'm working on getting one, hopefully soon and will report back. Check them out at: Western Optic

#1 Primary Arms SLx or GLx 1x Microprism Scopes

• These scopes are true scopes with a reticle etched in glass (no need to worry about a battery failure or turning it on)
• You can illuminate the reticle if you want, but I have never felt the need to do so in the field
• The really small ACSS Cyclops chevron aiming point is crisp and provides excellent holdover aim points out to 300 yards with my CVA Paramount muzzleloader (see holdover images from Strelok ballistic app). Also, see actual photos of the reticle on a 300-yard target.
• The price is reasonable for the quality of optics and compared to other 1x optic offerings
• A dialable turret with a zero stop would make this scope the bomb. If you could dial a shot and use the very tip of the Chevron for your aiming point, I feel you could extend your range beyond 300 yards with these scopes.
• Primary Arms in 2026 is now offering the SLx with an H1/T1 footprint. Shown on the packaging for the new H1/T1 version, it says " 2.26" riser mount & low mount included ", but they actually only come with the really high 2.26" mount. I recommend getting a low-mount for use with a muzzleloader.
• Also, in 2026, I learned that a new ACSS Gemini 9mm Reticle is available on the SLx with H1/T1 footprint. This reticle has a slightly smaller chevron aiming point than the ACSS Cyclops reticle and has two usable holdover aiming points. I recently purchased an SLx with this ACSS Gemini 9mm Reticle and this reticle looks to be a better option for longer-distance shooting than the ACSS Cyclops.
• Whenever BPI sends me an Endura to replace my Paramount, I will be switching to the Gemini 9mm Reticle. You can see why in my review of the two reticles.

Learn more about the Primary Arms 1x microscopes in this article: 1x Primary Arms SLx ACSS Cyclops & Gemini 9mm Reticle

Tip: You can sometimes find the SLX or GLX at a better price directly from Primary Arms.

#2 Muzzle-loaders Genesis 1x24mm MZ1104 Scope

• No batteries required. This is a true scope.
• Decent quality scope at a very affordable price. This scope is the least expensive of the scopes I have used and is strikingly similar to the Vortex Crossfire II for around $80 less.
• Around a 3+ MOA reticle thickness, blocking targets at extended ranges
• This scope does have a BDC Reticle, but being only a 1x scope, it is useless unless you are shooting truck-sized targets 675 to 1300 yards away. See why the BDC is too large in this article: Closer Look At The 1x Muzzle-Loaders Genesis & Vortex Crossfire II Scopes
• A very small 1 MOA or smaller dot in a floating-point dot reticle and add target turrets with a locking zero stop and this could be an amazing one-power "longer range" muzzleloader scope

• #2.5 Vortex Crossfire II 1x24 Scope

  • Like my favorite SLx 1x scope, this is a true scope with no batteries required
  • This is a more affordable option and a good quality scope
  • The full-length side-to-side and top-to-bottom duplex crosshairs make it difficult for me to shoot past 200 yards, as more of the target is obstructed from my vision 
  • This scope needs a floating dot reticle with a one MOA or smaller dot in the center and dialable target style turrets with a zero stop and it would be amazing

• #2? Athlon Optics Talos HMR 1x24

  • August 2026 - I've just learned about this new muzzleloader-specific scope that looks similar to the Vortex and Muzzle-Loaders scopes. I haven't had the opportunity to handle one yet.
  • The dialable target turret looks good and gets a plus from me for having this option.
  • The reticle appears to be just as heavy as the Vortex and Muzzle-Loaders 1x scopes. I need to look through one to verify this. If the reticle is as heavy as it would appear, then having a target turret is negated by a reticle covering the target... unless you have a really large target.
  • My suspicions on the large reticle size appear to be correct from this video from Ultimate Reloader. They have this Athlon 1x scope on a tricked-out Endura muzzleloader that is hitting targets at 700 yards with a variable-powered scope. If you watch toward the end, they take it out to a distance of... 100 yards and the reticle is covering a 4-inch target. They talk about how nice it is to dial for the 100-yard shot. LOL! 

See this article for greater details and a comparison of these similar 1x scopes: Closer Look At The 1x Muzzle-Loaders Genesis & Vortex Crossfire II Scopes

#3 EOTECH XPS2 Holographic Sight

• These sights are very high quality
• This is a holographic sight using a laser to illuminate a recorded hologram and is truly one MOA or less in size, making a very fine aiming point
• With the small aiming point, you could effectively take shots out to 300 yards using hold overs with a fast velocity using a higher BC bullet
• Batteries are required and extra time is needed to turn the optic on and adjust the brightness in the possible excitement of a fleeting moment you have to take a shot
• This optic is the highest-priced 1x optic I have seen
• Like the SLx scope this is a scope with a small enough aining point that you can actually use it to shoot deer sized targets at 300 or more yards

#4 Leupold Freedom RDS BDC

• The only 1x optic with an exposed, dialable elevation turret with a zero stop. This is a great feature!
• This is a red dot sight that uses an LED light reflected off coated glass. It is advertised as a one MOA dot but it looks much larger to me and blurry in a slanting, oval-like shape. You can dim the light down to make the dot less blurry and smaller but then the dot becomes difficult to see in the daylight. The coated glass reflects a lot more than just the LED light. It is reflecting all sorts of other mechanisms inside the optic that can be distracting as you look through it
• Again, this requires a working battery and extra time to turn the optic on in the possible excitement of the moment
• Around 250 yards is where I think this optic maxes out, unless you can get the brightness of the dot way low and still be able to see your target
• The price is higher than the Primary Arms, Muzzle-Loaders and Vortex options

See this article for greater details on this optic: Leupold Freedom RDS 1x Red Dot Muzzleloader Scope

Other 1x Scope Thoughts 

These are my top picks. I have a muzzleloader capable of ethically taking big game out to 500 yards and beyond with a good variable power optic. You can watch me shooting steel at 475 yards in this article: Go Long with the CVA Paramount Muzzleloader. I know my muzzleloader can shoot longer distances and I'm looking for the best option to shoot effectively as far as possible, given the limits of the optic. I also dislike needing batteries for the optic to function and fiddling with turning it on and adjusting the brightness settings during the hunt.

Other microprism scopes and red dot sights I have looked into have larger aiming points than I like. It is common to see 2 MOA dots and even 6 MOA dots. This is just too large to be able to see a deer-sized target at "loner" ranges. To effectively take longer shots, a true 1 MOA dot or the very crisp chevron aiming point of the Primary Arms ACSS Cyclops Reticle is needed.

Related Articles

• Closer Look At The 1x Muzzle-Loaders Genesis & Vortex Crossfire II Scopes
• Why Blackhorn 209 is the Best Powder for Muzzleloaders
• 2025 Henry Mountain Muzzleloader Deer Hunt
• Go Long with the CVA Paramount Muzzleloader
• Nikon Buckmaster 1x20 Muzzleloader Scope
• Setting Up My New CVA Accura V2 with Vortex 1x24 Scope