Whats your intended use? Is it for a lightweight hunting rig? Precision shooting ? Varmint gun?? All sorts of options
Low light scope that won't require a loan?
- Thread starter tipper
- Start date
Whats your intended use? Is it for a lightweight hunting rig? Precision shooting ? Varmint gun?? All sorts of options
A big part of low light is not just seeing the target, but seeing the crosshairs against a dark background. I really like the leupold VXR, although I would not consider them "budget", they seem to be about twice the price I think they should be in Canada. I use a mark AR with the firedot on my crossbow, can't beat, low light in the thick bush comes long before the end of legal shooting time. Nothing illuminated compares weight wise to leupold either for the cost. The motion switch in this scope, and my VX6 I think are fantastic. I have the illumination on by mistake on cheaper crossbow scopes and chewed through some batteries!
thepolinator
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Sudbury, ON
I really like the Bushnell Elites
TV-PressPass
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Cow-town, Alberta
Like others have said, big glass is the way to go in low-light. 56mm if you can find it.
Depending on your application, have you looked at an I2 night vision scope, or adding an illumination laser to your existing optic?
Both of these are in the sub-$500 range, and would be a low-to-no light solution.
Depending on your application, have you looked at an I2 night vision scope, or adding an illumination laser to your existing optic?
Both of these are in the sub-$500 range, and would be a low-to-no light solution.
I just ordered a Nikon Monarch 3 2.5-10X50. Under $500, taxed and shipped.
I want to try a 50mm objective, but I don't want to spend a zillion dollars if it doesn't workout.
I'll post about it when it shows up. Most of my scopes are VX-3 2.5-8s.
I want to try a 50mm objective, but I don't want to spend a zillion dollars if it doesn't workout.
I'll post about it when it shows up. Most of my scopes are VX-3 2.5-8s.
That 98% light transmission is per lens, not total light transmission. Schmidt and Bender has the highest light transmission of any optic at 96% total light transmission. manufacturers like to trump up their products by telling you about light transmission per lens under the pretence that most people don't know the difference between lens transmission and total transmission.
TW25B
I would have to agree here.
in all seriousness how far into last light does one need to see ? legal shooting light ends at a specific time and generally a hunter needs to have an optic that gives him excellent vision up until that time...... not past it. so really, buying an optic that surpasses legal shooting time isn't really needed. That said, having better low light vision in that last 1/2 hour is always a good thing and if your budget supports it..... I'd buy the very best you can afford. I own a Nikon and excellent clarity past legal shooting time is surprisingly good for the money.
I had a last light scenario play out this season in the 3rd week of October. Skies were overcast and raining off and on all day. I was watching over a swampy area bordering a haul road where moose had been crossing to head to the lake beyond. I remember checking the watch and had about 20 mins of legal shooting time remaining when 3 moose appeared in the edge of the swamp, 75 yards off the road. As they approached, the clock was ticking ever closer to last legal shooting light. As they broad sided me at 40 yards from the road, 50 yards out from me, I could, with my binoculars make out a cow, leading 2 small immature bulls (2 pts one side only). I could also easily make them out with my scope on 4 power, (Nikon Monarch 3 , 4-16x42)Good enuff for me hehehe
I passed on the bulls as I wanted something bigger this season but my friend's son took one of them the next morning out in the grass flats on the lake edge
I'm no expert so let's get that straight hehehe but for me, I spend the bigger cash on my target optics and will buy a sightron or a similar one day but for my hunting optics I always look for value for money, clarity and durability and warranty. I used to get that out of the older bushnells and enjoyed at least one vx3 leupold until one day it decided to stop focusing properly.
$869.99 for the Meopta 3-12x56 and it will be head and shoulders above others in that price range. I have the following manufacturers' optics right now: Bushnell Elite (Japanese made), Leupold VX-6 (and others), Zeiss (Victory HT and Conquest HD) and Nikon Monarch.
When it really gets to the last minutes, in the brush or valley, or when you need to count points, you need a top quality optic. But the best you can afford.
islandhunter
CGN Regular
- Location
- princeton b.c.
No one has mentioned burris? I bought the 4.5-14 x42 at Canadian tire for $299. It blows all of my other $300 scopes away in low light...This Po'boy is buying more burris for sure!!
I am not sure folks should get too hung up on "percentage of light" transmission numbers; it is best to look at a target of similar colour to the game you will be hunting in low light conditions - and compare it to other scopes to see which works best for you, also:
a) light transmission is meaningless if it is comprised of wavelength that you cannot see
b) high light transmission (that you can see) might be irrelevant if the optic delivers a low contrast image or the resolution is low (or both) ... making the target difficult to discern
c) as an aside on "illuminated reticles" ... these can sometimes be a double edged sword - if too bright you may be easily able to see the reticle but your pupil may have closed sufficiently in reaction to the bright reticle that you are unable to take maximum advantage of the image presented by the exit pupil of the scope.
d) great light transmission, resolution and contrast can be negated by a poor reticle design for the conditions you are hunting in such that by the time you find it in the scope - the game is gone; The European favorites are 6x,42 and 8x,56 with big thick "picket/post" reticles ... although I really like the 6x, 42 ... the 8x,56 can be a little too big like a 1 liter coke bottle
always best to try to compare them in the situation you intend to use them. People used to complain that the older Swarovski scopes had a distracting yellow tint to the image; they did not understand that the yellow tint could enhance contrast and reduce UV blue -- often found at altitude etc
a) light transmission is meaningless if it is comprised of wavelength that you cannot see
b) high light transmission (that you can see) might be irrelevant if the optic delivers a low contrast image or the resolution is low (or both) ... making the target difficult to discern
c) as an aside on "illuminated reticles" ... these can sometimes be a double edged sword - if too bright you may be easily able to see the reticle but your pupil may have closed sufficiently in reaction to the bright reticle that you are unable to take maximum advantage of the image presented by the exit pupil of the scope.
d) great light transmission, resolution and contrast can be negated by a poor reticle design for the conditions you are hunting in such that by the time you find it in the scope - the game is gone; The European favorites are 6x,42 and 8x,56 with big thick "picket/post" reticles ... although I really like the 6x, 42 ... the 8x,56 can be a little too big like a 1 liter coke bottle
always best to try to compare them in the situation you intend to use them. People used to complain that the older Swarovski scopes had a distracting yellow tint to the image; they did not understand that the yellow tint could enhance contrast and reduce UV blue -- often found at altitude etc
Last edited:
A light weight predator rifle optic doesn't need to be 56 mm objective big, nor need a lot of power in the 20 or 30's. Id look at a low power variable in a 40-44mm objective by Leica, Leupold, Swarovski, Zeiss and life will be good. Keep it light, compact and balanced to your rifle. Shop the EE and you can get some nice glass for $800.
Cheers!!
Cheers!!
Stay away from Bushnell. The last two of them I've owned were very disappointing, one was an elite 6500 and I still wasn't happy with it's glass quality. As far as I'm concerned the best thing about them these days is their warranty.
For quality under $1000 I would go with either a Burris or Nikon and if you can find one an even better option would be a used Sightron off the EE (new are just a little over $1000 last I checked). My Sightron 6-24x50 is pretty much equal in optical clarity to my Nightforce NXS. The Sightron is a better optic for a hunting rig as it is much lighter and built more like a hunting scope than a heavy tactical optic like the Nightforce.
If you buy a cheap scope you'll just end up replacing it down the road so you're better off saving up for a little longer to buy the Sightron in a few months instead of settling for something cheaper now. Jerry's suggestion of the S-Tac 2.5-17x56 is probably the best scope you can put on a varmint rig. The low 2.5 power will let you get off a quick shot if a yote or wolf sneaks in close and the 17 power will let you reach out nicely if they're being wary that day. A buddy of mine has one on his 308 and it's a great optic and would be my next purchase if I needed a mid range optic for a hunting/varmint rifle.
For quality under $1000 I would go with either a Burris or Nikon and if you can find one an even better option would be a used Sightron off the EE (new are just a little over $1000 last I checked). My Sightron 6-24x50 is pretty much equal in optical clarity to my Nightforce NXS. The Sightron is a better optic for a hunting rig as it is much lighter and built more like a hunting scope than a heavy tactical optic like the Nightforce.
If you buy a cheap scope you'll just end up replacing it down the road so you're better off saving up for a little longer to buy the Sightron in a few months instead of settling for something cheaper now. Jerry's suggestion of the S-Tac 2.5-17x56 is probably the best scope you can put on a varmint rig. The low 2.5 power will let you get off a quick shot if a yote or wolf sneaks in close and the 17 power will let you reach out nicely if they're being wary that day. A buddy of mine has one on his 308 and it's a great optic and would be my next purchase if I needed a mid range optic for a hunting/varmint rifle.
