Hello everyone. I finally had the chance to go to the range and try out the Sightmark Wraith HD 4-32x50 scope.
I will start by saying that I like it a lot. You just have to undertand what you are getting and its limitations.
It mounted easily with the provided scope base. Unfortunately we did not have the QD mount to test remounting and keeping zero.
To start, the most important thing to understand is that this is essentially a digital camera with scope functions. The viewing screen is plenty bright and can be dimmed depending on preference. You start with a magnified 4x lens, which is less than optimal for close-in work. Starting at 4x, you press the zoom button and it steps forward digital zoom. I found the farther I zoomed, the more grainy the image, but it was still very usable. At 100 yards, I had the target filling half the screen and after the shot I would zoom in until I saw the new hole in the target.
The scope seemed to hold true and my shots were predictable based on my ability to shoot well, so it did its job.
The menu buttons were easy to use and I found the menu very intuitive.
Zeroing the scope was a breeze. You shoot one or a few rounds, you stay on target, and you navigate the few control button presses to adjust your scope zero. You then use the arrows to move the zero to where it should be based on your shots and you save it. You now have a new scope zero.
Being a digital scope, it offers some interesting bells and whistles such as changing the color of the crosshairs, and the type of crosshairs. I don't recall exactly but I believe that there were about 10 possible crosshair colors and an equal amount of crosshair types. Since the crosshairs are digital, superimposed on the viewed image, you don't get a fatter crosshair the farther you zoom in.
I did a day shoot so I could not test real night vision. However, I switched between regular color mode and the green or grey and white NV mode and I was able to shoot no problem. Sometimes my view in NV mode would get washed out with light reflection, but I expected that during a sunny day. One advantage of this being a digital scope is that you can run in NV mode during the day without damaging the optics.
The Wraith comes with its own illuminator and mount that by all reported accounts is good enough for 200 yard shots. It can be mounted either on the left side or right side which was great since I am a leftie. Using the menu buttons to zoom and adjust things would be awkward with the illuminator in the way.
During my day shoot, I could clearly see my target page at 185 yards in NV mode, as long as it had good color contrast on the target page. I preferred the NV green mode over the grey mode, so I only checked the green NV mode for the far target.
I did try the NV at home one evening when it was pretty dark out. Ambient light from nearby houses did not give me a whole lot to see but as soon as I turned on that illuminator, it was like night and day. I was seeing good image contrast and focus for quite a ways.
The 4 AA batteries are supposed to run for 4 hours on the scope. I did not test how long they would last. I would recommed several sets of rechargeable batteries if used for an extended period overnight. The illuminator takes one CR123a 3v battery.
Ok, so only two downsides that I found with the setup.
First, the minimum 4x is not great for close in work. 2x or 1x would have been better but then your top 32x zoom would have been less. As long as you know that limitation and work around it, then it is what it is.
Second, and the only real downside I found in the whole setup for me is that the front focus adjustment ring has to be pretty much adjusted every time you zoom. There is no auto zoom. If you are at 100 yards and you zoom a bit farther, the image is out of focus until you adjust the focus for that range. Any zoom motion is a two step process. Zoom with the forward or backward button, then turn the front focus ring to get it right.
This can be a detriment if trying to shoot a critter on the move coming closer or moving farther. You could still shoot but as it leaves the focused in range, it becomes out of focus. You could likely still make out the general shape and take the shot, but you will likely be less certain of which part you aimed for. This focus issue would obviously be much less pronounced if the target is slow moving or stationary as you could take the time to adjust the focus before raking the shot.
I can't attest how well the scope would do for a target that would be fast moving side to side. One youtuber I watched did a quick whistle to get the critter to stop and look around before taking the shot.
Overall, knowing the two limitations above, and considering the price tag is still $649.99 at Cabelas.ca and in stock, i feel you get a lot for the money. It is a fully functional NV scope with illuminator that works well for what it is and can be used day or night.
Two thumbs up for me.
