Rifle Scopes Illumination - who uses it, when, and what for?

[osu92]

I've lived, shot (some PRS competitions), and hunted out West my whole life and I don't ever really recall having a need for an illuminated reticle. Growing up using Leupold 3-9's they didn't have any illumination, and even when I bought a Nightforce NXS years and years ago, I didn't ever even turn it on to the point I forgot it was even there.

So reading the consternation over Leupold's illumination in their new Mark 5s got me wondering how people even go about using them. Is it shooting for fun really early and late? Hunting? I can see where there might be a military application but in the civilian world I'm curious where it applies.

I apologize for my ignorance in advance. ;-)

 

[spife7980]

I never actually "use" them but I have turned it on when shooting a night match before if only because it looked cooler. Didnt help find the cross hairs on illuminated targets. My hunting scopes all have reticles thick enough that I can find them well enough when spotlighting a pig or coyote and the like.

The one situation I have heard of (but never encountered personally) is when using a front focal zoomed out at night, the illumination will help find the crosshair because they get really small at night. I never use my front focals when zoomed way out though.

 

[wareagle700]

Hunting in and around thick timber, shadows, and high contrast areas in less than ideal lighting conditions make an illuminated reticle nice to have.

 

[supercorndogs]

I had some black targets that were hard to quarter with out it.

 

[STROP]

The high mag zoom scopes usually feature a reticle fine enough to not be too thick at max magnification.

If you can only afford one great scope then illum helps you find Olive Oyl faster.

 

[flyright]

Wareagle has it - hunting in the darkening woods, it can be very handy. Shooting dark targets in low light it works nicely.

 

[CBDR]

Yep. Hunting last light at 23:15 Pitch Black conditions with 33% moon illuminations the PVS-30 was all over it. That little red cross is worth every penny. The hogs are taken some heavy losses. Better to have it, opportunities present themselves at the most unusual times,

 

[Velocity Chad]

I won't do without on my hunting guns. I use it every evening or morning hunt. Particularly coyote when I hunt later or at night.

 

[101stinfantry]

Hunting, or when you start getting old, and the damn eyesight starts its inevitable downhill slide.

 

[natdscott]

I like to use it to shoot things when it's dark. Might just be me...

 

[supercorndogs]

I almost never use it, but it adds to the verticality of the scope.

 

[TheGerman]

It helps in low light shooting when your reticle basically washes out/gets lost in shadows, but the bloom from the illumination can do the same thing.

For night vision you 90% of the time don't need it as the reticle will be well defined and the illumination actually blooms even more.

Other than low light shooting into a dark area/black target, the only other time I can remember I ever turned it on was when I was going to use the optic on its lowest setting to aim close up when I was going to have to shoot like you would with an RDS, but did not have one.

 

[stello1001]

I like to hunt at night with nothing but light provided by the moon. Good luck seeing your reticle if there is no illumination on it.

 

[shipereyes445]

In short, rifle scope has a vital role to play for the hunters in order to give good shooting capability to a person. On the contrary, illuminated reticle is a type of reticle that shows red light point. Therefore, the illuminated reticle provides great accuracy in low light as well as at night.

 

[Ruggedtouch]

I use it because at lower power with a FFP scope and an astigmatic right eye, It helps me shoot more accurately.

 

[pineoak]

I don't hunt, only used it 3x when the light was waning. If you keep it dim, you can find your reticle when you otherwise would be looking for a thin black line on dark grey/dark brown/dark green. If you only shoot during the day, not useful.

I wouldn't pay extra for ill unless I was hunting or competing PRS at a high level

 

[deersniper]

I won't do without on my hunting guns. I use it every evening or morning hunt. Particularly coyote when I hunt later or at night.

Yup. Plus use it every now and then with thermal clip ons to help find the horseshoe a little quicker.

 

[bigwatchpilot]

I have everything from new and fancy to old and rustic. This year I shot a 5 year old buck on my property the last week of the season. When I go out I usually stand in front of the safe for a minute trying to pick the 'lucky' rifle. I pulled my 1978 Colt Sauer with VX2 on it and it did the job and made me wonder why I needed anything more. It was :20 till dark and thick woods. I could see him easily with my Swaro binos but was challenging with the VX2. My kids love the illuminated fire dot on their VXR and VX6 it helps them focus when they start shaking with adrenalin. At some point I will buy a Mark 5 without illumination because for its application I know I do not need it, but only when the prices come down. It's hard to spend this much when S&B PMii are going for $2300 NIB.

 

[Gohring65]

Total waste of money for me. I try to purchase scopes without it.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Hunting very first or last few minutes of legal light in timber. Priceless when you find that buck or bull sneaking into or out of bed.

That being said, only 1 time have we ever needed it. Literally 2 minutes into legal shooting light on an overcast day, opening morning on a late elk hunt, 2 bulls @ 150 yards ghosting through the timber heading up a ridge and within 30 yards of cresting. The S&B 3-20 w. H2CMR @ 5x and illumination set to 7 gave my older daughter her first ever bull elk. They were heading for bed in the thick Junipers, and gave us 2 minutes of opportunity which she took full advantage of. The scope found them fine with plenty of light gathering, but the small FFP reticle was still easy to see with the illumination.

All of my scopes have illumination except one for that very reason.

 

[rlbreakfield]

Low light/twilight hunting. I've never had an illuminated reticle until last year and using one for two seasons now, I would feel like I was missing something if I didn't have it.

 

[bigwatchpilot]

I guess when you use a FFP tactical or competition reticle for hunting it would be necessary in woods or anything other than an open field...rather than a dedicated hunting scope with appropriate reticle. You can never to to tacti-cool chasing animals. Not many hunting scopes push the $2000, $3000, or $4000 to impress the other hunters around the camp.

 

[MarkLeupold]

It really makes it easier to put a round on that doe that steps into a shadow at sundown. I've run into situations that I didn't want to take a shot because I couldn't really see my reticle. This way, if you can see the animal, you can shoot.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I guess when you use a FFP tactical or competition reticle for hunting it would be necessary in woods or anything other than an open field...rather than a dedicated hunting scope with appropriate reticle. You can never to to tacti-cool chasing animals. Not many hunting scopes push the $2000, $3000, or $4000 to impress the other hunters around the camp.

I hunt 90% solo when I have a tag. Or with family members who have tags. I don't do the hunting camp thing. I don't have high quality tactical scopes to impress anyone but the game that takes the impact of the bullet. Some say MOA is plenty for hunting. I disagree and think I owe it to the game to put the bullet where it needs to go, everytime I squeeze the trigger, from 18 to 1350+ yards. Having expensive accurate rifles, with expensive optics, and accurate hand loads are vital to that goal. Sure, if I were hunting back east where a long shot is 200 yards, pretty much any factory rifle with a $250 scope would probably be just fine. But I practice 500-1800 monthly or more, and even over 2000 yards occasionally. My personal longest shot on big game is "only" 662 yards. But I have taken a few coyotes beyond 1350 on first round hits, and even a squirrel @ 1201 with the first round, kind of to my own dismay as well I will admit. I doubt many $600 factory rifles with a 3-9 duplex Leupold and factory ammo would make that shot. Knowing my rifles are fully capable of those 1000+ yard shots is reassuring if the need were to arise.

So yeah, I will keep using my "tactical" scopes for hunting. (Aren't they only a "tactical" Scope when used in a tactical situation? Kind of like an "assault" rifle?) I guess since 5 of my rifles are "dedicated hunting rifles", that makes the S&Bs and Premiers on them "Hunting" scopes, not "Tactical".

 

[rlbreakfield]

Nobody said anything about tactical scopes on hunting rigs. The post was asking about illuminated reticles. Got nothing to do with the correct reticle. An SFP black heavy duplex reticle will disappear and become unusable in lowlight just like a thin FFP reticle will.

 

[el_cazador713]

I use them for hunting, particularly for lowlight/night hunting. Using the lit reticle or dot makes it easy for quick acquisition and accurate shooting when non-illuminated reticles would be almost impossible to see. I think it gives an advantage to take an accurate and ethical shot in every hunting situation at the extremes of light condition.

 

[bigwatchpilot]

Nobody said anything about tactical scopes on hunting rigs. The post was asking about illuminated reticles. Got nothing to do with the correct reticle. An SFP black heavy duplex reticle will disappear and become unusable in lowlight just like a thin FFP reticle will.

Im fairly sure I was answering the OP's question:

"So reading the consternation over Leupold's illumination in their new Mark 5s got me wondering how people even go about using them. Is it shooting for fun really early and late? Hunting? I can see where there might be a military application but in the civilian world I'm curious where it applies."

Sooooo....I'll repeat my self: "I guess when you use a FFP tactical or competition reticle for hunting it would be necessary in woods or anything other than an open field...rather than a dedicated hunting scope with appropriate reticle."

In the woods thin reticle BAD....Illumination Good, in open fields thin reticle Good...Illumination not necessary. In the woods thick reticle Good...Illumination not necessary. Also from my earlier post: "My kids love the illuminated fire dot"

In 'competition' shooting I have not seen anyone use illumination in a PRS match but just about 100% of 3-gun shooter DO use illumination. Its about the right tool for the right job and then whatever floats your boat.

I have missed my opportunity to shoot game in the woods with my custom barreled action, precision hand loads, and NF scope because I could not align the reticle on the moving buck through the trees and branches. I was pissed. But my shit looked good and it worked at the range all the way to 1200 yards out at K&M. The scope came off the rifle the next day.

 

[bigwatchpilot]

So yeah, I will keep using my "tactical" scopes for hunting. (Aren't they only a "tactical" Scope when used in a tactical situation? Kind of like an "assault" rifle?) I guess since 5 of my rifles are "dedicated hunting rifles", that makes the S&Bs and Premiers on them "Hunting" scopes, not "Tactical".

I don't tell others how to spend their money...as far as 'tactical' or 'competition' vs 'hunting' scope, there is a marketing side of a product and the users intended use. You could use a $3000 wrench to hammer a nail and I guess you are the genius with a hammer, because you only use the best wrench money can buy. Some people like to dump a bucket of corn and call that hunting too.
Here is an example of marketing that I found on the next website I just happened to visit...go figure:

 

[patrol120]

I hardly ever use it...but when I do, I need to. Dawn and failing light hunting, primarily.

 

[123Duke]

Total waste of money for me. I try to purchase scopes without it.

What sort of shooting do you do where you find it a waste of time if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[RHutch]

Used NF illumination this morning at 5:48am CST on a sounder of hogs at 80-100 yards. Clear sky, moon at about 1/2 but bright. Sun just faintly warming up the horizon over the hills. FFP set at 6x. Reticle was not immediately evident on those black bastards.