Rifle Scopes Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

[MAG00]

I was looking at the SWFA 5-20x50 and was curious as to opinions on the illumintaed versus non-illuminated reticles. Is the illumintaed reticel feature worth the extra coin?

I was also looking at the Vortex Vipers PST and it looks like all of them are illuminated. However, if I were looking at other manu. scopes is having illuminated reticles worth it.

FYI my rifles would be used for hunting as well if that helps in regards to replies.

Thanks.

 

[icarus2005]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

The answer should be obvious, well, obvious if you do certain kinds of hunting or certain kind of job.

many people people hunt boar or predators until dark or at night. On a full moon I can see the target but not my retical unless it is illuminated.

the military would spend a fortune on illuminated scopes if they didn't feel it was of benefit.

so first ask yourself if you would ever be in a situation as mentioned where it would be a benefit.

then ask the simple question of whether it is in your budget.

if you can afford it then why not?

I may never use the anti-lock brake feature on my car but it's nice to know it is there if it is ever needed.

and of course it would be one more cool thing to point out to friends when you show off your toy

Let's face it, we all have a certain level of "pride" associated with out overpriced toys

 

[MAG00]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ivan R</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Let's face it, we all have a certain level of "pride" associated with out overpriced toys

</div></div>

I'll have to admit.....you are right on this one.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

Two things, first, I have several illuminated scopes, and in the course of 5 or 6 years I can only think of two times where I NEEDED the illumination, but the shot would have been near impossible to make without it. So consider if that is worth the money for you.
Two, I have the SS5-20 illuminated, and I absolutely love the scope, <span style="font-weight: bold">BUT</span>, the illumination on mine and the three others I've looked through suck donkey balls. I dont know why it is so hard to get right, but they suck, the illumination is the ONLY complaint I have about the SS. On the off chance that I need the illumination in my SS, I suppose it would work good enough, but for an optic in this level of the game this is poor illum.
I also have a Vortex PST 4-16X50 illum. and it is outstanding, I love the reticle as well as the illumination(though I've never used it for reals)

 

[powell]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

I think most of the scopes I have that are illuminated have dead batteries from sitting so long.

 

[darkarcher]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

It is a nice option to have when you need it.

I was on a training stalk. The Leupold Mark 4 battery cap/switch came off and was lost forever. The nice thing is the scope works just fine without it, but what a pain in the ass.

That seems to be the way it goes with gadgets, don't count on them, but they are nice when they work.

 

[Kino]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: coldboremiracle</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Two things, first, I have several illuminated scopes, and in the course of 5 or 6 years I can only think of two times where I NEEDED the illumination, but the shot would have been near impossible to make without it. So consider if that is worth the money for you.
Two, I have the SS5-20 illuminated, and I absolutely love the scope, <span style="font-weight: bold">BUT</span>, the illumination on mine and the three others I've looked through suck donkey balls. I dont know why it is so hard to get right, but they suck, the illumination is the ONLY complaint I have about the SS. On the off chance that I need the illumination in my SS, I suppose it would work good enough, but for an optic in this level of the game this is poor illum.
I also have a Vortex PST 4-16X50 illum. and it is outstanding, I love the reticle as well as the illumination(though I've never used it for reals) </div></div>


I shoot ALOT at night. I would NOT own anything without illumination. It is especially needed for FFP on low power when using it in the woods or in very low light.
As for SWFA having it "right" for their design on illumination, its very very usefull. Nightforce on the other hand, is about the worst I have seen.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

I believe NF is coming out with a much better system, as far as the SS issue, you either got a much better scope than the 4 I did, or you need glasses. I'd wager its the prior.

 

[billyburl2]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

While I don't shoot a lot at night, I find the illumination on my SS very useful. In my opinion, if I am taking a shot a shot in low light it is most likely going to be in a hunting situation and I want just the intersection lit so it does not bleed into the F.O.V.
Ranging accurately with the reticle is hard enough during day-light hours, I doubt I would ever try it if I really needed the illum.

 

[762forlife]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

To be honest i had the choice of both ill and non when i ordered my SS 5-20, at the time i really wanted a scope and needed it asap so i went with out the ill because i didn't have the extra cash. I am absolutely happy with my decision. The scope is amazing and crystal clear even at dusk you can still see the reticle. So if i had the extra cash would i have gotten the ill model. Maybe for the once in a lifetime when i needed it and would have had it.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

Billy, Im glad your scope works, but the four (4) scopes I bought from SWFA were all identical, the reticle was poorly lit on what appeared to be from one side. Truthfully, I dont even know if the reticle is supposed to be completely lit or only part of it, because the whole thing is so poorly lit Im not sure if its a center lit that bleeds all over or just a crappily lit whole reticle. As I mentioned above, I supposed it could be used in a pinch, but I've seen 100$ scopes from Cheaper than shit with better illum.
Alex, you aren't missing much, I feel the same way you do, I'd rather have it for that one in a million chance that I need it. All illumination issues aside, I <span style="font-weight: bold">LOVE</span>this scope! it is a great optic and works exactly as I'd hoped (ex. illum).

 

[customones]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

i have nightforces on most of my rigs i primarily coyote hunt doing this about 75 days a year i have used the illum reticle three times in the past three years, but it would have been impossible to have taken that shot without it and coyotes dont mill around until it gets light enough to shoot. if you are going with a nightforce i would set the brightness to your liking before using the standard setting, i have found the factory setting way to bright.

 

[Helter]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

It's handy to have. Really helps pick up the reticle against a dark/black background.
I didn't know that illumination was an option on the current 5-20 group buy, I probably would have paid the extra money for it if I had.
That said, I never used the illumination on my previous long range optic. It's one of those things that is rarely useful, but when it is it can be very useful.

 

[Kino]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: coldboremiracle</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Billy, Im glad your scope works, but the four (4) scopes I bought from SWFA were all identical, the reticle was poorly lit on what appeared to be from one side. Truthfully, I dont even know if the reticle is supposed to be completely lit or only part of it, because the whole thing is so poorly lit Im not sure if its a center lit that bleeds all over or just a crappily lit whole reticle. As I mentioned above, I supposed it could be used in a pinch, but I've seen 100$ scopes from Cheaper than shit with better illum.
Alex, you aren't missing much, I feel the same way you do, I'd rather have it for that one in a million chance that I need it. All illumination issues aside, I <span style="font-weight: bold">LOVE</span>this scope! it is a great optic and works exactly as I'd hoped (ex. illum). </div></div>

Of the three that I own (and 4&5 on the way) they perform great in night shooting applications. Most lighted ret. are too bright and flood the target. My understanding is the first few settings on the SWFA is for NVG use, just like the mil spec aimpoints (which I have been issued and used in a previous life). They will not be "Aimpoint Bright" nor should they.
Milling small, moving targets at night is pretty much a joke so I won't even get into that one.

 

[Kino]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: customones</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i have nightforces on most of my rigs i primarily coyote hunt doing this about 75 days a year i have used the illum reticle three times in the past three years, but it would have been impossible to have taken that shot without it and coyotes dont mill around until it gets light enough to shoot. if you are going with a nightforce i would set the brightness to your liking before using the standard setting, i have found the factory setting way to bright. </div></div>

You are dead on. I coyote hunt ALOT and do the vast majority of it at night or early morning and late evening sets. That is the problem with NF as when the light fades, so should the brightness of the reticle. NF's design will not allow you to adjust on the fly so that is why they suck! Other than that, they are the standard from which all others are compared to for quality.

I have used MK4s and VX3 illuminated scopes for years night hunting and they IMHO have the best electronics for hunting at night.

 

[thewileyone]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

Illuminated scopes are nice but seem to collect dust. I have needed them a couple of times where I did not have it and have used it a couple of times but like previously mentioned, a factory setting is too bright in most circumstances.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

Kino, is the SS reticle only lit in the middle, or is the whole thing lit?

 

[Kino]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

They start as only a dot in the center that hardly visible then as the intensity increases the whole thing lights up but the center is more visible.

 

[billyburl2]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

I usually run mine just light enough to see, given the ambient light. That way only the center intersection is lit, and the reticle doesn't bleed or bloom into the FOV.And since there is an "off" between each setting, it makes it easier to pre-set.

 

[winxp_man]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: billyburl2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I usually run mine just light enough to see, given the ambient light. That way only the center intersection is lit, and the reticle doesn't bleed or bloom into the FOV.And since there is an "off" between each setting, it makes it easier to pre-set.</div></div>


+1 to this. Mine seems to be really nice and does not bleed everywhere. I have not used the illumination at all though. O have owned it for about a year and not once used it. I did kill a pig this year with my non illuminated version on my .308 and it was dusk and not a issues seeing the reticle or the pig through the SS 5-20.

If you don't shoot late in the evening or night I would save that cash and get the non illuminated.



Aron-

 

[alnkal00]

Re: Illumintaed Reticle or Non IR

I went with the non since persons are picking them up
as part of the 1-6,5-20 combo and selling off the 5-20 for under
1k shipped.

Ive seen one for $910 nib shipped on arf.com
I grabbed mine nib for slightly
more shipped and I got BC caps with it.

It was a no brainer but I only bang steel
Plus with the cash I saved I picked up a Throwlever (thanks win-xp)
and cut the lever down to just a nub and like the scope even more so then before.
Total for everything shipped was still less then 1k

AL

AL