What are your experience with scopes in low light? My vortx pst is Awful, my nightforce NXS sucks ass both bells are 50. My 4-14 SHV is pretty dam good and has 56 bell Which is s big plus. Whats your recommendations? Looking for another scope thxs
Low light scopes
- Thread starter Hattrick
- Start date
Weaver Tactical 3-15x50
Sig Sauer 4-24x50
Minox ZP5 3-15x50
Im sure there are others just as good or better, but those are the ones I've had and have allowed me to hunt at night with only ambient light...
Sig Sauer 4-24x50
Minox ZP5 3-15x50
Im sure there are others just as good or better, but those are the ones I've had and have allowed me to hunt at night with only ambient light...
Bushnell HDMR 3.5-21×50 gen 1 was awesome. Lrhs 4.5-18 was better even with a smaller objective. Nikon monarch 7 3-12x56 batted way above its price, but extinct now.
My Athlon 1-4.5x27 is flat out awesome. But you probably want more mag than that.
ETA- I typed 56mm on the bushnell HDMR. I was going by memory and incorrect its 50mm. Thanks for the corrections Super.
My Athlon 1-4.5x27 is flat out awesome. But you probably want more mag than that.
ETA- I typed 56mm on the bushnell HDMR. I was going by memory and incorrect its 50mm. Thanks for the corrections Super.
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Best light gathering.
How much you wanna spend?
FFP
S&B ultra Bright 4-16 or 3-12, Tangent Theta 3-15 either model.
Minox ZP5 3-15, ZCO 4-20, Hensoldt 3-12, 4-16,
My first S&B PMII 3-12x50 MTC was a standout for light gathering.
SFP
Leica Magnus 2.4-16x56 or the insane Hensoldt 6-24x72 (best light gathering without being NV that I’ve seen)
I’m sure some of the Swaros and Zeiss hunting models come close.
Much More affordable options are the weaver tac 3-15 which is pretty damn good for the money, but my Bushnell LRTSI 3-12 is a bit better.
How much you wanna spend?
FFP
S&B ultra Bright 4-16 or 3-12, Tangent Theta 3-15 either model.
Minox ZP5 3-15, ZCO 4-20, Hensoldt 3-12, 4-16,
My first S&B PMII 3-12x50 MTC was a standout for light gathering.
SFP
Leica Magnus 2.4-16x56 or the insane Hensoldt 6-24x72 (best light gathering without being NV that I’ve seen)
I’m sure some of the Swaros and Zeiss hunting models come close.
Much More affordable options are the weaver tac 3-15 which is pretty damn good for the money, but my Bushnell LRTSI 3-12 is a bit better.
Looking for a good one. It’s going on my main rifle (custom) 6.5-284 Norma. Been looking at nightforce 7-35 atacr and maybe a schmit. I’ve only have experience with NXS and SHV with Nighforce. Also looking at Mark 5 but I can seem to talk my self into it. So far as cost my budget is about 3
Look for used ZCO 527. Probably a few hundred more than 3 though.
About a month ago we were comparing optics after dusk. We were able to still see and hit a non painted 6” round plate @400yds long after we weren’t able to see it with our eyes.
About a month ago we were comparing optics after dusk. We were able to still see and hit a non painted 6” round plate @400yds long after we weren’t able to see it with our eyes.
Swaro, s&b, razor gen 2 vortex, atacr, Zeiss, should all have good glass to get you every ounce of usable daylight
All things being equal (glass quality & clarity especially) "stay within the sevens" that is the human eye can use up to a seven. So a six power glass delivers maximum light that the eye can use with a 42mm objective lens; a seven magnification to equal that must be 49mm (Marine binos are often 7x50s for this reason); eight has to have 56mm, nine a 63mm and a 10 a 70mm objective. The only fair way to compare is brand to brand and "level" of quality within brands as well. Comparing a Barska to a Zeiss Harpia does not a fair test make--unless your objective is economy--and even then... Optomertrists, like obstetricians, are expensive too. O indeed!
My schmidt bender zenith 3-12x50 was the first scope that made me need sunglasses while shooting when I was fine with clear or yellow lenses when not behind the rifle. It unfortunately has fixed parallax at 100m so that makes the need for 12x non-existent. But you can shoot in the moonlight when you can barely see with the naked eye.
Any high dollar scope will do. I find it hard to believe anything does better than my 3-12x52 Schmidt bender polar. That thing is on another level.
Leica ERi 50 mm bell, Zeiss Diavari 56 mm bell or a Kahles 50 mm. Used ones show up every so often.
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