Thread: Low light hunting scope circa 2021 ?

That's right.

You don't really want to be shooting after you can't clearly identify your target and surroundings with naked eye. So, chasing the last 2 minutes of light isn't so neccessary. Early in the morning isn't such as problem because it's getting lighter every few seconds and to my eyes it happens very quickly.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Two other things that improve what you can see in low light are:

Focus - always a compromise with fixed parallax scopes because only one distance is exactly in focus - often set to about 80 or 100m. The parallax adjustment can compensate for short sightedness ( myopia) without making the reticle blurry.

Magnification - in lower light your pupil is dilated and imperfections in your eye geometry (cornea, lens and retina) degrade your visual acuity. Higher Magnification can overcome this quite a lot. You can see more detail on 6x than on 3x. As long as you meet the rule of 7mm exit pupil.

Thats very interesting, the best low light scope I have ever used was a Docter 8 x 56 fixed power with illuminated dot. I shot deer in complete darkness with it in GDR

Exactly. That is why 8*56 fixed had been the goto scope for night dusk dawn hunting in Europe for decades. Less lenses than varipower as well..
Hopefully I will soon take delivery of a Delta 2.5-15*56 with illum dot from @Sarvo very shortly. This is specifically to suit my older age dawn dusk still hunting. I have also used Delta 2.5-15*50 illum dot and could see and shoot animals that I could not spot with old eyes. Pointed scope in direction my dog would indicate in order to see deer. Impressive.

The trouble with the 7 mm exit pupil rule is that not many people over the age of 40 or even younger would be able to utilize it. As explained below by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"The older we get the less our eyes dilate. The passage of time can also weaken the tiny muscles that control your eye’s pupil size. The pupil becomes smaller and less responsive to changes in light. That’s why people in their 60s need 3 times more light for comfortable reading than those in their 20s. Smaller pupils make it more difficult to see at night".

Years ago many Japanese scopes were manufactured in 4 x 40 claiming high low light transmission. It was just marketing baloney as no one had an exit pupil of 10mm. You never saw a U.S. or European scope in 4 x 40.

Originally Posted by 10-Ring

The trouble with the 7 mm exit pupil rule is that not many people over the age of 40 or even younger would be able to utilize it. As explained below by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"The older we get the less our eyes dilate. The passage of time can also weaken the tiny muscles that control your eye’s pupil size. The pupil becomes smaller and less responsive to changes in light. That’s why people in their 60s need 3 times more light for comfortable reading than those in their 20s. Smaller pupils make it more difficult to see at night".

Years ago many Japanese scopes were manufactured in 4 x 40 claiming high low light transmission. It was just marketing baloney as no one had an exit pupil of 10mm. You never saw a U.S. or European scope in 4 x 40.

I tend to agree . To many inherent differences from person to person with our eyes for the rule of 7 to be correct across the board . Better to have the best scope you can afford with the best low light coatings and possibly side parallax adjustment for focus than worry to much about the 7 rule . At the end of the day you will set the scope to the appropriate zoom to suit your personal eye preference anyway at any given distance regardless of the 7 rule .
And the firedot reticle on my vx5 is great in low light .... no guess work as to where the center is on the target but set dim enough it doesn't overpower the eye .

Originally Posted by ariki

Schmidt and Bender T96 sublime but too heavy 34mm tube
Swarovski Z8 beautiful and my pick for 30mm tube
Swarovski Z3 4-12x50 is really good for 25mm tube
Worth mentioning the Nightforce ATACR and NX8 they are level with the best euro scopes.

Definitely not the NX8 range

If you are willing to dial down your list of requirements, a 6x42 by Kahles may fit your bill. Surprisingly bright, but it doesn't dial, zoom or connect to the internet.

Originally Posted by cameronjackwhite

I’ve taken a punt on a vx3hd 3.5-10x50 twilight hunter illuminated reticle with 30mm tube... if it ever turns up. Hopefully it compares to vx5 in last light. All be it a bit cheaper

@cameronjackwhite What was your take on the VX3-HD in the end?

I know they don't fit everyone's budget but I saved for ages (I was actually beginning to save for a jetboat... But that can wait) and bought z8i 1.7-13.3x42 and it absolutely smokes anything else I've ever looked through for performance in low light, very nice in the bush as the light fades and can stretch it out and shoot out far no worries also, neck shot two fallow at 400yds last weekend as the light faded and fellas that were with me that had VX5 and z5's on their rifles both wanted to have a look through it and the general consensus was "wow..." I have the turret for mine so can dial but just clips off and throw it in your pack if you want a more bush friendly package

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Thats very interesting, the best low light scope I have ever used was a Docter 8 x 56 fixed power with illuminated dot. I shot deer in complete darkness with it in GDR

56 devided by 8 =???????????? thats right folks its SEVEN........

Swaro z5 very disappointing in low light compared to my swaro rangefinding binos.
Could see 7 deer clearly through binos and a bit fat blur thru the scope.
Purchased a z6 and whilst an improvement still not up to binos

Vx5 woth the illuminated reticle is better than my z5

Thermal scope

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I know they don't fit everyone's budget but I saved for ages (I was actually beginning to save for a jetboat... But that can wait) and bought z8i 1.7-13.3x42 and it absolutely smokes anything else I've ever looked through for performance in low light, very nice in the bush as the light fades and can stretch it out and shoot out far no worries also, neck shot two fallow at 400yds last weekend as the light faded and fellas that were with me that had VX5 and z5's on their rifles both wanted to have a look through it and the general consensus was "wow..." I have the turret for mine so can dial but just clips off and throw it in your pack if you want a more bush friendly package

If they made a sensible FFP reticle I'd be all over Swaro scopes.

Sadly they are stuck in the 80's in terms of reticle design.

With rangefinders like 95% of us have, why on earth would we want FFP for precision longer range shooting?