Best low light scope for stalking?

[Bowland blades]

Have a look at what Germam hunters have been using for decades. They have not been allowed to any artificial light, image intensifiers and shooting aids. But a good proportion of their wild boar are shot after dark under the aid of natural moonlight.

The German 6x42, 7x50 and 8x56 with a 4A reticle were all designed for this job. The thick heavy outer reticle posts are particularly important. As described to me - stick one in its bum, one its nose and one up the foreleg and squeeze.

Non of the faffing with red dots, batteries etc etc.

And shooting deer at last last light. My big challenge with this is twofold.

1) can you see enough for you to be certain of backdrops etc etc. appreciate that in many instances you will have been watching the same area and know your safe fields of fire.

2) many deer can and do run after the shot. At last last light, by definition means that you will be doing all follow up and dragging etc in the dark.

For me the best low light scope is a S&B 6x42, followed very closely by a Zeiss 6x42.

oh there are many that wont take you on on the 6x42 however those who really do get out and shoot for real ..... i have bigger from the same but it really doesnt improve having a bigger objective unless you want to shoot 8x . One time my self and a mate tested the 6x42 and 8x52 side by side and performance seemed equal other than the slight extra mag ( that honestly means nothing at unilluminated range under the moon ) .
I woulnt shoot deer like this but especially under the moon on fresh cut summer hay its been effective . Needs enough moon to cast a bit of shadow really . Its not too common an occurrence and its a total WFT under a dark moon.

 

[JabaliHunter]

The best low light scopes of all the ones I’ve had over the years are
Swarovski PF 8x50 with a 4Ai reticle
Zeiss Victory FL 4-16x50 with 60i reticle with ASV
S&B Stratos 2.3-13x56 with FD7 reticle with BDC

On the right rifles the next scopes I’d like are
S&B Stratos 1.5-8x42 with FD7 and BDC
S&B Polar 4-16x56 with FD7 and BDC

Although the way deer control seems to be going, all of the above may be made obsolete by thermal scopes….

 

[User00040]

Although the way deer control seems to be going, all of the above may be made obsolete by thermal scopes….

A torch is cheaper

 

[User00035]

Bearing in mind you can't shoot deer later than one hour after sunset without a special license as that would by legal definition constitute night shooting, and few people shoot many of their deer from further than 200 yards anyway (it's called deer stalking, not deer long range sniping), you have to question why so many stalkers feel they need to be able to see in the dark.

 

[User00040]

Bearing in mind you can't shoot deer later than one hour after sunset without a special license as that would by legal definition constitute night shooting, and few people shoot many of their deer from further than 200 yards anyway (it's called deer stalking, not deer long range sniping), you have to question why so many stalkers feel they need to be able to see in the dark.

Hope the spotter has a timepiece out to make sure they are always above board...

'We've got 10 seconds Mack, are you on'

'Aye, I'm always ready boy, are you?'

'8, 7, 6, 5...'

BANG, clink BANG clink , BANG clink

'See you back at the larder laddie, m" away for a dram!'

 

[kenbro]

One that stands out for me was a Schmidt 12x 56, but reticle tad thin, managed ok though but so did Zeiss x4 power.
Will not part with old Zeiss 2.5-10 x52 for deer and fox’s under any circumstances or caliber at normal ranges, but can stretch if needs must on deer.

+1 On the Zeiss 2.5-10x52.
Mine's ffp, is yours?
Ken.
PS. Also have a Herrtel & Ruess 2.5-10x52 that looks like it’s twin.

 

[User00053]

+1 On the Zeiss 2.5-10x52.
Mine's ffp, is yours?
Ken.
PS. Also have a Herrtel & Ruess 2.5-10x52 that looks like it’s twin.

It’s a Zeiss diavari-za 2.5-10x52 t serial no1828736 with 30mm tube, had a herrtel and reuss 8x56, wish I still had it

 

[kenbro]

It’s a Zeiss diavari-za 2.5-10x52 t serial no1828736 with 30mm tube, had a herrtel and reuss 8x56, wish I still had it

snap

 

[User00053]

snap

Looks in very nice condition, a belter

 

[WJAH]

What’s the best scope in low light for general stalking?

Worth searching the literally dozens on posts on this topic on this sight

 

[mak]

Zeiss diavari-za 2.5-10x52 T
Discontinued late 1980’s or early 1990’s. I joined Zeiss in 1997 (and helped at shows from 1994 and it wasn’t in their UK portfolio then).
Nice scope, but at the time the 6x42, 8x56 and 1.5-6x42 dominated (how times have changed?).

 

[User00035]

Hope the spotter has a timepiece out to make sure they are always above board...

'We've got 10 seconds Mack, are you on'

'Aye, I'm always ready boy, are you?'

'8, 7, 6, 5...'

BANG, clink BANG clink , BANG clink

'See you back at the larder laddie, m" away for a dram!'

You know what I'm saying. If a sika stag comes out of a wood 60 yards away and it's so dark you can't see to place the shot, it ain't because you didn't spend enough on your scope.

And I say sika because they have the annoying habit of doing exactly that.

 

[User00040]

You know what I'm saying. If a sika stag comes out of a wood 60 yards away and it's so dark you can't see to place the shot, it ain't because you didn't spend enough on your scope.

And I say sika because they have the annoying habit of doing exactly that.

I agree, spend less on the scope and more on a quality mounting system and torch

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Bearing in mind you can't shoot deer later than one hour after sunset without a special license as that would by legal definition constitute night shooting, and few people shoot many of their deer from further than 200 yards anyway (it's called deer stalking, not deer long range sniping), you have to question why so many stalkers feel they need to be able to see in the dark.

lf l'm allowed to shoot until 19:30, by god am I shooting until 19:30 dammit!

 

[User00040]

lf l'm allowed to shoot until 19:30, by god am I shooting until 19:30 dammit!

Hope you remember to keep your watch calibrated on a daily basis

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Hope you remember to keep your watch calibrated on a daily basis

Ah its a Garmin, time updates itself through GPS so I need not worry!