Best low light scope

[paulbshooting]

Hi, after a low light scope for a rifle I don't use much so not keen to spend a lot, prob £500 ish. Would need a illuminated ret as useful for fallow at last light. No need for dialling turrets. Heard the Deltas are good? Or maybe a second hand Schmidt? Ideally like a variable zoom but not essential. Simple hunting ret also fine. Thanks

 

[Koenig]

With that spec I’d try an S & B 8 x 56mm with a 4a reticle. I doubt your budget would reach to an IR, but it might if you are prepared to keep a casual watch on the classifieds.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Save another £400 and look for one of these:

K

 

[User00040]

Hi, after a low light scope for a rifle I don't use much so not keen to spend a lot, prob £500 ish. Would need a illuminated ret as useful for fallow at last light. No need for dialling turrets. Heard the Deltas are good? Or maybe a second hand Schmidt? Ideally like a variable zoom but not essential. Simple hunting ret also fine. Thanks

Hawke and a PARD007

 

[User00040]

I doubt your budget would reach to an IR, but it might if you are prepared to keep a casual watch on the classifieds.

A 3-9 AO Hawke and PARD007V with IR illuminator can be done for £500 if deals are sought secondhand.

 

[SussexSteve]

Second hand Schmidt

 

[Will the chippy]

Schmidt 8 x 56 or 6 x 42. Both excellent and bomb proof.

 

[Rasputin]

Plenty of delta titainium come up on fleabay and the Facebook groups. They are decent. Had both the delta and s&b glass on the latter is marginally better assuming you have good eyesight but I had the non ir one and found it really difficult to use in dark woodland but was great for open fields.

 

[pete evans]

Meopta meostar illuminated is excellent in low light. I have a 3-12 x56 r1rd that is as good as any other scope I’ve used in low light and you could get 2nd hand for your budget (not mine)

 

[jthyttin]

If you stumble upon second hand Meopta Optika 6 3-18x with either 50mm or 56mm lens they'd fit the bill. Reticle illumination is a bit too much for real low light, but I'd imagine it's just fine with legal last light.

Meosport R 3-15x50 would nicely fit your budget even new. There's discussion about it every now and then, maybe someone can comment on low light capabilities.

 

[nun_hunter]

If it's genuinely for proper last light performance then you won't get better than going digital.

You can get the Arken Zulus without the LRF for under £500 or with the LRF and ballistic calculator for £600.

This will hands down beat any traditional glass scope no matter how expensive in low light and the daylight image is still more than good enough for shooting deer.

 

[Koenig]

Plenty of delta titainium come up on fleabay and the Facebook groups. They are decent. Had both the delta and s&b glass on the latter is marginally better assuming you have good eyesight but I had the non ir one and found it really difficult to use in dark woodland but was great for open fields.

Obviously it depends on individual eyesight, but I find the 4a reticle workable/adequate in woodland. I think I could be tempted by an S & B 8 x 56mm with IR as I get older and my eyes deteriorate. I’d be interested to hear from others with perhaps more knowledge than me whether the glass on an IR 8x56 S & B is better/worse or no different from that on a non IR.

 

[User00040]

Obviously it depends on individual eyesight, but I find the 4a reticle workable/adequate in woodland. I think I could be tempted by an S & B 8 x 56mm with IR as I get older and my eyes deteriorate. I’d be interested to hear from others with perhaps more knowledge than me whether the glass on an IR 8x56 S & B is better/worse or no different from that on a non IR.

I was reading 'IR' as Infra-Red, not Illuminated Reticle

 

[Tazz]

Hi, after a low light scope for a rifle I don't use much so not keen to spend a lot, prob £500 ish. Would need an illuminated ret as useful for fallow at last light. No need for dialling turrets. Heard the Deltas are good? Or maybe a second hand Schmidt? Ideally like a variable zoom but not essential. Simple hunting ret also fine. Thanks

With bigger budget Swaro/S&B/Zeiss not much to separate them and most decisions are made on brand loyalty, you are chasing diminishing returns but we all still do it ( Swaro fan, Z8 and Z6)

 

[Rasputin]

Obviously it depends on individual eyesight, but I find the 4a reticle workable/adequate in woodland. I think I could be tempted by an S & B 8 x 56mm with IR as I get older and my eyes deteriorate. I’d be interested to hear from others with perhaps more knowledge than me whether the glass on an IR 8x56 S & B is better/worse or no different from that on a non IR.

Entirely depends on how thick your woodland is. Morning stalks getting better perfectly adequate. Last light no chance in my woods it just gets lost on the branches. Got a z6i which beats the lot but obviously very different price point.

 

[glasshalffull]

Forget all the static and get yourself a Swarovski the best light gathering glass period

 

[Koenig]

I won’t move from S & B for Swarovski or anything else, they just seem to suit me and I admire the build quality. I worry that the glass on the IR version of the ubiquitous 8 x 56mm would potentially be where manufacturers saving would be made, but have no firm evidence to back this up one way or the other. Anyone know?

 

[Donkey Basher]

Forget all the static and get yourself a Swarovski the best light gathering glass period

Used to have a Swaro but this year have changed over to a Zeiss Diavari with illuminated #60 - it certainly gives me more time at last light!

Ask K if he’ll sell you his for £900 though

Otherwise go for a s/h S&B 8x56 with 4a reticle you should be fine with last light (or first light) with one of them & well within budget

 

[User00040]

Forget all the static and get yourself a Swarovski the best light gathering glass period

 

[pete evans]

Forget all the static and get yourself a Swarovski the best light gathering glass period

I have a Swarovski habich and a meopta meostar in the same format and I feel the meopta has the edge last light. Saying that a digital scope knocks them both into a cocked hat, but I prefer to have glass on my stalking rifles. Interestingly, much of the last light performance I don’t use as most of the deer I’ve shot have had adequate daylight for pretty much any scope