Illuminated reticle
- Thread starter JCroe
- Start date
About 10 minutes use at either end of the day. Just for that brief period of semi-darkness when you can see the deer ok but can't see your crosshairs against the dark colour of it's coat. Always used on the lowest setting - any brighter and it seems to fog my vision.
The smaller the illuminated area the better, so avoid scopes where the whole reticle and all its associated aiming points are lit up like a Christmas tree. A small centre cross is more than enough. A small red dot is even better.
The smaller the illuminated area the better, so avoid scopes where the whole reticle and all its associated aiming points are lit up like a Christmas tree. A small centre cross is more than enough. A small red dot is even better.
Better to have it and not need it, more attractive to prospective buyers i imagine if you ever sell the scope on.
Use mine rarely, quite handy i find when theres plenty of light but peering into a dark wood, i have a few high seats on wood edges and although there is loads of shootable light across the fields and wood margins, if there is a beast just inside the tree line it can be useful, obviously if its clearly too dark it lives another day but can be the difference between a blank or not
Use mine rarely, quite handy i find when theres plenty of light but peering into a dark wood, i have a few high seats on wood edges and although there is loads of shootable light across the fields and wood margins, if there is a beast just inside the tree line it can be useful, obviously if its clearly too dark it lives another day but can be the difference between a blank or not
Rasputin
Well-Known Member
To be fair on my swaro I turn it off unless it’s getting really dark. I also find them quite distracting especially if your shooting targets at range.
adrian.243
Active Member
Good for poor light shooting and driven shooting I find.
I turn it on my sightron when lamping because the reticle is a very fine dot. Helps massively. Sometimes use it in the evenings and early mornings.
Never ever use it in daylight.
It's a nice to have but not essential, and reticle design has a lot to do with it being used
Never ever use it in daylight.
It's a nice to have but not essential, and reticle design has a lot to do with it being used
I had a fairly cheap ?Tasco for my rimfire for over a decade. The whole reticle illuminated: choice of red or green, and a brightness scale of up to ten, but where 1 was still quite bright.
I didnt like it: far too "busy", and the reticle overall created a lot of flare. So I almost always kept it turned off, until I sold it on to someone who can use it better.
I have just acquired a Swarovski for my .308, and it has been a revelation: the orange dot is sharp but tiny, so good even for zeroing. and I love the daytime/nighttime switch that gives two (in my case totally) different intensities of reticle illumination. But it's a really simple reticle (unless I turn the "doughnut" on for a running shot), and so does not look at all cluttered, let alone flare.
I have just had six really good sessions with the scope, zeroing and then dawn and dusk stalks, and I don't think I would ever want to go back to a non-illuminated scope; I really didn't think the IR would be as good as this.
I didnt like it: far too "busy", and the reticle overall created a lot of flare. So I almost always kept it turned off, until I sold it on to someone who can use it better.
I have just acquired a Swarovski for my .308, and it has been a revelation: the orange dot is sharp but tiny, so good even for zeroing. and I love the daytime/nighttime switch that gives two (in my case totally) different intensities of reticle illumination. But it's a really simple reticle (unless I turn the "doughnut" on for a running shot), and so does not look at all cluttered, let alone flare.
I have just had six really good sessions with the scope, zeroing and then dawn and dusk stalks, and I don't think I would ever want to go back to a non-illuminated scope; I really didn't think the IR would be as good as this.
I don't because I stalk in daylight and have good eyesight. Even at dawn and dusk in dark woodland I don't feel the need for illumination.
Crowstalker
Well-Known Member
I have it on 2 of my rifles I can't think of a time I have ever used it... I would like one on my foxing rifle it would be handy to have a slight illumination when lamping but alas I will just have to do without!
A lot will depend on how bold the recicle is, light conditions, a persons eyes, and, just how good the illumination is.
I favour Swarovski scopes, used to be Z6i's, but have pretty much swapped to Z8i's now.
The illuminated dot is excellent, and can be set for day, or dark/poor light. I use mine nigh on 100% of the time, and don't have any issues.
I favour Swarovski scopes, used to be Z6i's, but have pretty much swapped to Z8i's now.
The illuminated dot is excellent, and can be set for day, or dark/poor light. I use mine nigh on 100% of the time, and don't have any issues.
I use a z4i and it makes all the difference for fast target acquisition - won't buy another scope without, although I do use two without - Habict on my.17hmr and Leupold VX-1 on .22LR
I like it, I have a Z6i as well. I find that it draws the eye to the target. Best way I can describe it. Anyhow, works for me, wouldn’t be without it.
paulbshooting
Well-Known Member
Essential for very first or last light or dense woodland. Set low to place shot not super bright setting
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