Low light scope options

[Dafydd1983]

What’s everyone’s opinion on best (for sensible money) low light scopes? I’ve currently got a Zeiss duralyt on my .308 and this evening felt I could have gained another 10-15 mins with a better light gathering scope, all the more frustrating watching 12 roe deer cross over the boundary about 250 yards away , I was unable to identify buck or doe in the poor light and this unable to take the shot.

 

[Klenchblaize]

What binocular make, magnification and objective size are you using for spotting?

K

 

[mealiejimmy]

AFAIK, digital day/night scopes are legal in Wales for shooting deer
Even a mediocre day/night scope will see much later into dusk than even the best glass scope.
Although even the best digital day/night scopes don't give as detailed an image as even mediocre glass scopes, a digital day/night scope should be able to sex roe deer at 250 yards in low light conditions

Cheers

Bruce

 

[markymark]

The ULTIMATE Low Light Riflescope Buying Guide in - Optics Trade Blog

Hunting does not always happen in perfect lighting conditions, that is why we created this ULTIMATE Low-Light Riflescope Buying Guide

www.optics-trade.eu

 

[TheCornishman]

I’ve just picked up a S&B 8x56 illuminated

I am a zoom fan really but have to say this old stalwart is very impressive last light

 

[Overlay]

zeiss v 6/8 are the best out of my lot incl swaro and S&B the FD is pin sharp and doesn’t illuminate too brightly just sharp image and it’s cracking glass
S&B also do a very good low light scope if you can get one as rare as rocking horse droppings unfortunately

 

[308tikka]

My swaro 8x56 habicht is fairly ancient but gives me the last usable light in the murky midwinter. Have shot animals with it right on the cusp of one hour past sunset when my binos couldnt function (zeiss).

It might be down to your eyes with a certain brand.

 

[Marrajack1]

I think Victory Ht take some beating. I have never looked through better. Leica Magnus also great glass. I know it’s classed as sacrilidge

 

[Marrajack1]

Sorry not meant to post above. Fat finger Laal phone.
I meant to say that it’s sacrilidge to not go down the Swaro recommendation but to my eyes both the scopes I mentioned knock spots of the others I have used

 

[Donkey Basher]

Sorry to say this, but think carefully about the scenario you describe & why you are wanting that extra bit of shooting time… roe deer 250 yards away at very last light crossing the boundary - so you take the shot but can you then find the strike point & follow it up? has it stayed on your ground? was it 250 yards? can you accurately range 250 yards? are you actually looking in the right place or was it another 10-15 yards one way or the other? did you see the strike & where the deer went? did you hit the deer in the engine room or shoot it low? a broken leg maybe? do you have a good dog? do you have a thermal?

If you’re confident with all of the above then the best of my scopes are a pair of Zeiss Diavari 6-24x56 followed by the 6-24x50 Swarovski Habicht, all get used in the ‘witching hour’ but only on open ground where I can see where the deer finish up if they run, never in a scenario where I will lose sight of them after the shot.

 

[Dafydd1983]

Sorry to say this, but think carefully about the scenario you describe & why you are wanting that extra bit of shooting time… roe deer 250 yards away at very last light crossing the boundary - so you take the shot but can you then find the strike point & follow it up? has it stayed on your ground? was it 250 yards? can you accurately range 250 yards? are you actually looking in the right place or was it another 10-15 yards one way or the other? did you see the strike & where the deer went? did you hit the deer in the engine room or shoot it low? a broken leg maybe? do you have a good dog? do you have a thermal?

If you’re confident with all of the above then the best of my scopes are a pair of Zeiss Diavari 6-24x56 followed by the 6-24x50 Swarovski Habicht, all get used in the ‘witching hour’ but only on open ground where I can see where the deer finish up if they run, never in a scenario where I will lose sight of them after the shot.

Just to clarify, I certainly wouldn’t be attempting a shot under the scenario I described, I keep all my shots under 200yrds, I’m a recreational stalker so don’t need to be stretching distances to reach a cull target under pressure.
It was more the point of not being able to see clearly to identify under those light conditions either at first light and last light.
Thanks for the scope recommendations Il have a look.

 

[ditchvisitor]

My swaro 8x56 habicht is fairly ancient but gives me the last usable light in the murky midwinter. Have shot animals with it right on the cusp of one hour past sunset when my binos couldnt function (zeiss).

It might be down to your eyes with a certain brand.

That’s what I have just opted for, should be here tomorrow!

 

[308tikka]

I think Victory Ht take some beating. I have never looked through better. Leica Magnus also great glass. I know it’s classed as sacrilidge

I have these binos. Swaro habicht beats them to my eyes

This is what people dont realise. And then add in the start of cararacts or macular degeneration which again most people wont have a clue about until manybyears sfter things go a bit murkier at 5 mins before the last legal shot. It is very much what suits in an individuals eyes

 

[VSS]

I know it's frustrating, having deer in front of you, still within legal time, but not quite having enough low light capability to take a shot, but it's even more frustrating trying to find the animal you *think* you've hit, 10 minutes later when it's completely dark.
There's always another day.