Leupold FireDot Reticle

PaLuke

PaLuke

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Joined
Dec 11, 2004
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186
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Hegins, Pa.
With the Leupold VX5 HD 2X10x42 with a FireDot reticle is the dot easy to see in low light conditions? I can't seem to find the size of the dot on the Leupold website. I'm trying to compare this with the Trijicon dots. Does anyone know the size or if it's really visible in low light conditions? Thank you for your help.
 
cajun said:
I have a vx5 3-15 with the fire dot. It works great but I've rarely used it. The scope brings in a lot of light and honestly by the time you need the dot it's past legal shooting hours a bit.
Click to expand...

I have also found this ^^^^ to be true. However, when hunting black bears under a dense canopy, it is VERY helpful. I also found it helpful while hunting moose at first light in the timbers.
 
I can honestly say that I could not have taken an aoudad and brown bear without the Firedot. Bear was at 12:20 a.m. in Alaska so near dark and the aoudad was close to dark on a heavy overcast and hazy day. Crosshairs would not have been visible enough to aim confidently. Scopes were 3-15 on aoudad and 1-6 on brown bear.
 
I have several Leupold scopes with the fire dot reticle. My eye is drawn instantly to the dot making target acquisition much faster for my ancient eyes. I use a VX6 1-6x as a primary scope on my 375 H&H. On a black Cape buffalo in the shade it shows up excellent. It has QR mounts, so I remove it and install a VX6 2-12x for plains game or when more power is needed such as my croc in my avatar.
I used a 1-6 for a treed black bear ahead of dogs. The dot showed up great looking up in to full shade at the treed bear.
I would never hunt anything in low light or anything black or dark hide again without a red dot reticle.
Sorry I have never used any other brand with a lighted reticle to compare mine to to help you.
Best of luck in your decision!
 
PaLuke said:
With the Leupold VX5 HD 2X10x42 with a FireDot reticle is the dot easy to see in low light conditions? I can't seem to find the size of the dot on the Leupold website. I'm trying to compare this with the Trijicon dots. Does anyone know the size or if it's really visible in low light conditions? Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
My VX6 HD FireDot is size and brightness adjustable via the push button left turret.
 
I have mine set so low that you can only see it when it's getting really low light. But find out what you are comfortable with and set it there. Haven't changed a battery in two years. I love the fire dot but keep in mind that I have seven decade old eyes. You may be able to see it on the lowest setting in daylight, and Look at the twilight hunter reticle using the dot its amazing.
 
Last edited:
Eyeglass wearers beware. Some of us "oldies", these fire dots will "flare" (not be a sharp dot). Be sure and look through one. The rear focus on the eyepiece may sharpen it a bit.
 
I have 4 Leupold Firedot scopes and one Trijicon (green dot).
You can set the brightness of the dot to be seen in daylight or darkness. I don't recommend having the intensity at dark too bright to obscure the target.
After making a bad "Texas heart shot" (in the butt) on a hog in the dark without an illuminated reticle, I will never hunt without one again. lol
 
I've used a VX-5HD 3-15x44mm with the FireDot reticle for the past couple seasons and it's worked well for me. A couple different times I've shot black Russian boars eating acorns in the shadows of some large oaks at first hunting light. I don't think I would've been able to pick up the crosshairs on their bodies if not for the red dot. I have it set at 3 or 4 from the lowest brightness setting so it's just a red pinprick. I just pulled my scope out to check the size of the red dot for you and on this scope it seems to match up with the b = thin line in Leupolds chart at the bottom, but it probably also depends on how bright you're running the dot and using your own eyes. This is the only Leupold I have with the FireDot so it's a sample of one and the other Leupold scopes with different magnification's might look different.


IMG_9597.png
 
I just ordered a VX5HD 2x10x42 with the FireDot. It's actually for a friend of mine to put on his 358 STA, he has about 40 pieces of brass but I'm on the hunt to find some more. Thank to everyone for the replies.
 

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