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Last light scopes
- Thread starter arawls88
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
Swarovski. A lot of guys on here say that the glass on their long range rifle is "enough" for deer hunting. Enough- is never enough. 90% of scopes are "enough" for all but 20 minutes a day. Those 20 minutes are the first 10 and the last ten. For me, I kill half my deer in the first and last 10 of the day and nothing does that like German glass.
Was reading thru the comments waiting for this one. I recently switched my Bushnell elites to Zeiss v4s (3 of them) due a failure of several of my elites. I was looking for a scope with a hydropobic lens. I also wanted the brightest scope I could afford. After tons of research the zeiss's checked all the boxes at a decent price.
In my research I learned it's not the EP that determines brightness, it is the Twilight Factor (the lower number the better). I used two of my scopes (3-12*56) this year and looked thru them critically, especially so the last and first of light. They are amazing! It may look dark to the eye but looking thru the scope at first/last light, looks as if the light was turned on. It's the cheat code...lol
They have the best red dot of any scope IMO and many others.
I have one of these. Was out till dark yesterday. It was cloudy so light was an issue. I didn't have anything to compare it to ,but I could have taken a small 6 point late.
I know some people don't like Leupold ,but this one has been good so far.
BrentM
Well-Known Member
Leupold vx6 has an illuminated reticle with anti-cant. Works well. I use mine mainly for predator hunting and do a lot of early morning work. I've used several different brands but this one has been a great hunting scoper.
Hamhone
Member
Easy answer…for that price you can find a used minox ZP5. I own two and they have by far the best glass I've used. Last light is where they excel! Side by side vs nightforce it's not close.
06 SB
Active Member
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2009
- Messages
- 41
I am suspect of those tests. The drop tests that I have seen were done with the scope on the rifle. How does the tester know that it was the scope that failed vs the mounts? I have multiple Athlon, Zeiss, Meopta, and Swarovski scopes that have not had a single failure. I have had a couple Leupolds with internal failure of the erector systems.
To the OP, any Zeiss other than the Terra models will give you great low light performance even with a 44mm objective. My Meopta MeoPros are the same way with 40-42mm objectives. Of course Swarovski's work too. Just last week, I had a small buck come out in my food plot that was just a blob at first light. In my Swarovski Z3, it was clearly a one-horned spike that was a regular. Remember to divide your objective lens diameter by 7 to get the highest magnification setting but still maintain full light transmission to your eyeball.
While my model wasn't an HD, it still failed on me. I can't justify spending the money and have another failure. @LouisianaHunter what part of the state? I'm NE in west Carroll parish.
Amen
I have a Burris XTR3 3.3-18x50 on my 338RPM in Sphur rings and it is my favorite scope for mountain applications here in NW MT. It sees the most abuse.
I have the T6Xi 5-30x56 on my 6.5-300 and shot my Antelope with that at 501 last year but have not really had to use it in low light hunting. With that being said, the glass is crystal clear.
I have quite a few NF and March scopes and to me the XTR3 is just better for this work. Low light it is amazing. Reticle and mag range is excellent.
I am also very happy with my Maven's.
I also have a Steiner Predator 8 and the glass is really nice. I don't like the turrets which are basically the same as the Swaro's. In my opinion, Swaro needs to up their engineering game and warranty to stay relevant. The reticle is simple and not really something I'd use as a holdover.
Zeiss S3 LRP is great as well as you would expect.
I have an Atacr 5-25x56 SFP which is great but heavy. On my 300WBY Ti, it balances it out nicely at about 8.5 pounds.
NX8 4-32x50 FFP is usable through all mag ranges but the NX8 2.5-20 reticle is useless below about 4.5 power in low light.
My MK5HD 3.6-18x44 is holding up so far after 2 years but I too have concerns with the Leupold durability.
Take a look through the Burris.
I have the T6Xi 5-30x56 on my 6.5-300 and shot my Antelope with that at 501 last year but have not really had to use it in low light hunting. With that being said, the glass is crystal clear.
I have quite a few NF and March scopes and to me the XTR3 is just better for this work. Low light it is amazing. Reticle and mag range is excellent.
I am also very happy with my Maven's.
I also have a Steiner Predator 8 and the glass is really nice. I don't like the turrets which are basically the same as the Swaro's. In my opinion, Swaro needs to up their engineering game and warranty to stay relevant. The reticle is simple and not really something I'd use as a holdover.
Zeiss S3 LRP is great as well as you would expect.
I have an Atacr 5-25x56 SFP which is great but heavy. On my 300WBY Ti, it balances it out nicely at about 8.5 pounds.
NX8 4-32x50 FFP is usable through all mag ranges but the NX8 2.5-20 reticle is useless below about 4.5 power in low light.
My MK5HD 3.6-18x44 is holding up so far after 2 years but I too have concerns with the Leupold durability.
Take a look through the Burris.
Running a zeiss V4 right now on a 300WM, seems to work fine so I guess why fix what isn't broken. Just seeing if there was anything better around a 2k price range.
I won't vouch for Leupold outside the HD lines. The HD scopes 7-8 I've had or still have been fantastic.
Aoudad shooter1975
Well-Known Member
Hummm...
Decent...and in your budget
www.eurooptic.com
Fantastic and just at your budget.
www.eurooptic.com
Excellent option:
www.eurooptic.com
Very good light transmission for a 1 in tube--and feature rich.
www.eurooptic.com
Just a few I man think of
Decent...and in your budget
Schmidt Bender 4-16x50 Klassik LM A7 ASV H Black Riflescope 847-811-702-30-08A02
Schmidt Bender 4-16x50 Klassik LM A7 ASV H Riflescope 847-811-702-30-08A02 For Sale
Fantastic and just at your budget.
Schmidt & Bender Polar T96 2.5-10x50 D7 .1mrad 34mm CW BDC Riflescope 753-911-72D-E4-03
Schmidt Bender 2.5-10x50 Polar T96 2.BE D7 1 cm CW ASV H // BDC H 753-911-72D-E4-03 | Only at EuroOptic.com!
Excellent option:
Swarovski Z6 2.5-15x44 BT Plex Riflescope Black 59410
Buy Swarovski Optik Z6 2.5-15x44 BT Plex Riflescope 59410 at Eurooptic.com. This Swarovski Z6 2.5-15x44 riflescope with the Plex Reticle is great for shooting at a variety of ranges and different lighting environments. SHIPS FREE!
Very good light transmission for a 1 in tube--and feature rich.
Swarovski Z5i 5-25x52 - BT-4W-I Riflescope 69884
Get Swarovski Z5i 5-25x52 BT-4W-I Riflescope 69884 at Eurooptic. Its 25x magnification and 5x zoom rightly make this Swarovski rifle scope the expert when it comes to long-range hunting. Get free shipping on order of Swarovski Optik Scope.
Just a few I man think of
You kinda have to watch Rokslide. I know each forum has its own brand followers but if you don't shoot a tikka or maven you'll get stoned!!
