Absolute Best Low Light Scope with Illuminated Dot (No Price Limit)

[Starlite]

Meopta MeoStar R1r 3-12X56......last year I had an opportunity to use a friends 7mm Rem Mag for a moose hunt. To bad for him; was deployed overseas in the sandbox. On the second day I was tasked with the left side of this logged clearing. All day we'd been trying to get this bull to come out to the opening. At twilight we could hear something thrashing across the clearing but I couldn't see anything with my binoculars. Although the scope wasn't any more powerful then the binoculars, I thought id see what the glass was like. WELL HOLY SHIP what a difference in clarity. Night into day. If I'd only decide a minute sooner to try the scope; I probably could have shot a massive bull moose. Instead I watched it disappear into the forest. I'd like to think with that extra minute id seen it broadside or at least quartered away. Instead I'd had the clearest view of bull butt and thick brush. There are two lessons I'd learned that day 1. Better glass = better clarity And 2. my hunting wish list would grow by two. We did end up with a moose that next morning. I did have a sore shoulder too; From glassing with that rifle. Someone else in our group shot it However.
Now I'll say this. I've yet to find a better scope to give me the same sight as that evening. Maybe it's because there's never been a moose at the other end of that tube. Have been saving money ever since and begging my friend to sell me his scope should I be fortunate enough to go on another moose hunt. in all honesty I think there are way cheaper scopes out there such as the vortex crossfire II hog hunter (i think that's its name) that will work. However if had the cash I'd own a Meopta.

 

[John Polk]

I'm looking for the absolute BEST low-light hunting scope with an illuminated dot in the reticle. I like somewhere in the 2-15 range with a 56mm objective.

I currently own a Zeiss Victory HT 3-12x56 Reticle 60, which I LOVE! The only downsides to this scope is the tunnel vision effect and the field of view isn't that great. However, I'm still highly satisfied with it as I mostly care about the low-light gathering and fine illuminated dot.
With that being said, I just purchased a new 6.5 Creedmoor bolt action that I plan to use next season hunting within 100 yards in Mississippi out to 600 yards or so in Nebraska and Missouri. Looking for another scope for this rifle.

I'm currently eyeing the Zeiss Victory V8 2.8-20x56 Reticle 60. I've heard good things about Nightforce, the high-end Vortex, Swarovski, S&B, etc. But, I have no experience with any of them. Doing crazy research before dropping that kind of money.

Help a brother out by dropping a few recommendations and why you chose your pick!

S&B's are outstanding.

 

[ModernRedneck]

Meopta MeoStar R1r 3-12X56......last year I had an opportunity to use a friends 7mm Rem Mag for a moose hunt. To bad for him; was deployed overseas in the sandbox. On the second day I was tasked with the left side of this logged clearing. All day we'd been trying to get this bull to come out to the opening. At twilight we could hear something thrashing across the clearing but I couldn't see anything with my binoculars. Although the scope wasn't any more powerful then the binoculars, I thought id see what the glass was like. WELL HOLY SHIP what a difference in clarity. Night into day. If I'd only decide a minute sooner to try the scope; I probably could have shot a massive bull moose. Instead I watched it disappear into the forest. I'd like to think with that extra minute id seen it broadside or at least quartered away. Instead I'd had the clearest view of bull butt and thick brush. There are two lessons I'd learned that day 1. Better glass = better clarity And 2. my hunting wish list would grow by two. We did end up with a moose that next morning. I did have a sore shoulder too; From glassing with that rifle. Someone else in our group shot it However.
Now I'll say this. I've yet to find a better scope to give me the same sight as that evening. Maybe it's because there's never been a moose at the other end of that tube. Have been saving money ever since and begging my friend to sell me his scope should I be fortunate enough to go on another moose hunt. in all honesty I think there are way cheaper scopes out there such as the vortex crossfire II hog hunter (i think that's its name) that will work. However if had the cash I'd own a Meopta.

I've heard good things about the Meopta. But, folks that have used the Meopta, as well as the high end Zeiss, S&Bs, and Swarovski's report that the others are brighter and more clear.

 

[Riflehunter1776]

I've heard good things about the Meopta. But, folks that have used the Meopta, as well as the high end Zeiss, S&Bs, and Swarovski's report that the others are brighter and more clear.

no comparison. My R2 meopta is done long before my diavari-v's.

I went ahead and ordered the T96 this morning, so I'll let you know whether or not it's brighter than my $35 redfield wideview with mold growing on the inside lense

 

[ModernRedneck]

no comparison. My R2 meopta is done long before my diavari-v's.

I went ahead and ordered the T96 this morning, so I'll let you know whether or not it's brighter than my $35 redfield wideview with mold growing on the inside lense

You're a good man!

 

[Cesky fousek]

I'm looking for the absolute BEST low-light hunting scope with an illuminated dot in the reticle. I like somewhere in the 2-15 range with a 56mm objective.

I currently own a Zeiss Victory HT 3-12x56 Reticle 60, which I LOVE! The only downsides to this scope is the tunnel vision effect and the field of view isn't that great. However, I'm still highly satisfied with it as I mostly care about the low-light gathering and fine illuminated dot.
With that being said, I just purchased a new 6.5 Creedmoor bolt action that I plan to use next season hunting within 100 yards in Mississippi out to 600 yards or so in Nebraska and Missouri. Looking for another scope for this rifle.

I'm currently eyeing the Zeiss Victory V8 2.8-20x56 Reticle 60. I've heard good things about Nightforce, the high-end Vortex, Swarovski, S&B, etc. But, I have no experience with any of them. Doing crazy research before dropping that kind of money.

Help a brother out by dropping a few recommendations and why you chose your pick!

Meopta R2 2.5-15x56

 

[Rich Coyle]

Its the Leupold VX5HD 3-15x56 - I had 3, still have one and regret selling the others. Best low light scope out there. It betters scopes in low light that are 2 and 3 times the price.

That's not my experience. On deer antlers 131 yards away the Swarovski z8i 2.7-18X56 beat my VX5 3-15X56 by fourteen minutes. Both the owner of the z8i and I agreed when darkness took over.

 

[Unoboats]

Thanks for this! I've basically nailed it down to the Zeiss V8, Swarovski Z8i, and the S&B PMII or T96. Wish I could bet behind all four at twilight to compare.

Z8i hands down looked though all but the T96.

 

[Roinaa]

Does anyone have experience of Leica Magnus or even the new Fortis 6 series ? How it would compare against V6, T96 or Z6i ?
The new Fortis 6 x56 model is really compelling scope for it's price.
I read a finnish review where they said that Magnus and old Visus models had "a bit too bright" dot for night foxing, can anyone confirm this ? And I wonder has Leica made some changes for Fortis models.

 

[flyguy1]

That's not my experience. On deer antlers 131 yards away the Swarovski z8i 2.7-18X56 beat my VX5 3-15X56 by fourteen minutes. Both the owner of the z8i and I agreed when darkness took over.

You know there are standard deviations in any instruments. My wife and I have identical Swarovski binos yet there are slight differences. Both are superb though.

 

[Rich Coyle]

The above VX-5 3-15X56 beat my Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50, Swarovski z5 5-25X52, and Leupold VX-6 4-24X52 by six minutes in my low light test.

 

[Roinaa]

I went ahead and ordered the T96 this morning, so I'll let you know whether or not it's brighter than my $35 redfield wideview with mold growing on the inside lense

Did you get your T96 ? Would like to hear your impression of it.

 

[DonBogaerts]

Did you get your T96 ? Would like to hear your impression of it.

I got the 4-16x46 in t96... i can see longer then we are allowed to hunt after sundown. Even night hunting with just some moonlight on hogs is possible. (Only thing we can hunt after 1 hour after sun set) Solid scope and i love it! With a green led light i hunt at total darkness till 300 yards as if its a night scope ... i have looked a long time for low light scope only the zeiss ht is close nothing else that ive seen.

 

[Riflehunter1776]

Did you get your T96 ? Would like to hear your impression of it.

because of everything going on, I have not been able to give it a full scientific test, but it's brighter than my Zeiss D-V, and that scope has been my standard for years. So yes, it does allow for better viewing well past hunting hours, but after full dark on a night with some moon, there is no difference between it and the Zeiss. So by European night hunting standards, it's a wash, by American standards it will give some extra time of legal hunting hours on a very dark and overcast day, preventing you from "leaving anything on the table" so to speak, before packing it in.