Rifle Scopes Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

[Prairie Dog Dundee]

Has anyone had to pass up a shot because they lacked an illuminated reticule? Not because they could not identify the target but because it was light enough to identify the target but they could not see the reticule.
Last week I put two scopes on my night stand and ACOG TA50-4 compact 3X28 with amber reticule and a 3-9 Super Sniper set at 3X. I'm an early riser and I wanted to compare them in low light conditions. At 5:20 am I awoke and without exposing my eyes to any light started to compare the scopes. It was overcast with no stars or moon and I'm thirty miles form any ambient light. I'm looking out an open upstairs window with the screen removed. While looking through the ACOG I noticed movement and spotted a Doe and a Fawn feeding and walking up the meadow about fifty yards away. I had no problem putting the illuminated reticule on the front shoulders or head. I switched to the Super Sniper and noticed that what I was looking at was a Cow and Calf Elk. With the Super Sniper FFP turned to three I had no problem putting the black reticule on the front shoulder or head because the thick outer part of the reticule was easy to see. As it got lighter over the next half hour I watched about 25 head of Elk move up the meadow. The meadow runs 120 yards wide and the Elk were between 50 and 120 yards away. I did not scope one where I could not have made the shot.The sun peaked over the mountain at 6:55. The Elk were gone a half hour before it would have been legal to shoot, in season. My point is if it is too dark to see a well designed reticule is it too dark to identify your target be it a hunting situation, police action or friend or foe situation?

 

[generalzip]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

Interesting question. I'd like to see how people respond to this. I've never really had a problem making out the center of the crosshairs, but I could see how an illuminated reticle would be useful for ranging with those small hash marks such as those on a MLR.

 

[Prairie Dog Dundee]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

No body has had to pass on a shot because they lacked an illuminated reticle?

 

[High Binder]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

I never used any of mine. (All NSXs)

 

[Remoah]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

You're definitley onto something.

Illuminated Reticules have an advantage in the Military because at night you could be firing at muzzle-flashes and moving shillouetes or shadows, hence an Illuminated Reticule being a definite advantage.
Same for say, pig, fox or any other feral animal hunt, if you're spotlighting it can be an advantage too, as you'll be certain where the reticule is landing.

However game animals it'd be unnecicearry, because if you can clearly identify your target you can obviously make out a superimposed crosshair on an image through the optic. If you cant, you need more light and should probably think about wether you can take a shot in those conditions.

 

[pappy42]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

I own two and my opinion closely follows that Remoah.

I don't hunt game (protected game) but I do have the need to keep down the predators and feral hogs on my cattle/goat ranch.

The lighted reticle is useful in that endeavor.

If I ever had to meat hunt in a survival, or SHTF situation, I would feel well equipped with my lighted reticle.

 

[Camo_crawler]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

If the scope you want has the lighted reticle get it. I have a NF and have used the lighted reticle twice now while hunting. I live in cali and normally we dont hunt in tree stands out here.

 

[Duff]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

i think that the illuminated reticle is just more of a novelty. it destroys your night vision unless its set on a ery low power. if you have to do a lot of shooting in conditions dark enough not to see the reticle i think you should just splurge on a NV setup. if people absolutely need a light up reticle they should come up with some sort of glow in the dark deal.

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

i actually had to pass on a shot BECAUSE of an illuminated reticle. coyote, at night, my .ill crosshairs only had 5 settings, all of them were too bright. night vision went to shit, couldn't see anything but the crosshairs.

i now sport a 1-11 setting reddot on a shotgun to counteract that.

if ill. reticle is going to be used, it should be a 1 to an 11 setting, or use weak batteries in a lesser setting ill. optic. i've used weak batteries and worn down perfectly ggod ones to the power that doesn't blind me at night.


i would imagine, that with age (the shooter), the ill. reticle may be helpful as the vision starts to go.

 

[Mike Stolfus]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

I've been hunting for over 30 yrs. and have never had to pass up a shot during Legal hunting hours because I couldn't see my Reticle.
Something to keep in mind, some States prohibit the use of optics that use batteries for hunting Game animals.
Hope this helps, Mike.

 

[Phylodog]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

I had to take a shot (police action) that would have been much more challenging, if not impossible without the illuminated reticle. I'll admit it is probably a rare occurrence but I'm a believer and wouldn't have a work rifle without one.

I have not used an illuminated reticle during recreational shooting that I recall.

 

[hiddenmongoose]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

iv never had to pass up a shot due to lack of an illum ret but i have made a few kills i wouldnt have made without it. i have a s&b with illum ret on my 220 swift, in summer months i often sit out in the fields overlooking woods and shoot fox as they come out at dusk. some come out quite late and they are hard to pick up in the scope due to the dark woods behind them and the fact they are dark and small.the reticle can be very hard make out in these conditions , the s&b has 10 different brightness levels and usually the 2nd or 3rd lowest is bright enough to sort you out. would i buy a scope just for this feature .... no, because i dont encounter that situation often enough to consider it a necessity. i bought my s&b for its high quality glass, the illum feature was a bonus that has aided me on a few occasions though.just my 2 cents your milage may vary!

 

[brand692]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

I think as you see more and more FFP scopes in the hunting world (which I firmly believe is happening) I believe the illuminated reticle will become more of a necessity.

The reticles on the 3-15s get really small at lower powers. Try looking into a tree line with one on 3x. Its nearly impossible to make out.

Passed up on a shot because of lack of illumination? No.

I'll be honest, I've never worn out a battery in a scope. But its nice to have.

 

[Prairie Dog Dundee]

Re: Just Curious: Illuminated reticle question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: brand692</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think as you see more and more FFP scopes in the hunting world (which I firmly believe is happening) I believe the illuminated reticule will become more of a necessity.

The reticules on the 3-15s get really small at lower powers. Try looking into a tree line with one on 3x. Its nearly impossible to make out.

Passed up on a shot because of lack of illumination? No.

I'll be honest, I've never worn out a battery in a scope. But its nice to have. </div></div>

I agree with you in part. It depends on the design of the reticule. One of the scopes I was using in the case that prompted this thread is the Super Sniper which is a FFP. At the high magnification the mil dots are obvious and offer a great sight picture. However, as it gets darker, shots get closer and the magnification setting is lowered to get a larger exit pupil. With the super sniper the large thick cross hairs that are at the edge of the view at higher settings come into the center at lower settings. Granted this leaves a fine center but I was able to center the thick cross hairs at the ranges I was observing the Elk. Who ever designed this reticule knew what he was doing. Without the thick cross hairs "moving" towards the center I would not have had confidence in the location of my aim point. With thin cross hairs a dimly lit center point would be needed.