I have noticed there seem to be 2 schools of thought for reticle illumination. One is the illumination of the entire reticle(NF, USO) and some just light the center of the reticle(S&B, PH). Could someone explain to me the pros/cons of each setup?
Rifle Scopes Reticle Illumination
- Thread starter Red Belly
- Start date
Re: Reticle Illumination
It's nice to have the entire reticle lit so you can use the reticle to range and for hold-offs but the reticle is able to be seen as a bright light from the front of the scope. That would be a concern if maintaining concealment is a concern. More of an issue on a two way range. Having only the very center lit on some reticles reduces this light signature from the front of the scope but leaves the shooter without the ability to use the reticle to it's full potential. Some of the newer S&B reticles seem to light the area with hasmarks and not the thick stadia out to the edges. Kind of a compromise.
It's nice to have the entire reticle lit so you can use the reticle to range and for hold-offs but the reticle is able to be seen as a bright light from the front of the scope. That would be a concern if maintaining concealment is a concern. More of an issue on a two way range. Having only the very center lit on some reticles reduces this light signature from the front of the scope but leaves the shooter without the ability to use the reticle to it's full potential. Some of the newer S&B reticles seem to light the area with hasmarks and not the thick stadia out to the edges. Kind of a compromise.
Re: Reticle Illumination
let us all be truthful in this, how often do you ever even use the illuminated reticle? I ask because I have illuminated reticles in every one of my LR, Tactical setups and I not a once have turned them on, and I hunt with em alot in low light(coyotes) and it's seemed to be quality glass means I havent needed them. I know it's a different beast IF you've bought one to take downrange with you but lets face it, i'd say 90% of the time that's not the case. I'm just curious if we all fall for what everyone else is using and cause they're cool. If that in fact is the answer "cause it's cool and I want one" then so be it, I think looking back that is the boat I fall in.
with that being said, like mentioned above by BFD I believe the difference is marketed primarily for real world ops where your wantin the light signature to be as minimul as possible
let us all be truthful in this, how often do you ever even use the illuminated reticle? I ask because I have illuminated reticles in every one of my LR, Tactical setups and I not a once have turned them on, and I hunt with em alot in low light(coyotes) and it's seemed to be quality glass means I havent needed them. I know it's a different beast IF you've bought one to take downrange with you but lets face it, i'd say 90% of the time that's not the case. I'm just curious if we all fall for what everyone else is using and cause they're cool. If that in fact is the answer "cause it's cool and I want one" then so be it, I think looking back that is the boat I fall in.
with that being said, like mentioned above by BFD I believe the difference is marketed primarily for real world ops where your wantin the light signature to be as minimul as possible
Re: Reticle Illumination
I use the illuminated reticle when I'm hunting near dark and every time I shoot past dark at a night shoot or whatnot. The light signature issue I don't see as being a problem with NF and USO's. I keep the illum turned way down on my NF so that it's almost invisible when I look through the scope until about 45 min from dark. The 2way range with an illum. reticle needing concealment is most likely going to be running some sort of night vision which will block the light even more to the downrange viewer.
I use the illuminated reticle when I'm hunting near dark and every time I shoot past dark at a night shoot or whatnot. The light signature issue I don't see as being a problem with NF and USO's. I keep the illum turned way down on my NF so that it's almost invisible when I look through the scope until about 45 min from dark. The 2way range with an illum. reticle needing concealment is most likely going to be running some sort of night vision which will block the light even more to the downrange viewer.
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