vole Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 I am considering one of these as can struggle to see the crosshairs in poor light increasingly . Never used one but was wondering if there are any drawbacks such as using them without it lit up in good light etc . I was going to go for a Nikko Stirling as I have used the Gameking on my RF and like them for my purposes . Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 May I suggest you get a better reticule, or lamp, failing that an eye test! Illuminated reticles are a gimmick on the whole!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
station Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Hello there, Other than forgetting to turn it off - I can't think of any negatives. Most come with a choice of colours and varying brightness levels. ATB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 i find an improvment in poor light,but then my eyes are 68 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 They can be helpful with seeing the cross-hairs, black hairs in the black can be hard. They do usually come with several brightness settings so you can adjust to what suits you, and often a choice of red or green depending on which you prefer. The only problem I find with them is remembering to turn them off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted February 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 (edited) Dekers you cheeky fellow , I wear specs for reading but me peepers are supposed to be ok at longer distance though I am after an edge at very last light . Can see the bunny but the + is lost enough to put me off . You had a problem with em Dekers ? I can mount a light on my scope if needed but because it is just the last 20 minutes or so I was wondering if an illuminated scope was the answer . ps my scope is a 4-16 x 50 so hope the light gathering is good . Cant afford quality glass sadly . Edited February 16, 2012 by vole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 My eyes are also nearly 60 years old, I have ill ret on one of my scopes that had a very fine ret, ( NF NP1DD), this is handy for low light shots on the edge of a beam. Center beam I dont bother with the illum. I have had a dusk situation where I could not see the ret center dot either on or off, in that half light, had to use the horizontal bars instead. I would recommend that you invest in a used small Ziess instead with the plex ret, it wont be illum but such is the quality of the glass that you would never use it. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaz-loc Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 got a nikko stirling myself in illuminated reticle, this very scope infact. I can't speak very highly of the illuminated reticle on it. It is quite fuzzy and not very crisp. Just my honest opinion but you may very well find it to be fine but i would suggest looking through one first. I knew a very experienced rifleman whom is sadly no longer with us and he found he couldn't hit anything when he got an illuminated reticle so he stopped using it. Each to their own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted February 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 got a nikko stirling myself in illuminated reticle, this very scope infact. I can't speak very highly of the illuminated reticle on it. It is quite fuzzy and not very crisp. Just my honest opinion but you may very well find it to be fine but i would suggest looking through one first. I knew a very experienced rifleman whom is sadly no longer with us and he found he couldn't hit anything when he got an illuminated reticle so he stopped using it. Each to their own All opinions appreciated , thank you . Might save my money after all . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
station Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 I have a Bushnell Elite 6500 - The cross hairs are coated so they appear bronze / gold in low light (dusk) and jet black in light conditions. Very clever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaz-loc Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 All opinions appreciated , thank you . Might save my money after all . Don't let this put you off as it could resolve your issue. The illuminated reticles on the higher priced scopes, from what i have seen, are absolutely superb. Unfortunately from what i have come across, especially with Nikko Stirling, the illumination on the scopes on the lower priced end of the scale don't fair so well. But as previously said try and have a look through one first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Personally I do like illuminated rets but be carefully what you pick as some even on the lowest setting is simply to bright ! When you get one that you can work with you should find it a pleasure to use. Typically I found scopes that illuminate the whole ret to be the worst offenders for being to bright ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Albert Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 The main problem with illuminated reticles is people turn them up too bright. When bunny bopping at night I have the ret on the lowest setting. That way you don't lose your night vision. They are very useful but you have to use them with care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 (edited) Dekers you cheeky fellow , I wear specs for reading but me peepers are supposed to be ok at longer distance though I am after an edge at very last light . Can see the bunny but the + is lost enough to put me off . You had a problem with em Dekers ? I can mount a light on my scope if needed but because it is just the last 20 minutes or so I was wondering if an illuminated scope was the answer . ps my scope is a 4-16 x 50 so hope the light gathering is good . Cant afford quality glass sadly . Yep... as with all things someone will find a use, and a multitude of opinions will be offered. I have 2 or 3 IR scopes, can't actually remember because the only time I turn them on is to see if the battery still works, should take it out really. I didn't set out to buy IR, it just happened to be on these scopes that came my way. PS My eyes are terrible, just bought a .22 Semi and intended to leave the open sites on it, I forgot that I could either see the open sights (with my glasses on) or the quarry with my glasses off, but not both either way, so a new scope had to be fitted! Edited February 17, 2012 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 Dekers you cheeky fellow , I wear specs for reading but me peepers are supposed to be ok at longer distance though I am after an edge at very last light . Can see the bunny but the + is lost enough to put me off . You had a problem with em Dekers ? I can mount a light on my scope if needed but because it is just the last 20 minutes or so I was wondering if an illuminated scope was the answer . ps my scope is a 4-16 x 50 so hope the light gathering is good . Cant afford quality glass sadly . Just a thought re the "very last light". Have you got the scope magnification up any higher than 7? If so, you're making life difficult for several reasons. Should you really need a higher mag, then, yep, IR or a lamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted February 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 Just a thought re the "very last light". Have you got the scope magnification up any higher than 7? If so, you're making life difficult for several reasons. Should you really need a higher mag, then, yep, IR or a lamp. Yes I generally do ie 14 + in an effort to see target + reticle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytim38 Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 got one, dont like it , its distracting , so never use it, as someone has already said, in my opinion a gimmick, but hey you dont have to turn it on if you like the scope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Mule Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 I have 3 different ones, but rarely use them. I find mt lamp kicks out enough light that I can see the crosshairs on th equary easily enough. I also turn the magnification right down in the dark (better light gathering). At dusk I occasionally turn it on, but even then I'm only 'playing'. If I were to buy another scope soon, I wouldn't bother with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 I generally go for glass over gimmick but I have had IR scopes in the past and found them a bit pointless although I did have a Hawke Endurance 30 for a bit, they have a single centre illuminated red dot which is on the first focal plane - can be handy as it lets you know very quickly if your head isn't lined up perfectly as the dot won't be in the centre. Having said that, for shooting in poor light you can't beat a good quality scope and back off the mag a bit - I like 6x myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted February 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 Low mag it is then , been going wrong there . May do some looking out of the window at home through the scope before going out . Ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 Yes I generally do ie 14 + in an effort to see target + reticle. Miles away down here, so can't be certain, but it's more than likely there's your answer. Your pupil will have enlarged to gather as much light as possible yet your scope will only be permitting the same amount of light through that your pupils when contracted on a sunny day can use. Simply (very simply for my benefit, not neccessarily yours), the objective lens when divided by the magnification setting should match your pupil diameter for maximum light gathering. Your pupils will go from ish3 to ish7mm in bright light/darkness respectively. Consequently, the next time you're out, and can't see too good at 14, drop down to 7 and you should see a difference. I know, it doesn't help if you can't see to shoot because the target is too small. In which case, a lamp it'll have to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted February 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 All good stuff here , many thanks . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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