Author Topic: lighted reticles (Read 1013 times)

Zachary · « **on:** December 23, 2002, 07:28:05 AM »

I have a few scopes with illuminated reticles and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM!! :-D

Specifically, I have (2) Leupold Vari-X III 4.5x-14x-50mm Illuminated AO, Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5x-10x-50mm Illuminated, and Nightforce NXS 5.5x-22x-56mm Illuminated Mil-Dot.

Some people say that illuminated reticles are cheating. Others say that they are of little or no use during legal shooting times.

Well let me tell you, as for "cheating," it's not. If it allows me to make a cleaner shot, then it's not cheating...it's ethical.

As for not being useful during legal shooting times, it also isn't true. Have you ever been hunting on very overcast days? On such days it is very dark well before legal shooting times have expired. Also, if you hunt heavily wooded areas, it is difficult to discern your crosshairs from some of the branches that, at a distance, also look black like your crosshairs. Light-up the reticle and you can see perfectly.

For me, the bottom line is that I will only buy scopes with illuminated reticles from now on. My problem is that I now don't use my other rifles that have non-illuminated scopes.

Just one note, illuminated reticles are illegal in some states. Check your state's regulations.

Zachary

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2002, 10:30:17 AM »

I don't much care for those lighted reticles and use only non illuminated ones. So Zach you can just pack up those rifles with the scopes you never use and ship them to me and I'll give them a nice home since you have no further use for them. See what a nice guy I am. Heck I'll even pay fer da shipping. :-D

GB

Rocky · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2002, 11:19:09 AM »

They work. I have a Burris 1.5-6X Signature Electo-Dot Posi-lock. Great scope! I love it. Well worth the money. I purchased it after several long conversations with a very good friend of mine who first suggested I try one. He is a very experienced South African PH and convinced me there are times when they come in handy (e.g. - hunting leopards, or following wounded game in low light). :mrgreen:

Rocky

Zachary · « **Reply #3 on:** December 25, 2002, 04:26:10 PM »

GB,
I don't think that I'm quite ready to give up my non-illuminated scopes just quite yet, but if you're will to pay for the shipping, you'd be the first person I'll give 'em to.

TLP,
Bushell Elite optics are super duper, but I'm not too crazy about their illuminated dot simply because it's not bright enough, even at its highest setting.

My leupolds have the fine cross hairs reticles. These scopes have 10 brightness settings can be VERY BRIGHT. However, only the inside portion of the cross hairs light up, the outside cross hairs are still black. When you turn off the lights, the inside cross hairs go back to black.

Nightforce has the best illuminated reticles. The entire reticle lights up and is very bright.

Take a look at the Nikon. It is a regular duplex and the finer inside cross hairs light up.

Zachary