Scope for night hunting ?

T

Tim Neitzke

New member
I've not done a lot of night hunting, but I do like it.

Got back from Texas and have been pondering this.....

I run 40 mm objective scopes on my guns. Which is plenty in the day light. Will a 50 mm draw any more light from a red lens spot light. Aslo what power scope do you use ?

Thanks ........

Tim
 
I use a 4x-12x-50mm Nikon Buckmasters. Mostly the power setting is left on 4x and focus is at 50yds. If I need more power I'll increase as needed. This model is the side focus and is easily adjusted with one hand while sitting in the shooting sticks and on target. I found my smaller objective lenses darkened as the power setting increased. My 40mm and 44mm have a hard time seeing past 6x or 8x. My 50mm will stay clear all the way to 12x.
 
Hunt on 4X and under at night, which you should in order to gain FOV, and a 50MM has no advantage over even a 32MM objective at that setting. The eye can only handle so much light.

There is a scientific formula for it all, but that is it, cut and dried. Trust me!
 
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Hunt on 4X and under at night, which you should in order to gain FOV, and a 50MM has no advantage over even a 32MM objective at that setting. The eye can only handle so much light.

There is a scientific formula for it all, but that is it, cut and dried. Trust me!



So you're saying a 32mm scope gathers as much light as a 50mm scope in low light conditions?
Where is this formula ?,I could save some money not buying 50mm scopes then...... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
Have I ever steered you wrong? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gifyet?

Trust me I own a bunch of Leupolds with 50MM objectives myself. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

The eye can only utilize so much light. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
50mm scopes can "transmit" more light than a 32 mm because the lense opening is larger thereby allowing more light into the scope.. Pretty simple.. All things being equal (which it rarely is)

On the other hand the human eye can only utilize so much of that light due to the size that our pupil will open up.....

You can also run into the fact that the smaller scope can have better resolution (such as my 3-10 X 32 Sightron) and it will seem to be brighter than a lot of 40 mm scopes and some 50 mm scopes due to better glass in it..

Crosshair size is important as thin crosshairs can litterally disappear under low light conditions.. Ask Sean Martin about his 6-18 X 40 mm VX II Leupold at night...lol...

The only scopes I have mostly used at night were the Japanese made Tascos in the 3-9 X 40mm and the one 50mm I have now is a Japanese made Tasco.. They are far superior to the newer world class line and have accounted for litterally hundreds of coyotes at night under a red filtered spotlight.. They were never set above 8 when used at night.

A heavy duplex is where it is at for hunting at night (in my opinion).. To thin of a crosshair and one finds themself looking for the crosshair to aim rather than concentrating on the animal...

DAA says it a lot better than I just did.. It is a good read and his points are well made..James L.
 
Tim, go visit the Leupold site and compare the light transmission between the same model scope in a 40mm and 50mm objective. It isn't enough to justify the added cost UNLESS you can only get the lighted reticle in the larger objective. Those lighted reticles are the cats meow for night work in TX!
 
Bushnell 3200 elite 3x9x40 FIREFLY. You get heavy crosshairs and if that is not enough for you they can be illuminated with out batteries. About 10 seconds from a flashlight and they will glow for hours, I rarely need to light them up.
 
goatpacker-- Firefly

I agree with ya, but I never illuminate the reticle. I like em just black and thick/heavy. It helps me acquire the target, especailly if it is moving. Also the very center of those heavy bold crosshairs is a very fine intersection of the wires, suitable for even the most precise of aiming.
 
By the way the formula is for exit pupil. Divide the objective size by the power that the scope is set on. A good rule of thump is to have an exit pupil of 4 much more than that and and your eye can not utilize it. 40mm obj. divided by 10 power is 4 exit pupil that is plenty. I have no need for anything over a 40mm on a predator gun. I also like to keep the sight as close the the line of the bore so the 40 allows for lower rings. These are just my personal opinions and I am no expert,nor do I claim to be, and do not mean to offend anyone, I consider all of you friends that I have not had the pleasure to meet yet.
 
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Tim, go visit the Leupold site and compare the light transmission between the same model scope in a 40mm and 50mm objective. It isn't enough to justify the added cost UNLESS you can only get the lighted reticle in the larger objective. Those lighted reticles are the cats meow for night work in TX!


I have a Burris LRS 3-9X50 and I cant use the lighted recticle with my shooting light,it gives off some wierd glare.But it is the nuts for moonlit nights when I dont need the shooting light....
 
I have a .204 ruger upper on the way!

I think I'm putting a 4.5x14x40 leupy on it.

I really like this power range. Low enough for nite and runners , high enough for them way out there ones!

Tim
 
I bought a BSA 3x9x50 red dot with the side knob. At first I was skeptical as the 50 dollar price tag might suggest. But when I got it WOW! what a clear little scope. I like the handy little side knob to turn the dot on also. I ordered 4 more and have them on all my predator guns now.
 
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I have a .204 ruger upper on the way!

I think I'm putting a 4.5x14x40 leupy on it.

I really like this power range. Low enough for nite and runners , high enough for them way out there ones!

Tim



Take a look at the Bushnell 6500 2.5x-16x-40. Great glass. Great spread on the magnification, also.
 
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