Thread: FFP scopes/ illuminated reticles

Who here has experience using them in low light? Would you consider some degree of illumination to be essential at dawn/dusk for the sight to be useful, in a hunting context? I specifically have the G2DMR reticle in mind.

In very low light you are effectively looking at a silhouette, black target on a slightly less black background. In this scenario, a black reticle is very difficult to make out so a contrast as afforded by an illuminated reticle can be of use.

A lot of them aren't quite bright enough for what I'd like

Is it something I should be terribly worried about? Or just accept a few minutes less hunting at dusk? It's primary use would be smashing goats and tagging steel at distance.

Probably not. In failing light a bold reticle like a German #4 in a VXIII is going to pick out ok. But you won't want that in a big ass scope like 20x.

Originally Posted by gimp

A lot of them aren't quite bright enough for what I'd like

My Premier is a touch dim. Was thinking about a new battery to test but I guess it is the design. Only the middle crosshair is illuminated.

Does the bushy light up fully

Yea the model I am looking at does, but I have the option of getting a non-illuminated version RFN.

On the millet I have there is I think 12 different levels and its pretty damn bright.

Have shot hundreds of foxes at dusk, dawn and in the spotlight and many were with non illuminated scopes, but with a reasonably thick cross hair which does help in low light.
With my illuminated scopes with thin reticules, I always have the illumination turned way down as low as is practical, so as not to obscure the aim point as 'flare' can be a problem.
Don't worry if the illumination seems a bit dim as when you really need it, dim will be fine!
I certainly wouldn't consider it essential and would often not use it, even though the scopes have it.

Remember you need to positively ID what you are shooting at , and I would not worry at all about having a Illuminated reticle or not , the simple truth is 99.99999% you will never miss not having it .

I have S&Bs , Premiers etc with illum , and honestly never used it for actuall shooting , batteries are out of all mine , as I never use it , this is one of the times that although having a Ilum reticles sounds good & you will NEED it in theory , But in actual use you will never use it in reality .

Later Chris

ACOGs have made me gay for bright reticles

Sweet I won't worry then

I have a swift and fine it helps having an illuminate recitle, mine has about 6 brightness level works on a centre dot only

just another thing to go wrong, go flat, add weight and seal to fail

I have had 2 occasions in my life that I wished I had an illuminated reticule.
One will be mandatory on my next hunting scope.


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