Illuminated reticle

Status
Not open for further replies.

chucknbach

Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2012
Messages
33
Location
Wy
Is it just me that thinks illuminated reticules are just a gimmick? I have 1 scope with lighted reticule and just don't see any use for it, granted it is a cheapy Center Point. I'm looking for an AR scope right now and most are lighted cross-hairs. Am I missing something here or maybe they have some benefit in a higher ranged scope?
 
I'm with you! I'm old school and don't like to use batteries for certain tools! I, too, have scope with illuminated reticles and rarely find them necessary. On a few occasions in the early morning or very late dusk, an illuminated reticle can prove useful for taking game. I can say that when I shop for a scope, that is not one of the key points I look for.

George P.
 
i was just having this conversation with vortex about my scope last week. i observed that over the years i've almost never turned the illumination on. USO, very rarely needed it. S&B was worthless so never bothered. etc.

but with the vortex gen2 4-27x i find myself turning the illumination on quite a bit, even during the day to help me see the reticle. maybe it's just the dreary winter we've had this fall, but it's come in pretty handy.
 
Many years ago I switched to fiber optic bowsite pins for archery hunting and found them to be extremely helpful since most shooting opportunities are in the last few minutes of daylight. More recently acquired a tenpoint crossbow and found the illuminated dots in the scope worked much the same. There was no way I could make out the black crosswires as the sun was low in on the horizon and the woods cast with shadows (no snow on the ground). They simply disappear in the background. Those lit dots made a huge world of difference.
 
Suppose could add in that the military thinks its useful enough to make the illuminated reticle a requirement of the ACOG. Low light street fights and all that.

So like anything else usefulness will be entirely up to user requirements. For shooting in low light/heavy shadows illumination is a great asset. For most any other time, especially shooting at a well lit indoor or outdoor range, has very little if any use. Of course it's not like a dead battery makes the scope stop working. Crosshairs are still there like any other non-lit scope. Also note that may not be legal to have an electronic device on your hunting rig in some states.
 
I can't get myself to like them in a rifle scope. I do have them in my crossbow scope/sight. I guess they would be helpful in those last couple of minutes, which is when Mr Big always shows, and maybe I could make sure the crosshairs are aligned but, unless they can help me identify that it actually IS Mr Big and not just Mr Sort of Big then I don't want them.
 
It all depend upon what conditions you shoot in. Illuminated reticules address a certain set of problems but aren't universally needed. In that manner, they are somewhat like seat belts... absolutely useless for tens of thousands of miles and then vitally necessary for a split second.
 
Gimmick?
Not at all.
Not a battery fan myself, and currently don't own any that require them.

Have been fortunate enough to get to try other folks lighted reticles , and I sure wouldn't rule them out for some situations.
 
I'm of the thought that if I can't see my cross-hairs, it's too dark. I have shot plenty right on the edge of legal light and haven't needed them, yet. Maybe those out spot lighting coyotes or something. I guess I'm just getting annoyed that I'll see one I want but it will be illuminated. I'm trying not to buy the lighted ones.
 
THR Members: Take 5% off your order of $50 or more at OpticsPlanet with coupon code THRFORUM!

AH hell, where was this for the previous scopes I bought off you guys? lol
 
I have a couple scopes with illuminated reticles:

1. Luepold Mark 4 4.6-20X on a varmint rifle, primary use for me is "aquatic mammal" eradication on my 9 acre pond. It works well at dusk against a dark brown muskrat on the bank

2. 1-4X Vortex on my FAL, when cranked on high at 1X it makes the reticle like a large illuminated red dot.

So for me at least, they work for their intended purposes.

Chuck
 
If the reticle is too bright it can obscure the target at long distances. But at distances of over 400yds if a target is against a very dark back ground then a dimly lit reticle is a definite plus in getting on target in low light situations.
 
A barely lit reticle is very useful when you're hunting at the beginning or end of legal shooting time. I mean shooting time, not shooting light. I have in the US killed bucks when I had to spend my time switching between checking my watch and looking through binoculars to find my opportunity on a buck that I could not see well with naked eyes.

In those conditions, having a barely lit reticle is much better than trying to place the shot with a black reticle on a target that is almost black.
 
I bought a Tru Glo cheapie 3x9 to get a lit reticule. I hunt hogs in low light often and I have found that if I barely turn it on, it's a big help. Get it too bright and it defeats it's purpose, but I have to say it works great for the reason I got it for. I wouldn't necessarily recommend one for deer as it it's too dark to see your crosshairs, it's past legal shooting time. With hogs we don't have to worry about that as we can hunt them any time of the day.
 
I have an illuminated reticule scope on one of my lever actions. The feature has been pretty useful in certain situations. I believe the last time I used it was to sight in a new load so wanted to be accurate as possible. Black reticule on black silhouette can be hard to pick up late afternoon. So it was helpful.
 
I have them on my Nightforces, Leupolds and US Optics and use the feature a lot. Even with first plane reticles having a controllable light source to illuminate helps in very low light like night shooting. Having a good rheostat is key though as it doesn't take much light to "wash out" what you are looking at.

Have a Trijicon with a TR24(typical post type ) reticle and it works wonderfully for it's intended purpose.
 
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=768768

This is a current thread. I suspect your problem is
granted it is a cheapy Center Point.
Look at my post about the VX-3 with a Firefly reticule. I've had both. Difference is unbelievable until you see it in action

There's a reason cheap stuff is priced cheap. Because it's made cheap

If that's the best you can do, then fine. If you ever had a chance to use a Leupold Firefly in field hunting conditions, you'd understand.

It may or may not be worth it depending on intended use. If it's on an AR that's gonna be used for plinking and goofing around, probably not worth the extra cost.
 
Last edited:
Getting my first one. Never have used one. But sold some guns, scopes, paid for some home repairs and now the wife says all the rest of the proceeds are MINE. :what::neener::cool: So got a Winchester Featherweight Compact 7-08 and topped her off with a Nightforce NXS compact IHR illum. reticle, zero stop and swiss knife, do-it-all kitchen tool and YeeHaaa. Seriously I think it will help in my situation. I am one of those Texan resort hotel blind lovers, but the "guests" don't arrive until near and slightly after sundown (don't think they trust my gifts) and that bitty crosshairs is getting hard to see. :eek: I hope to light em up with that red X and have me some jerky fixens. I believe they will be worth the money. IMHO.
 
Scopes!!! We don't need no stinking scopes!!! Just another gadget to break!!!

Reminds me of the good old days. But back to the question, illuminated reticle's are absolutely not a gimmick, if you don't shoot in conditions that make them useful that doesn't mean millions of other shooters can't use them.

I hunt deer from legal sunup to sundown, and there are plenty of times that little dot has proven useful, I also shoot 3 gun and often we will have jungle walks in pretty dense growth and having the dot makes it much quicker to get on a target.
 
I would have to say an illuminated reticle could be useful depending on the scope. On my Tasco, I would like a illuminated reticle. My Redfield Revolution has a reticle that turns gold colored when the light gets low, so I really don't need or want an illuminated reticle on that.
 
I have used them more in 3 gun than "real" life.

Set dim enough, sometimes it helps me get into position and ready before the spot light comes on while hunting.
 
I like the Leupold VX-R with the small red dot. It's all I need to center the crosshairs. I've never used a scope having a fully illuminated reticle. Seems like it might be distracting if the entire crosshairs were lit up.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top