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Best $500 scope for shooting deer in the dark?

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hossdaniels View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hossdaniels Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Best $500 scope for shooting deer in the dark?
    Posted: December/31/2008 at 11:31
I need a new scope and have a $500 budget.

Low light capability is most important.(I like deer and hunting them in the fall, but I have a couple hundred acres of soybeans to protect in the summer)

That should include a recticle thick enough that I can see it in the dark, and I like the graduated recticles.

My longest possible shot is 500 yds.

I'm thinking about a Sightron SII Big Sky 3-12x42 with the hunter holdover recticle, http://www.swfa.com/pc-12607-1511-sightron-3-12x42-sii-big-sky-riflescope.aspx BUT, I AM OPEN TO ALL OPTIONS.


I think the dot in the middle of the recticle might help in low light, what do yall think?

So any info on this scope or any other scopes in the $550 price range and under are welcome!
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trigger29 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote trigger29 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 11:47
This may be a step up from the Sightron, but I don't think either reticle will be visible in the dark. If you truly can hunt in the dark, you will need some VERY good optics. This is about as good as they get for $500, and will take you to for what most of us would call last legal light. I don't know what the laws are where you are. I highly doubt anything in this price range will let you shoot much past 1/2 hr after sunset, depending on where you are.
 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 11:51
I think I would look at the Z-Plex for low light shooting with the Zeiss. It is heavier and easier to "pick up".
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hossdaniels Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 11:55
Thanks, but I'm not worried about "legal light".  I have the required permits to shoot deer damaging my crops.  IMO any decent $200 scope will do untill 1/2 hour after sunsetBig Smile.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 11:56
Here is another low light winner  http://www.samplelist.com/default.aspx?display_num=10&mfg_selection=5&prod_type=1&hide_sold=false See the 3-9x42 @$599
The glass is another step up from the Conquest. It also has a plex reticle and is worth the extra C note if you can stretch that far.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hossdaniels Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 12:12

Thanks, I dont expect top of the line stuff, but would like to be able to see on a half moon night.  These seem like good starts.  I have heard good things about the zeiss. I guess the kahle is out of my circles class, I'm not familiar with them.  I will check them out.

Is buying used scopes a particularly good idea?  I always kept my cheaper ones(<$150) untill they "shot loose".  I only have two scopes more than that, a burris FFII thats OK, and a old style nikon monarch that is OK.  I hope the higher priced ones dont do that?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 12:21
Originally posted by trigger29 trigger29 wrote:

This may be a step up from the Sightron, but I don't think either reticle will be visible in the dark. If you truly can hunt in the dark, you will need some VERY good optics. This is about as good as they get for $500, and will take you to for what most of us would call last legal light. I don't know what the laws are where you are. I highly doubt anything in this price range will let you shoot much past 1/2 hr after sunset, depending on where you are.
 

 i dont know about the conquest being a step up on the big sky, very close would be more accurate
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hossdaniels Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 12:30
Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

Originally posted by trigger29 trigger29 wrote:

This may be a step up from the Sightron, but I don't think either reticle will be visible in the dark. If you truly can hunt in the dark, you will need some VERY good optics. This is about as good as they get for $500, and will take you to for what most of us would call last legal light. I don't know what the laws are where you are. I highly doubt anything in this price range will let you shoot much past 1/2 hr after sunset, depending on where you are.
 

 i dont know about the conquest being a step up on the big sky, very close would be more accurate
 
Has anyone actually seen the HHR recticle?  Would I be better off with a regular heavy plex recticle?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 12:39
its similar to the burris ballistic plex except it only has two lines below the center instead of three or four that the burris has.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hossdaniels Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 13:15
My burris ballistic plex gets hard to see in low light(even the main crosshairs)!  Strike one for that recticle.
 
I hate to ask so many questions, but like I said, I dont have much to compare these things to. 
 
On the web I see that the HHR has a dot in the center(.75" at 100yds),  BUT the crosshairs are only .10" compared to .16" on the regular plex. 
 
Which do you think would be easier to see?  Others with scope reccomendations keep jumping in too.
 
Anyone know the size of the nikoplex ( or z-plex for comparison)?  That is all I have to go by with decent glass.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote trigger29 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 13:15
Originally posted by hossdaniels hossdaniels wrote:

  IMO any decent $200 scope will do untill 1/2 hour after sunsetBig Smile.
 
Well, in that case, any $500 scope should be able to shoot deer all night. There are places around here where 1/2 hour after sunset it is DARK. Once you are out of the hills it is still light. That's why I say depending on where you are.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 13:32
i personally wouldnt try to use something like that in low light with a lit reticle of some sort, at least for long range purposes. i myself feel the that best bet for low light reticles without a lit one is a nice heavy duplex like zeiss makes and leupold does also
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 13:36
Originally posted by trigger29 trigger29 wrote:

Originally posted by hossdaniels hossdaniels wrote:

  IMO any decent $200 scope will do untill 1/2 hour after sunsetBig Smile.
 
Well, in that case, any $500 scope should be able to shoot deer all night. There are places around here where 1/2 hour after sunset it is DARK. Once you are out of the hills it is still light. That's why I say depending on where you are.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hossdaniels Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 13:40
Originally posted by trigger29 trigger29 wrote:

Originally posted by hossdaniels hossdaniels wrote:

  IMO any decent $200 scope will do untill 1/2 hour after sunsetBig Smile.
 
Well, in that case, any $500 scope should be able to shoot deer all night. There are places around here where 1/2 hour after sunset it is DARK. Once you are out of the hills it is still light. That's why I say depending on where you are.
 
I'm sorry, I am talking about open fields.  I will let them deer eat all the twigs and leaves they want!
 
I should have made it more clear.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote martin3175 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 16:08
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 16:15
I would pick the trijicon as well.  It is a little over your budget, but with the tritium reticle it would be prefect for your needs.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote trigger29 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 17:06
Originally posted by hossdaniels hossdaniels wrote:

Originally posted by trigger29 trigger29 wrote:

Originally posted by hossdaniels hossdaniels wrote:

  IMO any decent $200 scope will do untill 1/2 hour after sunsetBig Smile.
 
Well, in that case, any $500 scope should be able to shoot deer all night. There are places around here where 1/2 hour after sunset it is DARK. Once you are out of the hills it is still light. That's why I say depending on where you are.
 
I'm sorry, I am talking about open fields.  I will let them deer eat all the twigs and leaves they want!
 
I should have made it more clear.
 
Is ok. I just saw that you were looking for a ballistic type reticle, that's why I suggested what I did. The same scope would probably work, buy in very dark conditions you may only be able to see the main crosswire. In this case you would have to dial up for long shots, like with a plex. Or guess your hold over, I guess.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 17:28
I would probably give up on the holdover reticle.

With that in mind, take a look at this scope:
http://www.swfa.com/pc-7279-185-bushnell-25-10x50-elite-4200-30mm-rifle-scope.aspx


That is about as good as it is gong to get under $500.

If it is really dark, that small illuminated dot is the way to go.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hunter12345 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 17:47
Bushnell 4200 30mm illuminated reticle works well in low light as does the 4200 firefly reticle.I used a few weeks ago on a deer hunt a 3-12 x56 30 mm tube Docter Optik and was able to see deer in an open field when it was dark out.I believe the scope cost over $700 so the other aforementioned scopes are in your budget.
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