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Illuminated reticle: How do you like them |
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ourabmen
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/13/2004 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Posted: August/09/2005 at 10:25 |
I am toying with a new scope for a 25-06 Senedero. Until now I have never really loked at scopes with illuminated reticles. What are the pros and cons? If you ahve one, how do you like it? Thanks for the info.
OUrabmen |
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creakindoor
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/09/2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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Hi, I have a Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10x50 illuminated reticle. Even at the lowest setting its is too bright in low light. The illuminated dot glows and shimmers lighting up the inside of the tube and hiding the target. Very disappointing for such an expensive scope.
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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I have had lit reticles, and frankly, I don't care for them anymore. One was a S&B w/ a L7, and a IOR lit reticle.
I say no. |
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DAVE44
Optics Journeyman Joined: November/11/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 652 |
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Why do you dislike lighted reticles? I am curious. Did you never see a need for them or did they mess up you scopes image?
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ranburr
Optics Master Joined: May/16/2004 Status: Offline Points: 1082 |
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I think they have a place in tactical environments where you want to get on target immediately and hit something (preferably center mass). Hunters need to be more precise.
ranburr |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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I just think they are not worth the added cost, mostly. That and I have never been in a hunting situation that I felt it could have given me an edge. I'll take a good duplex reticle for hunting.
Personal preference. No more, no less. |
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mouflon
Optics GrassHopper Joined: July/21/2005 Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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I am no expert, but I own several and have had even more opportunities to use illuminated reticles and find them useful. The times when they are needed are not common, but when you need them, you need them. So for the trade off, I find the additional expense and very slight weight a sound investment on an alternative set-up to take when the conditions may occur where an illuminated reticle can help give you the edge. The basic purpose is to illuminate the reticle against the dark backdrop of the game animal itself. I have had this occur in the following hunting situations: - Leopard – silhouette animal on high branch against lighter background - - Driven Boar/Bear – leading moving game in low light conditions, major advantage - Daylight deer – very bright daylight conditions, such as encountered when roe deer hunting, fine reticle washed out by brightness. I discovered this utility by accident when I had to use an alternate rifle during a hunt These conditions are only my own experience, and others may have more examples when they are useful, but I found them essential in these cases. However, these are not common compared to the average hunting conditions I encounter throughout the season, nor are they at all common when hunting North American game. One important consideration, however. I urge you to go with a high end manufacturer (Swarovski, S&B, Zeiss) which offers full intensity control on the illumination. You want the reticle to be just visible depending on the available light, like the standard reticle is in ideal circumstances. Too bright illumination which is not variable enough will cause more issues than it solves. |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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mouflon brought up an excellent point.
"One important consideration, however. I urge you to go with a high end manufacturer (Swarovski, S&B, Zeiss) which offers full intensity control on the illumination. You want the reticle to be just visible depending on the available light, like the standard reticle is in ideal circumstances. Too bright illumination which is not variable enough will cause more issues than it solves"
If your going to get in the lit reticle game, go with the Euro's, if you can swing the cost! They really seem to be on the cutting edge of reticle illumination, for sure. |
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