Illuminated Reticles

[south_ridge]

All,

I am getting ready to buy a scope for my new .338 Win Mag rifle. I had just about settled on a Leupold VX-3 (probably 3-9x40), but then I started looking at the VX-Rs with the illuminated reticle. This would be the "fire dot" with a single illuminated dot at the center of the crosshairs.

I am interested to hear what your experience is with illuminated reticles. Are they a fad? Are they a good thing? Are they any more recoil sensitive than a standard scope (always a consideration on a .338)?

This particular rifle will first be used on a Vancouver Island black bear hunt. I was just thinking that if I'm paying several thousand dollars to hunt the critters, then it wouldn't hurt to have a few minutes of extra shooting ability at the beginning or end of the day.

I'm not sure what else the future holds for this rifle/scope combination, but most of it will probably be trave/pay hunts. I'm sure that the illumination is unnecessary in 98% of circumstances. But considering what is on the line, I'm just wondering if I should be sure to cover the extra 2%.

Thanks,

SR

 

[txpitdog]

I'm in no way criticizing your choice of scope, but with my Zeiss Conquest I can see well before and after legal shooting time, and an illuminated dot or crosshair would not add any additional shooting opportunity. I would recommend going to the store at night and asking if they will let you look through the scope outside. It's possible that the VX3 is clear and bright enough that the standard reticle is visible even before/after legal shooting time.

To me, the illuminated reticle would only be useful on a quick shouldering weapon like a 45-70 Guide Gun. Not so much on a long range rifle like a 338,but that's just me.

 

[Rumrunner]

SR,

I have a Bushnell Elite 4200 1.25x4 scope with the illuminated dot on the crosshairs. The dot is very small and doesn't clutter things up. I put this on my Marlin Guide gun (good cal there txpitdog) with black bear being what I use it for. Since I bought this scope, I have shot 2 bears and both came out a few hours before dark. But two other times It would have been a great help had I of had it on my rifle then. It shows up good on a black bear.

I put this scope up against my Leupy 2x7x33 scope and with both set on 2x, the Bushnell is much clearer and gives me an easy 10-12 more minutes of shooting time. This was without the dot, just comparing trees in my yard at night.

As far as your 338, I do not think you will regret getting the Illuminated reticle at least as far as bear hunting goes. With these if the battery goes dead at least you still have your standard scope.

 

[singleshot]

I have a Sako Finnbear with a Swarovski Habicht 1.5X6 variable with the illuminated crosshairs (first focal plane crosshairs).

I live in Oregon, often times finding myself under the forested canopy where the loss of shootable light happens 15 to 20 minutes prior to actual sunset. The illuminated reticle was a selling point for me, in conjuction with the first focal plane benefit.

Although arguable by some, I've personally found that the higher quality glass in conjuctions with the illuminated crosshairs enables me to continue hunting right up to the final shooting minutes of a day while I'm under the canopy. I personally believe that peoples differing opinions on scopes is soley based on what style hunting they do and where they hunt at. When I hunt clear-cuts or open country, I have no need for such a device and rarely carry that rifle during those hunts.

The first focal plane crosshairs on 1.5 power, has but a tiny dot (which is actually a small + sign) and doesn't distract in the slightest from the overall picture. Looking through the scope gives the effect of a laser targeting your animal, which for me, lends to faster targeting of my animals.

When checking on different illuminated reticles, if you notice any sort of "halo" effect around the illuminated part, don't buy it. That halo effect is a huge distraction and obscures from your sight picture.

On the negative side of things;
For my style hunting, the first focal plane 6X is completely useless. I hunt close quarters and any magnification above about 3X makes the crosshairs too large and begins to obscure or distract from my sight picture.

Having to remember to turn the dang thing on and off. My scope has the on/off- light level on the top turret (which houses the battery). The side turret has an extra compartment for a spare battery. My spare battery is rarely ever a "spare" for long due to my ineptness at remembering one more thing while hunting.

One final note, you should check the regs. for Vancouver to see if any sort of electronic devices are allowed on scopes. I know in Oregon, we can have them, but they specify that they cannot "project".

Singleshot

 

[blume357]

I have a Millet tactical scope with a 1moa dot inside a reticle that you can illuminate.... to be honest I can't see any reason to light it up.

 

[south_ridge]

Thanks for the feedback.

I think that if my first real hunt with this setup would be for anything other than an extremely dark creature, I wouldn't be considering it.

I've harvested a lot of game with standard scopes, so part of me says "why bother?" Then again, I'm sure that 50-60 years ago people were having the same discussions about whether to use scopes at all. "I've killed a lot of game without a scope, so why bother?..."

SR

 

[Bob/Olallawa]

Give your guide a call and ask what he thinks, just might save a few bucks

 

[gunners]

you are kidding me I'm looking at the VXR 4-12 cds fire dot for my 338 win mag right now, which has arrived just waiting on the paper work. The only thing is I'm not sure about the price $730 seems a bit steep in australia. I'll have to do some checking on ebay. was thinking of getting some type of quick release mounts so I could change it between my 338 winmag and 7mm remmag all I would have to change then would be the dial's

 

[Lloyd Smale]

i have two ways of thinking on them. I think they work good for tactical applications and even close in woods hunting as to me anyway at low power they tend to come on target faster. Your eyes just go to the dot faster then the center of a crosshair but my other though is in a GOOD scope they dont add anything to low light sighting during legal hours.

 

[Rumrunner]

I have to disagree about low light situations during legal hours. One year I had 2 bears at my bait and couldn't make out my crosshairs (Leupold 2x7 w/ heavy crosshairs). I still had more than 15 minutes of hunting time left, but in the timber it was just to dark. When I left and got out on the path out to the road there was enough moonlight that I didn't need my flashlight to walk out. But under the canopy of trees I could have used the scope I now have on my designated bear buster.

 

[Silent Sam]

They work well on black pigs in the moonlight also. Would be a good thing for black bear over bait too. Shot placement can be critical and deep cover can be 2 steps away. Illuminated reticles allow for having a fine reticle and still being able to see it in low light against a black target vs using a reticle heavy enough that you can see in the dark in brighter conditions.

 

[wunbe]

Many of the illuminated reticle scopes in the past have proven to be too delicate for really heavy recoiling rifles. Even Leupolds have failed this test. I'd stick with you a rugged fixed power that is known to gather last light effectively. The Leupold 6X with a 4a reticle would be my choice.

wunbe

 

[Ruger1nut]

I will agree with Wunbe on the reticel but from what I have seen on any of the bear hunts I have been on a much lower power scope is better.

If I found/used a good fixed power, it would be a 2x or 3x tops. I have used a 1.5x6, 1.5x5 and 1x4 and never felt under scoped. One is illuminated, the others are not.

If I were doing more spot and stalk in wide open country I might move up one magnification level but probably not

my 2 cents
Dave

 

[mattsbox99]

They are illegal to hunt big game with in MT.