How well do illuminated scopes ........

FoghornLeghorn · August 1, 2012, 11:19 AM

........perform in bright daylight?

I'm thinking of putting a Leupold Mk 4 LR/T illuminated on a hunting rifle. I've never used an illuminated optic. When facing the sun does the illumination wash out?

Saltydog235 · August 1, 2012, 12:24 PM

Don't turn it on.

tpcollins · August 1, 2012, 06:49 PM

I have one illuminated scope for early morning varmints. If the sun is up, I turn it off.

Pahoo · August 1, 2012, 06:54 PM

They work better than you might expect or at least, better than most RedDots. Frankly, I like them. As others have replied, you really don't need it in daylight or bright light as you have described. Low light is always better. The last time I looked, the color of the month, was red aand blue. Mine are red and green ....

Be Safe !!!

PetahW · August 2, 2012, 12:20 PM

The illumination (IR) feature in most riflescopes (but not all) is additional to the primary reticle, and (as already posted) can be turned on/off at will - unlike red dot sights, in which the IR is the primary/only reticle.

Which means that, with the IR feature turned off, the scope performs in broad/bright daylight just like any other like scope.

Even on bright days, however, I find the IR feature very useful in deeply shaded areas - which can appear relatively black/dark, compared to outside those areas.

I got away from batteries, years ago, in an IR scope - when I treated myself to a Trijicon Accupoint Safari 1.75x-6Xx24 scope, which used ambient light to illuminate the reticle's delta-shaped aiming point (which also has a tritium insert for night use).

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armoredman · August 2, 2012, 03:09 PM

My only illuminated recticle scope, a Barska Electro Scope. I'd not have purchased it if I'd have another option. I turned on the scope to verify it lights up green or red, and turned it off. Maybe it will come in handy for coyote hunting.

I would love to try a Trijicon ACOG, but the scope would cost almost as much as the rifle!

L_Killkenny · August 2, 2012, 03:22 PM

No night hunting here thus no use for IR. If there is enough light for me to be shooting there's enough for me to be seeing a standard crosshair. IR is just something to add, bulk, weight and cost IMO.

August 1, 2012, 11:19 AM	#1
FoghornLeghorn Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2011 Posts: 961	How well do illuminated scopes ........ ........perform in bright daylight? I'm thinking of putting a Leupold Mk 4 LR/T illuminated on a hunting rifle. I've never used an illuminated optic. When facing the sun does the illumination wash out?

August 1, 2012, 06:49 PM	#3
tpcollins Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2009 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 558	I have one illuminated scope for early morning varmints. If the sun is up, I turn it off. __________________ What direction did that last shot at Kennedy come from?

August 1, 2012, 06:54 PM	#4
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	They do shine !!! They work better than you might expect or at least, better than most RedDots. Frankly, I like them. As others have replied, you really don't need it in daylight or bright light as you have described. Low light is always better. The last time I looked, the color of the month, was red aand blue. Mine are red and green .... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

August 2, 2012, 12:20 PM	#5
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	The illumination (IR) feature in most riflescopes (but not all) is additional to the primary reticle, and (as already posted) can be turned on/off at will - unlike red dot sights, in which the IR is the primary/only reticle. Which means that, with the IR feature turned off, the scope performs in broad/bright daylight just like any other like scope. Even on bright days, however, I find the IR feature very useful in deeply shaded areas - which can appear relatively black/dark, compared to outside those areas. I got away from batteries, years ago, in an IR scope - when I treated myself to a Trijicon Accupoint Safari 1.75x-6Xx24 scope, which used ambient light to illuminate the reticle's delta-shaped aiming point (which also has a tritium insert for night use). . Last edited by PetahW; August 2, 2012 at 12:29 PM.

August 1, 2012, 12:24 PM	#2
Saltydog235 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Pawleys Island Posts: 1,563	Don't turn it on.

August 2, 2012, 03:09 PM	#6
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,299	My only illuminated recticle scope, a Barska Electro Scope. I'd not have purchased it if I'd have another option. I turned on the scope to verify it lights up green or red, and turned it off. Maybe it will come in handy for coyote hunting. I would love to try a Trijicon ACOG, but the scope would cost almost as much as the rifle!

August 2, 2012, 03:22 PM	#7
L_Killkenny Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,676	No night hunting here thus no use for IR. If there is enough light for me to be shooting there's enough for me to be seeing a standard crosshair. IR is just something to add, bulk, weight and cost IMO.