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Good low-light Hunting Scope?

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Category: Scopes
Forum Name: Rifle Scopes
Forum Description: Centerfire long gun scopes
URL: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=41786
Printed Date: March/28/2024 at 11:51
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Topic: Good low-light Hunting Scope?
Posted By: luke_duke
Subject: Good low-light Hunting Scope?
Date Posted: June/26/2015 at 18:03
Hi Folks!

This is my first post here, so please bear with me.
My name is Lukas and I live and hunt in Austria. Typical game here is roe deer,fox,badger (no wild boar).
I own a Steyr Mannlicher Pro Hunter in .30-06 and I am now looking for a good scope in the 800-1000$ range which will do the job also in low light situation. (I do not need the best equipment for low light conditions).

Since I am not really hunting that long, I have to make sure every dollar is well spent. I found out that most scopes that are available in the USA are much cheaper (including taxes customs) than here in Europe. There are even specific models which are not available at all. 

My Requierements would be:
- around 50mm objective diameter
- around 3-12x magnification
- good perfomance in bad light situations
- maybe illuminated dot (seems this will only be available on scopes which are out of my range)

I checked a few scopes which I think meet the specs.
- Zeiss Terra 4-12x50 ~550$
- Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20x50 ~700$
- Vortex Viper VST 4-16x50 (this one is illuminated) ~700$
- Nikon Monarch 3 4-16x50 ~600$
- Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x50 (illuminated) ~800$

Since the Zeiss brand is well known here in Austria this would be my first choice, but I am not sure which model to pick.
The recticle is not that important for me as long as it is suitable for hunting.

I would really appreciate some oppinions on this topic.

Thanks very much!

Lukas



Replies:
Posted By: saltydog235
Date Posted: June/26/2015 at 21:32
Trijicon Accupoint


Posted By: JLud
Date Posted: June/27/2015 at 00:51
Meopta meostar would be worth looking at I believe.

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That thing on the left....my old ride, some days I miss her.


Posted By: Son of Ed
Date Posted: June/27/2015 at 07:49


Welcome to the OT!!    







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Visit the Ed Show


Posted By: Kickboxer
Date Posted: June/27/2015 at 07:50
Meopta Meostar R1 has some excellent choices.  I have one on Voere Shikar 300WinMag… Love it.
Welcome to OT.


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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living


Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: June/27/2015 at 08:38
Originally posted by saltydog235 saltydog235 wrote:

Trijicon Accupoint

That's a great suggestion. 

Welcome to Optics Talk. 



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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.


Posted By: Son of Ed
Date Posted: June/27/2015 at 09:16



                                                  Roll on Floor Laughing











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Visit the Ed Show


Posted By: coyote95
Date Posted: June/27/2015 at 09:17
http://swfa.com/Swarovski-4-12x50-Z3-Riflescope-P40819.aspx - http://swfa.com/Swarovski-4-12x50-Z3-Riflescope-P40819.aspx   this would probably make a good low light scope for hunting Smile

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"Life is like riding a bicycle . To keep balance you must keep moving" Albert Einstein


Posted By: JLud
Date Posted: June/27/2015 at 10:26
Dug up this link from a past post....

http://tacticalgunreview.com/blog/2012/12/lowlight-hunting-scope-shootout-trijicon-accupoint-tr22-2-5-10x56-vs-meopta-meostar-3-12x56/%20 - http://tacticalgunreview.com/blog/2012/12/lowlight-hunting-scope-shootout-trijicon-accupoint-tr22-2-5-10x56-vs-meopta-meostar-3-12x56/%20


(activated hyperlink)


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That thing on the left....my old ride, some days I miss her.


Posted By: luke_duke
Date Posted: June/28/2015 at 11:02
Hi guys!

Thank you very much for the warm welcome and the tips!
After spending several hours on reading reviews, I think I will go for the Meopta Meostar R1 3-12x56.
It is around 900€ here in Austria so importing from USA would not save any money.

I already have the Leupold QR 30mm Rings on my rifle so I will not need any upgrade on the scope mount which is also a great benefit.

I really apreciate your help for making the decision a little bit easier for me!


Greets
Lukas



Posted By: Son of Ed
Date Posted: June/28/2015 at 13:04

" Remember---Obama can't speak Austrian! "   













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Visit the Ed Show


Posted By: graywolf.260
Date Posted: June/28/2015 at 23:12
Scopes may often be cheaper here but difficult or illegal for US sellers to export abroad. Does Zeiss sell the Terra line of scopes in Austria? Die sind leide beschissen. Crappy. I bet they would not be well received in Europe. 


Posted By: luke_duke
Date Posted: June/29/2015 at 05:38
@ sonofed 
I don't get your post... could you explain to me?

@graywolf260

Yeah the terra line is also sold in Austria but there is not that much feedback yet. Online on the Conquest series which was not that bad dispite the fact that the US models are different in the objective diameter.

So is exporting a scope really that hard? I mean I am aware that exporting rifles and ammunition is quite hard and you have to be well prepared for the paper work but I dont have a clue why scopes require such export policy



Greets 
Lukas


Posted By: 338LM
Date Posted: June/29/2015 at 18:55
I have a Steyr SSG04 in 308. I am using an IOR Valdada 2.5 x 10 - 56mm scope.

pros 
56mm will provide you more field of view and better light transmission at night.

cons
56mm will require high mounting rings. 


Posted By: Son of Ed
Date Posted: June/29/2015 at 20:20
A couple of years ago President Obama did not know that Austrians speak German......   Whatever





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Visit the Ed Show


Posted By: graywolf.260
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 00:18
Originally posted by luke_duke luke_duke wrote:

@graywolf260

Yeah the terra line is also sold in Austria but there is not that much feedback yet. Online on the Conquest series which was not that bad dispite the fact that the US models are different in the objective diameter.

So is exporting a scope really that hard? I mean I am aware that exporting rifles and ammunition is quite hard and you have to be well prepared for the paper work but I dont have a clue why scopes require such export policy



Greets 
Lukas

Yes, there is a federal law in the US that regulates export of virtually any technology that can be considered related to firearms, its called ITAR. I don't know how hard it is to satisfy the rules. 



Posted By: supertool73
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 09:47
Originally posted by 338LM 338LM wrote:

pros 
56mm will provide you more field of view and better light transmission at night.


Objective size is not part of the field of view equation.  It does help with light though

If you compare the IOR 2.5-10x42 to the 2.5-10x56 they have the same FOV


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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own."


Posted By: 338LM
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 18:12
With all do respect supertool73
That is not true, I have compared side by side with SWFA 3x15-42 (I don't have a 42mm IOR scope).
at 5x magnification IOR have more FOV than SWFA.  BUT, 10x magnification IOR still have more FOV not by much.  


Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 18:18
I don't think objective size and field of view have anything to do with one another. I think ST's right, or so I thought. 

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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.


Posted By: Peddler
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 18:21
😎

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When you are dead, you don't know you are dead.It is difficult only for others.

It is the same when you are stupid.


Posted By: Alan Robertson
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 18:23
Pardon 338LM, but answering with a comparison of scopes from different mfg's, you've essentially changed the subject, making a logical fallacy. Different design parameters come into play. Compare the scopes as mentioned and see what you find.


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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"


Posted By: 338LM
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 19:17
Thanks Alan...
Now, where can I find a IOR dealer in SoCal?



Posted By: Kickboxer
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 19:36
Quoted from Leupold:
"Something else to remember is that contrary to common belief, a larger objective lens does not increase the field of view of a riflescope. It only increases the amount of light entering the scope, and, in the case of scopes using slightly less capable components, it will increase the “sweet spot” at the optical center of the lens, making images appear sharper and more crisp in the center of the field of view."


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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living


Posted By: Alan Robertson
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 20:17
Originally posted by 338LM 338LM wrote:

Thanks Alan...
Now, where can I find a IOR dealer in SoCal?

http://www.valdada.com/contact-us/ - http://www.valdada.com/contact-us/

You won't really need to contact them, unless you just need to see for yourself. KB's answer should suffice... objective lens diameter is not part of the equation for determining field of view.
I wouldn't believe anything anyone told me either, unless I knew from my own experience what they said was true.
For the most part.
Of course, I'd believe anything Hillary Clinton has to say. You believe that, don't you?
(Be sure to phrase your answer in the form of a questionable email.)

"What difference, at this point, does it make?"


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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"


Posted By: supertool73
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 20:26
You dont need to compare the scopes. Just go to valdada.com and look at the specs. Or in that case any other manufacturer that has two of the exact same scopes with the only diff being objective size. But even then we don't know exactly whats going on on the inside of the scope. Those internal parts and how they are designed play a huge role in FOV. And i am sure there are other factors as well, scope length i beleive plays a role.

If Rifledude or Koshkin chime in i am sure they can tell us exactly how FOV is determined.

-------------
Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own."


Posted By: Son of Ed
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 20:37
I've got an interesting diversion from the topic.....I have seen two 4X scopes side by side where one image was LARGER than the other!!!    Shocked




Nevermind......Smile





















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Visit the Ed Show


Posted By: Son of Ed
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 20:38










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Visit the Ed Show


Posted By: 338LM
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 20:48
Thx again Alan, I just wanted to see it and compare them with my own eyes.
I am not a hunter, but i do like to shoot steel and learn about shooting.

Because I am in California, that does not mean I am a Hillary Clinton supporter or Donald Trump supporter.

I am sorry supertool73


Posted By: Alan Robertson
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 20:52
Originally posted by Son of Ed Son of Ed wrote:

I've got an interesting diversion from the topic.....I have seen two 4X scopes side by side where one image was LARGER than the other!!!    Shocked




Nevermind......Smile



















Well, you did say nevermind, but still that statement is true for just about all of my scopes that have a 4X.
You pays yer money and you takes yer chances.


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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"


Posted By: Alan Robertson
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 20:58
Originally posted by 338LM 338LM wrote:

Thx again Alan, I just wanted to see it and compare them with my own eyes.
I am not a hunter, but i do like to shoot steel and learn about shooting.

Because I am in California, that does not mean I am a Hillary Clinton supporter or Donald Trump supporter.

I am sorry supertool73
Ilya Koshkin, aka the Dark Lord of Optics, also lives in California. He is our resident expert on optical properties, being an optical physicist, or he regularly takes a physic, or something like that.
Now, while his name might sound like he could be a Commie, I assure you, he is not. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton's name sounds like she might not be a Commie...


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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"


Posted By: tahqua
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 20:59
Regarding FOV, I believe a review of focal length is in order. But, I am on my phone as always anymore.....easily googled

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Doug


Posted By: supertool73
Date Posted: June/30/2015 at 22:11
No need to be sorry. I once thought the same thing til i was educated otherwise on this forum. Lots of bery smart dudes on this forum we can learn from

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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own."


Posted By: abailey54
Date Posted: September/24/2015 at 20:41
Kahles is made in your country.  Its on par with Leica and Swarovski.

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abailey54


Posted By: Son of Ed
Date Posted: September/24/2015 at 21:27

" I think eye relief affects FOV, too..."   





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Visit the Ed Show


Posted By: Whale
Date Posted: October/10/2015 at 22:22
I know this thread is a little old. However, Luke Duke did you decide on a scope? How did they compare in low light?



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