If you have a scope with an illuminated reticle, can you use it for daylight hunting as well with conflict between the red dot and/or the cross hairs?

I know this is a dumb question, but am curious if anyone hunts regularly with an illumintated reticle scope in the daytime.

Yes, I do.

On my .416 Ruger Alaskan, I have a 1.24-4x Swarovski AV 1. It has an option whereby you can remove the battery compartment (which is actually a half-inch? extention of the elevation adjustment)and when removed, the scope looks and operates as if it were unilluminated. With the illumination stuff screwed into the reticle adjustment, it just has a bigger knob.

I used it with the illumination insert installed on my last trip to Africa. During the day, I just had it turned off and the unilluminated circle dot/crosshair reticle worked fine.

Yes, I use a Leupold with German #4 with an illuminated center dot. When not turned on, it just looks like a target dot. It's not like some ILL dot or holo sights, where if you run out of battery, you have no aim point. I have Swaros, Leicas, Zeiss, and Docter scopes, but this model Leupold is my favorite hunting scope by far.

+1. Only mine has an illuminated cross.

Just shot my Nikon Monarch X today...it was mid day, had it turned off, and it is a regular black crosshair with mildots. In low light, you can turn the very middle of the thin crosshair to green or red, and there are 6 levels of intensity, all one easily turned knob. Absolutely no problems at all with it. I fell in love with the scope today. It is a 30mm tube - 2.5x10 and is a super piece of glass. Of course, it's msrp is $1400, so it is comparable to all the high end European optics.

they all have an off/on switch. only caution i would make is not to get one with to much illumination. i found that anything much beyond a 1 minute dot starts to ruin my night vision

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
they all have an off/on switch. only caution i would make is not to get one with to much illumination. i found that anything much beyond a 1 minute dot starts to ruin my night vision

Except for the ones by Trijicon! Trijicon uses fiber-optic, thus no battery, and also legal in western states, where a battery operated, illuminated cross-hair, is not allowed. Just some FYI.

I have a Swarovski z6i and love it. You can hunt day or night. The illuminate reticle is adjustable to very bright or very dim. Even has a automatic shut off if left on for to long.

The Trijicon is ALWAYS on and ready to use in daylight, dusk or dark with no on/off switch to mess with. It's ideal for daylight shooting and the brightness can be varied by a slight turn of the adjustment band right next to the power band. As AN said this one is legal everywhere to the best of my knowledge. Hard to not see the advantages of the Trij, no batts, no switches to leave on or to turn on, good optics, lightweight, surdy constuction and a fair price. You can pay a whole lot more if you wish, but do you really get more?

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Aaron and Larry,

Good to hear your veiws on Trijicons. Just got a new 416 B&M and was looking hard at a Trijicon for it. you just made up my mind

thanks

SSR

How does the trijicon work in the dark? Is it not light that makes the fiber glow?

Under low light-dark conditions the trijicon has a tritium insert that glows. Similar to the nightsights on pistols or a good watch.

SSR

I have a swarovski Z6i 1.7-10x42 and I love it.
It has shot two leopard at dusk with the illumination on "night time setting" and I find it invaluable when chasing buff in thick cover in daylight. When you have to find the aim point in a hurry the "day time" setting illumination makes things a lot easier and quicker.
The 4a reticle of fine cross hairs with a centre illumination gives a good clear wide view, but also allows for a very accurate aim point for long shots if left unilluminated.

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
How does the trijicon work in the dark? Is it not light that makes the fiber glow?

Will - I'm definitely not an optics expert, so I will have to defer to Cross L, and certainly Dave Fulson, for better info on how that works.

I did several episodes last fall, of Safari Classics new show airing in July. So Dave got me a couple Trijicon scopes, as they are obviously one of the sponsors of his show. First time I had ever used a Trijicon, and first time with an illuminated reticle. I was impressed, and liked the fact they did not require batteries, or an on/off switch. They appear to be lighter weight too, than the ones that require batteries. Plus, they worked very good in low-light conditions.

Not saying Trijicon is better than the others, as I don't really have any experience with other illuminated scopes. But I sure liked em, and I'm using one for my upcoming LDE/Bongo hunt in CAR.

Will - The Trijicon with the triagle post reticle glows nicely in the dark due to the fact that the triangle is made of tritium. The Mil-dot and other reticles sport the same feature. Hope this clears up your question?
If you get a chance, check one out at a Dealer near you.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
How does the trijicon work in the dark? Is it not light that makes the fiber glow?