I am starting my journey of Varmint hunting. I just bought a new TC Encore in 22-250 and will be buying a 223WSSM barrel for it once more info and dies come out for it.
But I am in need of a high quality scope for varmint hunting specifically. So for this I need a scope of great quality and the main concern other then optical clarity is light gathering. The reason being is I will be hunting in low light conditions mostly and alot of NO light conditions with a light at the darkest of the moon which in most cases means zero moonlight.
So I need a light that can gather light extremely well. I do want this to be a good scope along the lines of a Leupold, Ziess and the likes.
3-9 mosty likely but would prefur a 4-12 or something a little more mag then a 3-9. But the main thing I am looking for is light gathering capability. So what scopes are the best at light gathering?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Schmidt&Bender will fill that order nicley..sakofan..

For light gathering ability, I would give a close look at the Nikon Monarch also (95% light transmission).

Good Hunting,

Bob
Nikon 3-9x40 Matte Link-Tech Info

I also posted this on the Optics forum, but the Nikon Monarch Gold 2.5-10x56 is one of the brightest scopes I have looked thru.

This was for your sake, Sakofan! LOL.

[ 08-08-2003, 21:45: Message edited by: Jon Jackoviak ]

Not wanting to change the subject; But is varmint hunting at night with a rifle Legal in California? IN the Southeast the only gun allowed in the woods at night is a 22 rimfire and then only if your are raccoon or possum hunting with dogs; and not in deer season. At night; if you get caught in a field with rifle and an artificial light source your gun and possibly your truck get confiscated along with a heavy fine.
In "no light" I would have to look at the various infra-red scopes. With no moon I doubt any conventional scope will work.