Illuminated vs non illuminated reticles

[Tgself1]

What is everyone’s opinion on illuminated vs non illuminated reticles for hunting/mid range target shooting?

[CMoor]

I have some illuminated scopes but, I have never turned one on... lol

[Klem]

If you shoot at night or twilight, especially if your target is dark they are big help. During daylight, no help at all.

[Croak]

For LVPO use at short range, I consider a lighted reticle a must-have, day or night.

[Sinclair]

For LVPO use at short range, I consider a lighted reticle a must-have, day or night.

Call me an ignorant, country bumpkin, but what is "LVPO"?

Tgself1, many years ago I had a Tasco 4 x 32 that I used to hunt coyotes at night. In the dark, the crosshairs turned a copper color, easy to shoot with when calling coyotes in close ( 30yds or so). I would assume that an illuminated crosshair would be just as beneficial. Just my WAEG.

[Croak]

Call me an ignorant, country bumpkin, but what is "LVPO"?

A typo. LPVO.

Low Power Variable Optic.

[cosh]

I have astigmatism that is worse at night. I found an illuminated dot worked better than the entire illuminated crosshairs. I lose the target unless the dot is at a low setting. I dont have a scope with a "dot only" but a Burris FF III. Young eyes probably wont have that issue though.

Now - looking for a "dot only" illumninated scope for my Grendel. :-)

[A5BLASTER]

All my sights have illumination. Only time I use them is when I'm running my shorty with the red dot are at night when I'm hog hunting and turn the dot on in my viper pst gen 2.

I keep both on as low a setting as possible.

[kmon]

All my sights have illumination. Only time I use them is when I'm running my shorty with the red dot are at night when I'm hog hunting and turn the dot on in my viper pst gen 2.

I keep both on as low a setting as possible.

Agree on that lowest setting possible. I have seen several scopes that d not turn down enough for my liking when it is dark. Too much light in the scope makes it hard for me to see the animal. Part of that could deal with my eye issues but not all of it.

[FLshooter]

I believe most of my scopes came with illuminated reticles. but you don’t need an illuminated reticles unless you are shooting in low light conditions.Such as hog hunting.

[jmkhenka]

Illuminated sights are really usefull if you do driven hunts or need to take fast shots at closer ranges. FFP sights are nearly useless when hunting, the crosshair is to small and black on black/brown is hard to see.

I have a zeiss v6 2-12 with illumination and use it when im hunting moose, but for situations where I only take planned shots on well lit targets the dot is not helpfull. But in forrest its not a bad thing. It draws the eye and make a fast shot easier to make properly.

Shot a roe with 6-24 vortex tactical FFP. It was a bad shot, the reticle is almost invisible on low magnification.. never again. 2-4X works great up to 100 meters unless you are hunting rabit sized animals.

[FLshooter]

I have a vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 and a Nikon black 6-24x50in FFP. I prefer second focal plane all day long.If I had to start over again I would’ve never gotten an FFP scope.

[drewthebrave]

I have a Leupold VX-R Patrol 3-9x40 with Firedot TMR reticle on my 18" 5.56 rifle and love the illumination. The illumination is the center dot only, and is red dot bright, so it really helps with quick shots at any time of day, but doesn't wash out the reticle. I haven't hunted with it yet, but it is really helpful when the crosshairs get lost on a dark background. I don't need illumination on my optics, but when it's done as well as the Firedot, I really appreciate it.

[R2BRO]

FLshooter, just curious, why you prefer 2nd plane? isnt FFP literally better cuz corrections hold at all magnification levels?

[danm]

I have a vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 and a Nikon black 6-24x50in FFP. I prefer second focal plane all day long.If I had to start over again I would’ve never gotten an FFP scope.

I have both, and I prefer..... both

[Kswhitetails]

Illumination is a feel good feature. It's absolutely un-NECESSARY. But, when you want it because it would be handy, it's awful nice to know it's there.

What did we do before 10 years ago when illuminated reticles became market-available? It must have been hard, because I don't buy non-illuminated reticles. I won't even look at them anymore.

Correction: once you've had light, you'll know what's right.

If you're going to be hunting into the 30minutes before/after sunset windows - that's the regs here in KS - then they are almost a must have. Especially good ones, that have settings for night vision or low light specific settings. Too much light is a bad thing. Not fun to lose your target to the blinding light in the reticle. The one's I've got are low light friendly, they are visible during almost no light, but can't be seen at all during the day.