Illuminated Recticle Scopes

**kyratshooter** · 06-26-2014, 01:03 AM

Last fall I built the last and greatest of the raccoon rifles designed specifically for low light use.

.357 with an illuminated reticle scope.

I have become a great advocate of these devices in the few months that followed. I am now engaged in a systematic replacement of all the scopes on my general purpose rifles and especially my shotguns with IR scopes.

Some of the specialized scopes are remaining in place, but any of my "bump in the dark" devices or hunting rifles used in thick canopy are getting the IR scopes.

To me they offer the best of both scope and reflex sight. Crosshairs with contrast for low light conditions and magnification and crosshairs for precision shooting in good light.

And if one is in a survival situation they still work like a normal scope when the batteries run dry. That has always been a worry for me with reflex sights due to my finances not allowing me to buy the nuclear powered stuff.

Has anyone else moved to use of these devices?

**Old Professor** · 06-26-2014, 08:37 AM

Plus 1 on that post. Not all of my scopes are illuminated reticle scopes but the last one I purchased, for a 44 Mag Handi Rifle was and for the reasons kyratshooter stated.

**hunter63** · 06-26-2014, 09:41 AM

SIL swears by them, but I'd have to say I have never tried one in hunting conditions.

I can see where they would be a great advantage.....Might have to check them out.

**kyratshooter** · 06-26-2014, 11:05 AM

After you use one just once in the hunting field, under a dense canopy of leaves at twilight when you would not normally be able to see the crosshairs in a regular scope you would be sold Hunter. They extend the edges of the legal hunting time limit right up to the "half hour after daybreak and half hour before dark" they talk about. That time when you can see the game but can not see the sights or the crosshairs in the scope.

Raccoons in the edge of the flashlight beam and critters lurking in the shadows of the security lights no longer get a pass due to bad light gathering of the scopes. If you can see them you can hit them.

**Ranger F** · 06-26-2014, 04:24 PM

Got one, not for me. Mine stays off.....

**hunter63** · 06-26-2014, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by kyratshooter

After you use one just once in the hunting field, under a dense canopy of leaves at twilight when you would not normally be able to see the crosshairs in a regular scope you would be sold Hunter. They extend the edges of the legal hunting time limit right up to the "half hour after daybreak and half hour before dark" they talk about. That time when you can see the game but can not see the sights or the crosshairs in the scope.

Raccoons in the edge of the flashlight beam and critters lurking in the shadows of the security lights no longer get a pass due to bad light gathering of the scopes. If you can see them you can hit them.

I kinda ran out of rich relatives to die off and leave me money....that brings my total to "Zero"....so was kinda avoiding falling to the temptation of more expensive optics....You get one and want one more, and one more.....OH well......can't take it with me.

**kyratshooter** · 06-26-2014, 06:05 PM

I know the feeling Hunter.

One day my kids are going to open the door to the utility room and wonder why the he!! Dad needed three scopes for every rifle he owned!

Aside from the mumbling "I didn't know he owned one of those" and "Is this thing actually legal?" I expect them to be discussing the "stash" for 20 years after I pass.