Any activity using a firearm has the potential to be harmful and can lead to death, serious injury, permanent disability, or property damage. Only general educational and informational purposes are served by the advice, graphics, photographs, videos, and information found on Ballachy firearm reviews. The knowledge provided about guns, gun handling, tactics, training, legal issues, and marksmanship skills on this page is the author’s opinion based on his experience and education. This knowledge, which includes advice and training methods, is applicable only in a given set of conditions that the reader cannot precisely recreate. The author disclaims any liability for improper use or incorrect interpretation of the information on this website. Use of this website as a replacement for training or any information found on this website is not legal advice of any kind.
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Do you want a scope that would not dictate shooting time and environment for you? Do you love the opportunity to hunt and shoot at your convenience, not considering the time of the day? Then you should consider getting the best low light scopes because they provide you with this luxury. Low light scopes allow you to hunt and shoot at dusk or dawn while delivering precise, bright images.
Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm Riflescope (171774)
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- Model #171774 - Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm with Front Focal H59 reticle and Matte finish
- 100% Waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof
- M5C3 Turrets - Low Profile 1/10 Mil per click dials provide 30 Mils of adjustment in 3 revolutions (Visual and tactile revolution indicators ensure you don't get lost in the travel)
- Front Focal Plane (FFP) - The reticle magnifies along with the image, so you can estimate range at all magnification settings
- Twilight Max HD Light Management system - Adds up to 30 minutes of shooting light, best in class glare reduction, and edge to edge HD lens clarity
As a hunter, you would agree with me that hunting is best done at dawn and dusk for better results, and this is where the low light scope stands out among all other scopes. This scope is specially designed to perform in any light situation. With various low light scopes in the market, we have taken the pain to review and rank the best low light scope brands in the market, fully stating their distinctive features, pros, and cons to make shopping for a low light scope easy for you.
Table of Contents
If you are in a hurry to purchase best low light scopes for hunting, and you want to make the best decision, here are our top 3 picks:
Top 3 Best Low Light Scopes for Hunting
9 Best Low Light Scopes for Hunting (Ranked And Reviewed)
Specifications
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Dimensions:
17.06 x 3.78 x 4.1 Inches
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Weight:
1.5 Pounds
Leupold Mark 5HD combines an excellent optic system, high magnification level, and durability. This scope provides all the essential needs in an excellent low-light scope. Compared to other scopes, this scope is lighter than those in its class. The versatility is one thing that caught my attention; you can use it for both professional shooting and recreational shooting. Most times, using a scope in some harsh weather conditions can be frustrating; that is why the Leupold scope is made to withstand these extreme weather conditions to make the usage easy for you.
Its Twilight Max HD system can withstand harsh lighting conditions and provide clear and bright images in any lighting situation. The image quality is constant, no matter the lighting condition you find yourself in. It is made waterproof, fog-proof, and shock-proof to enhance better performance of the scope. The scope is made with scratch-resistant lenses to ensure durability and adaptability to various environments. It has an extreme military standard scratch resistance lens to provide maximum protection for the scope lenses.
Designed with magnification settings of 5x -25x, that makes it adequate for ranging of long distances during shooting. Its reticle focal plane provides an unparalleled low light performance. The front focal plane makes it easy for one to estimate range. Its reticles can magnify with the image-making estimation relatively quickly.
Positive
- Has a three revolution of elevation adjustment
- Built to last
- Provides a 100 percentage waterproof, fog-proof, and shock-proof system
- It is lightweight
- Offers a full lifetime guarantee
- Comes with a lens cap
Negatives
- The TMR reticle is not illuminated
2. Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm Riflescope
Specifications
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Dimensions:
14 x 3.3 x 3 Inches
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Weight:
1.23 Pounds
The Leupold VX riflescope provides its customers with a high level of quality when it comes to low light scopes. It delivers the most transparent, brightest images one would get in the scope. The duplex reticle is designed to provide clear and bright images. They maintain contracts in all light situations, making them suitable for use in any light condition. It is also well built to provide a good holdover, adequate ranging, and windage correction.
These reticles are highly durable to allow good performance in any weather condition. The optics system is built with an anti-reflective coating, which helps glare, producing bright pictures. Shooting at dawn with this scope is enjoyable, thanks to the clarity and low light it has. The glass quality is also one thing that makes this scope stand out. The optic glasses are built with high-quality glasses. This scope also allows for quick target acquisition and good aiming.
The focus piece comes with a rubber eye guide that ensures a v-brite reticle focus, which provides excellent and fast targeting. The eye relief system keeps the user’s brow safe and provides bright pictures for five various shooting positions. This product is waterproof, shocking proof, and fog proof to ensure its durability and adaptability to various weather conditions. Ranging far distances with this scope is not a problem as it stays accurate to its magnification.
Positive
- It is lightly weighted for convenience during use
- It comes with caps, sunshades, and a rifle scope
- It comes with the twilight light management system
Negatives
- The scope is not so cheap
3. Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical First Focal Plane Riflescope
Specifications
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Dimensions:
14.06 x 2.01 x 1.73 Inches
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Weight:
23.01 Ounces
You would agree with me that Vortex Optics is in the business of making good scopes and meeting up with their customer’s expectations. The vortex optics Diamondback reticle focal plane riflescope is no exception and has not disappointed. It is designed to provide extra clarity of images, durable, and easy to use. One good thing about this scope is the high level of its optics system. It provides very clear and bright images at far ranges. It can maintain clear images at 16x magnification, making it easy to shoot long-distance targets.
The glasses are made from high-quality materials; the 3.8 inches of eye relief equally fits in well, providing all these at a pocket-friendly price. This scope gives more value for the money paid. It has fully multi – coating lenses and an extra-low dispersion glass for clear and bright images to further enhance its clarity and brightness. Using this scope makes zooming easy in any light or weather condition. It is highly durable and can fit into various environments.
The body is made of aluminum; hence it is strong enough. It is also waterproof, shock-proof, and fog proof to fit any harsh weather condition. It provides its customers with extra components that make usage easy and convenient. It includes a removable lens cover and cloth for lens protection and cleaning. It also provides users and customers with an unlimited, unconditional, and lifetime warranty to protect them after purchase.
Positive
- It is easy to install and use
- Ruggedly built to withstand obstacles
- Provides fully multi-coated lenses
- Waterproof, shockproof, and fog proof
Negatives
- Comes in just one color
4. Nightforce Optics 5.5-22×56 Nxs Riflescope
Specifications
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Dimensions:
23.1 x 5.8 x 5.2 Inches
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Weight:
3.3 Pounds
This scope is one of the good scopes in the market that is affordable and reliable for professional and outdoor shootings. It makes long-distance shooting targets easy. It is durable and can adapt to various weather conditions for better performance. It provides its users with clear and bright images for shooting. It has a 56mm objective lens for more precise and brighter images while ranging and shooting and also helps for accuracy during aiming and easy targeting.
Its MOAR reticles are illuminated, which also enhances the clarity of images. It has a good magnification lens and can range quite a long distance while maintaining clarity. The glasses are durable and made of high quality to last. It is designed to be waterproof, fog proof, and shock-proof to adapt to any weather condition and enable it to be used in any environment any time, any day. It is slightly low; hence, you need a high mount.
Positive
- Provides clear and bright images
- Effective zero stop
- It has a second reticle focal plane
- It is waterproof, fog-proof and shock-proof
Negatives
- Its lenses are not fully multi-coated
- It needs a high mount
5. Eotech Vudu 1-6x24mm Precision Rifle Scope
Specifications
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Dimensions:
14 x 5 x 4 Inches
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Weight:
2 Pounds
Unlike many scopes in the market, the Eotech Vudu scope provides its users with a blend of durability, precision, and versatility. The scope is designed to meet the expectation of shooters from all shooting activities. Designed with a 1-6x entire magnification range to make shooting and ranging far and near distance easy. Shooting a moving object will not be an issue with this scope or ranging a long-distance target. It is mainly for both far and mid-range shooting. When it comes to durability, the Eotech Vudu scope is fully equipped with various features that would make it stand the test of time and overcome various obstacles.
Its body is made up of Aircraft-grade aluminum for maximum durability and protection. At the same time, the glasses are of high quality to ensure their durability. Everyone wants clear and bright images when using a scope. Eotech Vuvu has not disappointed its customers. Advanced optics provides very clear and bright images during shooting. Its adjustable reticle illumination allows for excellent transmission, ensuring clearer and brighter images. It has just one eyepiece, allowing easy transmission from low to high.
It features various settings like a throw lever which allows for quick magnification changes. This knob makes it easy to move from one magnification to another. The ballistic reticles are well illuminated and designed with 10 different brightness settings to quickly adapt to various light conditions for more clarity.
Positive
- It has an XC high-Density Glass to enhance image quality
- It has a lifetime warranty on the optics
- The etched glass illuminated reticle for easy targeting
- It has a first reticle focal plane
Negatives
- It might not come with a turret lock
- It comes in just one color
6. Swarovski Riflescope Z3 4-12×50
Specifications
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Dimensions:
16.4 x 3.7 x 3.4 Inches
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Weight:
0.91 Pounds
This is one of the best low-light scopes that money can buy. If money is not an issue, then go for Swarovski scope. The scope is well built to be compact for the users’ comfort and easy movement of the product. This product makes hunting or any form of shooting fun. Swarovski scopes are known for high-quality glasses and high-precision light optic systems. It delivers clear images with its anti-reflective lens coating. This lens coating allows it to perform well under any light situation the user might put it through. The objective lenses are 50mm for better aiming and clarity.
It also operates on a 4x zoom to achieve better images from zooming in far distance targets. It is made of large turrets that provide its users with accurate windage adjustments. These ballistic turrets are also made to withstand various weather conditions, including harsh ones. It is waterproof. Besides, to ensure it can withstand various obstacles and ensure durability, the tube body is made scratch resistant. For effortless concentration and to protect your brows while you aim at your target, the eye relief is made 3.54 inches long. The zero setting provides accuracy and precise adjustments at one click. It is also lightweight for easy during shooting and easy scope movement.
Positive
- It is waterproofed, shock proofed and fog proofed
- Provides a long eye relief
- It is made compact for convenience and easy movement
- Has a magnification of 3.3 to 10x
Negatives
- It doesn’t come with a lifetime warranty
7. Vortex Optics Crossfire II Riflescopes
Specifications
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Dimensions:
14.5 x 2 x 1.73 Inches
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Weight:
2 Pounds
If you need a good hunting scope, you should consider the Vortex Optics crossfire Adjustable riflescope. Specially built scope to make hunting easy and fun for you. It produces super clear images that would make your hunting experience wonderful. You don’t have to guess your target because your scope produces clear images even long distances. It is made to withstand various hunting obstacles and use a forest scope. The body is made of aircraft-grade aluminum to protect the scope and ensure durability. To enhance its durability and adaptability, this scope is shock-proof, waterproof, and fog proof.
With these features, it can withstand various environmental obstacles that the weather or environment might bring to it while you shoot. It also helps to give a wonderful experience for your shoot. The optic system is perfect, so that producing clear pictures is not an issue. The lenses are fully multi-coated to enhance picture quality and brightness. The lenses have anti-reflective features for clarity. At the same time, the adjustable objective lens provides the user with a good image focus. The vortex optics crossfire scope’s eye relief is made for easy and fast aiming of the target. It also provides a quick and easy illuminated reticle focusing.
Positive
- Made with high-grade aluminum
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- It comes with Long eye relief for easy targeting
- Comes with a removable lens cover and lens cloth
- It is easy to install and use
Negatives
- Battery life is not so strong
8. Zeiss Conquest V6 5-30×30 MOA Reticles
Specifications
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Dimensions:
15 x 4.5 x 4.5 Inches
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Weight:
26.1 Ounces
The Zeiss Conquest scope is one scope that many users of low light scopes would love. It has features that allow it to be used professionally and for outdoor recreational shootings. It is made with the finest materials to ensure its quality, strength, and ability to adapt to various environments. This product features a 50mm objective lens for easy targeting and clear views. The quality optics provides the user with excellent and bright images during hunting or any form of shooting. This scope is easy to use and install and does not need additional knowledge to facilitate usage.
To make it adopt various weather conditions and durable, it is made waterproof, shockproof, and fog proof. With these features, the scope is hunting-ready and can withstand the field obstacles while providing a smooth hunting shooting experience. It also tops these qualities with a perfect glass durable for hunting. It comes with various components to enhance your smooth use of the scope. The scope comes with a Zeiss Conquest V6 30X5 ZMOA reticles, W/BDC Turret, black. It also has a second reticle focal plane.
Positive
- The body is made of aluminum
- It is made waterproof, shock proofed and fog proof
- It is easy to use and install
- Second focal plane reticle
Negatives
- The lens does not have an anti-reflective feature
- The reticles are not scratch resistant
9. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn
Specifications
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Dimensions:
16.3 x 2.5 x 3.12 Inches
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Weight:
0.81 Pounds
Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn, as a brand, is known for excellent and durable products, and this scope is not an exception. Based on its features, this scope would want to have that makes shooting a great experience. This scope is coated with Bushnell Proprietary Dusk and Dawn Brightness multi-coating. This multi-coating gives the scope the complete clarity and brightness needed to brighten out the best picture quality for its users. The body is made of aluminum for protection and durability. It also helps it withstand various obstacles that it might encounter during use in any environment.
The scope is made waterproof, shock-proof, and fog-proof to further ensure this adapts to various weather conditions and enhances its performance. Its optic system can adapt to various light conditions. It produces low light; hence can be used both at dusk and at dawn. It also makes it easy for you to shoot anytime convenient for you with the challenge of light invasion or conditions. Despite a low light scope, this scope provides users with a 3-9x magnification power. With this, you can range long-distance targets. The sweet thing is that long-distance targets won’t appear blurry because they produce clear pictures even at long distances.
Positive
- Made with top-notch HD optics for clarity and brightness
- It is easy to use and install
- It has a fast-focus eyepiece for quick targeting
- The lenses are multi-coated with one piece of eye tube
- ¼ MOA fingertip windage and elevation
Negatives
- It does not come with a users scope of accessories
- It does not have a scratch-resistant feature
What To Consider While Buying The Best Low Light Scopes for Hunting?
Let me take you through some things to consider before buying a low light scope.
Ensure the Objective Lens is Huge Enough
Shooters know that the front lens must be big enough to let light in. So, a substantial objective lens would save you straining your eyes in low light conditions. In addition, you’ll benefit by spotting a clear target in that late hour.
Consider anti-Reflection Coating
For an adequate low light scope, the last distraction you need is your lens coating to be reflecting unnecessary lighting. To this end, it would be best if your scope has a glass coating. Glass coatings reduce light reflections during low light conditions.
Magnification
Since the shooting is done in a low light condition, the target may become elusive and difficult to hit. You need to ensure that the scope glass has a high range of magnification levels that would enable you to see long-range targets.
FAQs
Any activity using a firearm has the potential to be harmful and can lead to death, serious injury, permanent disability, or property damage. Only general educational and informational purposes are served by the advice, graphics, photographs, videos, and information found on Ballachy firearm reviews. The knowledge provided about guns, gun handling, tactics, training, legal issues, and marksmanship skills on this page is the author’s opinion based on his experience and education. This knowledge, which includes advice and training methods, is applicable only in a given set of conditions that the reader cannot precisely recreate. The author disclaims any liability for improper use or incorrect interpretation of the information on this website. Use of this website as a replacement for training or any information found on this website is not legal advice of any kind.
Both scopes are good, and it is hard to say which is better. The one advantage the low light scope has over the night vision scope is that night vision scopes are mostly reliable for hunting during late hours.
Any activity using a firearm has the potential to be harmful and can lead to death, serious injury, permanent disability, or property damage. Only general educational and informational purposes are served by the advice, graphics, photographs, videos, and information found on Ballachy firearm reviews. The knowledge provided about guns, gun handling, tactics, training, legal issues, and marksmanship skills on this page is the author’s opinion based on his experience and education. This knowledge, which includes advice and training methods, is applicable only in a given set of conditions that the reader cannot precisely recreate. The author disclaims any liability for improper use or incorrect interpretation of the information on this website. Use of this website as a replacement for training or any information found on this website is not legal advice of any kind.
The low light scope is made anti-reflective and fully multi-coated; this helps gather more light in meeting targets quickly.
Any activity using a firearm has the potential to be harmful and can lead to death, serious injury, permanent disability, or property damage. Only general educational and informational purposes are served by the advice, graphics, photographs, videos, and information found on Ballachy firearm reviews. The knowledge provided about guns, gun handling, tactics, training, legal issues, and marksmanship skills on this page is the author’s opinion based on his experience and education. This knowledge, which includes advice and training methods, is applicable only in a given set of conditions that the reader cannot precisely recreate. The author disclaims any liability for improper use or incorrect interpretation of the information on this website. Use of this website as a replacement for training or any information found on this website is not legal advice of any kind.
When it comes to the low light scope, you would need a range of long-distance and close range. Scopes with 1x – 12x would go a long way with low light scopes.
Conclusion
There are various scopes, but the low light scope stands out because of its ability to produce low lights and be used in various light conditions like dawn and dusk. Low Light scopes make it easy for a shooter to shoot at his convenience without considering the weather. As a hunter or a shooter that intends to get the best low light scope, you should consider the products reviewed above to get the best. Finding an excellent low-light scope that would meet one’s expectations should not be a challenge at all. Various good best Low Light Scopes have been ranked and reviewed for you to make shopping for scopes easy and fun. I hope you find the detailed review informative and valuable.
Our Research Process
Our curated list of products has been provided to you by our experienced team of researchers and writers at Ballachy who have tested and scrutinized product recommendations on the market. Our experience in the field, in-depth research and hands-on approach has allowed us to objectively analyse products for years and continuously providing value for buyers who are looking to get accurate and unbiased reviews. If you would like to know more about our research methods, we welcome you to visit our page here detailing how our recommendations are done. Furthermore, as we are always looking keep our guides updated and welcome any feedback from readers regarding different experiences or recommendations to adjust our list. If you consider that we have missed on some important recommendations, please let us know here, so we can add-on any valuable feedback.
Author Profile
- Gabriel Tackett
- Gabriel Tackett is an experienced shooter and hunter for over 15 years with a degree in Engineering from the University of Minnesota. He is also a certified National Rifle Association (NRA) officer for 10 years And his passion lies in teaching others how to safely enjoy the hobby by recommending the best practices & products in the gun industry.