Scopes: Illuminated or Non-Illuminated

[archer36]

Lately I see nice scopes on sale for great prices. But, in almost every case, they are NOT illuminated.

Since starting to hunt with a crossbow about 10 years ago, I have switched over all my scopes on all my weapons to illuminated reticles. 

What do you prefer and why? 

Edited February 16 by archer36

[Bucksnbows]

2 minutes ago, archer36 said:

Lately I see nice scopes on sale for great prices. But, in almost every case, they are NOT illuminated.

Since startibng to hunt with a crossbow about 10 years ago, I have switched over all my scopes on all my weapons to illuminated reticles. 

What do you prefer and why? 

Crossbow or gun or both?  None for my guns except a red dot on an AR. I’ve shot and hunted with my daughter’s Ten Point in a ground blind and used the lighted reticle.   Hers has red or green and I see the red best. 

[bucky]

Crossbow should be lit, not really needed with good quality gun scopes do to their ability to gather light in low light conditions

Edited February 16 by bucky

[archer36]

7 minutes ago, bucky said:

Crossbow should be lit, not really needed with good quality gun scopes do to their ability to gather light in low light conditions

So if you can only afford a "cheap" scope, then go illuminated? 

[bucky]

14 minutes ago, archer36 said:

So if you can only afford a "cheap" scope, then go illuminated? 

Thats what I would do My eyes are not getting any younger...haha

Edited February 16 by bucky

[archer36]

21 minutes ago, bucky said:

Thats what I would do

Good thought. I never thought of that. Every Crossbow specific scope I know of has illuminated reticles but not rifle scopes. I was indirectly questioning whether non-illuminated scopes are becoming a thing of the past since the one's on sale are always non-illuminated. Even if they have illumination, you don't have to use it. 

Funny how the "illuminated" word lined up three times. 

Edited February 16 by archer36

[BHC]

I have one rifle scope that's illuminated,  what gun is mount it on I'm not sure but I got a great deal on it

Crossbow yes they are all illuminated 

[smittty]

1 hour ago, BHC said:

I have one rifle scope that's illuminated,  what gun is mount it on I'm not sure but I got a great deal on it

Crossbow yes they are all illuminated 

I have more than a few on rifles and love them. My favorite being a leolopd German green dot. 4x18x50. Very rare and expensive 

[archer36]

10 minutes ago, smittty said:

I have more than a few on rifles and love them. My favorite being a leolopd German green dot. 4x18x50. Very rare and expensive 

Glad to see you are up and around. 

[res3301]

I like trijicon rifle scopes.  No battery fiber optic with backup tritium. Self adjusting and not to bright. 

[SPEARFISH]

If I gotta light it up it’s time to go home 

My scope is illuminated but I never use it

[archer36]

52 minutes ago, SPEARFISH said:

If I gotta light it up it’s time to go home 

My scope is illuminated but I never use it

I light mine up about 1/2 hr before dark. 

Edited February 17 by archer36

[Sako76]

I have about 8 or 9 Nightforces and a bunch of Leupold Firedots!  Never used the illumination till two years ago when I shot a 6x6 elk in New Mexico at 385 yards down in a hallow at about 4:45PM.  Without the illumination, I couldn’t see the crosshairs.  I say it’s better to have and not need then to need it and not have it!