Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Brightest Scope at Dawn and at Dusk / Moon Light?

Who make the brightest illuminated scope for hunting at right before sun rise and just after dusk? Moonlight hunting??I have all Swarovski (Z3,Z5 and Z6), Zeiss, Schmidt & Bender and March scopes on my rifles. Do they make any brighter ones? I was looking for and possibly buying a Steiner Night hunter Xtreme Rifle Scope - 2-10x50mm. Does anyone know if this would be any brighter? Any others?

Schmidt & Bender Polar is as good as it gets for lowlight with a regular scope. To get better you would have to switch to some type of night vision scope or thermal.

Also - go, full out Hubble, if you stay regular optics.

The Steiners are great scopes with very good coatings from Nighthunting (first hand experience) but if you really want the scope for this purpose, go 3-12x56.

Wilto has also a great suggestion - S&B Polar T96. Here I would also go 3-12x54 (!) for night hunting.

Truth told - if possible and lawfull, going to thermal scopes (Pulsar Thermion) is such a game changer, I would save the money and go that route, if night hunting hogs is going to be a regular event.

Had a 3-15x56 Nightforce that was doable.

This is a Bobby Tomek question. He has extensive experience with different scopes in different light conditions. I would reach out to him.

The Schmidt Bender Polar series is the best in this regard. The Steiner NightHunter Extreme you mention is one of the top low-light options and doesn't give up all that much to the Polar, but the difference is there and fairly easy to detect.

That should settle it.

DF

I would say just get a 2 or 3 million candle power spot light and any scope will work.....This is How my now deceased Brother in law did it........

From what I understand, the SB Polar T96 is the brightest hunting scope, practically speaking. The 96 stands for 96% light transmission.

Zeiss V4 3X12X56 with lit reticle is very good. I asked Bobby his recommendation within my under $1200 budget and I’ve been more than pleased. I’m sure the S&B is probably better if price is no object. Bobby is the man for low light optics so I would place his recommendation at the top of your list.
As to some of the smart ass comments to spot lights on your rifles, some states like SC, which I hunt in are 1 hour before sunrise and 1 hour after sunset.

I used to have a Zeiss Diavari 3-12x56 and somewhat regret selling it. The scope was optically great, I just wanted to turn dials.

I have been searching for THE lowlight scope to put on top of my all purpose 7mm Rem Mag and the Polar is the leader in the clubhouse right now. I'm taking on other projects as we speak but will address it later next year.

If money is no object I would go with Bobby’s recommendation. I’m sure the S&B Polar will meet your expectations

I agree about hunting in SC. I can’t tell you how many people on forums talk about how they can hunt “till last legal minute” but when that’s only 30 min past sunset, I don’t see it as any great feat. If you want to hunt every legal minute in SC, you’ve got to have excellent optics.

So it’s illegal to hunt feral hogs and coyotes in South Carolina at night?

All those scopes mentioned are too expensive for me but my lowlight scope is a trijicon accupoint. Moonlight visibility is pretty darn good

My uncle has been and is a big Zeiss fan running multiple 56mms from Diavaris and Victories but if you ask him his favorite lowlight scope, it's a Trijicon.

Tract Toric scopes are excellent and a 3X15 is $794 2X10 $694. Their optics are impressive

I'm in the same boat. Polar vs Leica Magnus. I'm ready to pull the trigger today. Anybody compared side by side between the two?
One person here has: https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...-the-best-low-light-performance.6905215/
and here: https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...-ht-meopta-r2-and-s-b-polar-t96.6917510/

Nightforce scopes work well for me

It’s easier to trap hogs at night, you can be in a warm bed, trap be working for you!