SWFA 3-9x42 vs 5-20x50 - 02/05/20
Is the low light performance of the 5-20x50 better than the 3-9x42? Love my 3-9x42 and it has performed flawlessly, but yesterday watching deer from the stand in the last few minutes of legal light at 65 yards I could not see them through the scope at 5-6x but I could see them easily through my 10x50 Leupold BX-4 binos. A bit concerning as I was watching the does through the binos waiting on a buck to come push them and if one had done so there was no way I'd have been able to shoot him. Yes it was overcast and cloudy, so darker than normal at o'dark thirty, but still. At 65 yards I think I should still be able to make that shot if legal, got me wondering if the 5-20x50 would be an upgrade in low light at low mag? I have found myself wanting more than 9x on the top end a few times too, though it hasn't cost me anything.