5 Best Low Light Hunting Riflescopes In 2024
A low-light riflescope is a one-of-a-kind accessory meant for seasoned hunters. It’s your best friend when chasing wild bucks in the wee hours of the day. Here’s a rundown of 5 of the best low-light rifle scopes to level up your hunting in 2024.
What Makes A Top Quality Low Light Hunting Riflescope
When it comes to selecting a low light hunting riflescope, there are a bunch of factors to consider.
- The objective lens diameter should be 50-56 mm.
- It should have high-quality glass and coatings.
- It should have a minimal, variable magnification ranging between 2x-4x and a maximum of 10x-16x.
- It should have a low-intensity illuminated or a thick FFP reticle.
Let’s narrow it down to the best 5 low light hunting riflescopes.
Vortex Crossfire II
This Vortex riflescope is a budget champion, cutting a few corners, like sub-par transmission and image quality. But does it fall behind in the game? No, Sir! The illuminated reticle and high-quality Vortex optic promise maximum bang for your buck.
Top Features:
- Multi-coated lenses for clarity and light transmission
- V-Brite illuminated reticle for excellent aiming at dawn or dusk
- 3-9x magnification range with an objective lens diameter of 40mm
- Exit pupil with low magnification of 13.33 mm and high magnification of 4.44mm
- Field of view at 34.1-12.6 ft. for 100 yards
- Turret click value of .25 MOA
- Second reticle focal plane
- Parallax fixed at 100 yards
What’s Good | What’s Bad |
Compact and lightweight (14.3 ounces) | A sub-par image quality |
Easy on your pocket at under $200 | A restrictive eye box |
Top notch glass quality | Absence of parallax adjustment dial |
Price: $129.00 -$149.00
Vortex Razor HD LHT 3-15×50
Are you looking to upgrade from the Vortex Crossfire II on a budget? Say yes to the Vortex Razor HD LHT 3-15*50. A serious offering, Razor HD LHT has a center-illuminated dot reticle, an exposed elevation turret powered by Vortex’s RevStop Zero System, and superior Vortex optics.
Top Features:
- Magnification range of 3-15x and objective lens diameter of 42mm
- Exit pupil has a low magnification of 14mm and a high magnification of 2.8mm
- Tube diameter is 30mm
- Field of view 35.3-7.0 ft. for 100 yards
- Turret click value of .25 MOA
- Second reticle focal plane
- A side adjustable focus knob (exposed elevation turret style)
What’s Good | What’s Bad |
Superior glass | Chunky at 19.1 ounces |
Illuminated center dot | Has a busy reticle |
A versatile upgrade from Crossfire, Viper, and Diamondback | On cloudy nights, the illuminated center dot falls short of expectation |
Price: $1,999.99
Swarovski Z6i 2-12x50mm
Swarovski Optik is the best in the business, making dim light hunting fun. A winner among Swarovski rifle scopes, the Z6i has a massive 50mm objective lens and custom elevation turret for long-range shots.
Top Features :
- Magnification range of 2-12x
- Objective lens diameter of 50mm
- Exit Pupil has a low magnification of 25mm and a high magnification of 4.16mm
- Tube diameter is 30mm
- Field of view 63-10.5 feet for 100 yards
- Turret click value of .25 MOA
- Second reticle focal plane
What’s Good | What’s Bad |
Incredibly lightweight at 18.3 ounces | Swarovski riflescopes are pricey |
Best-in-class glass and image quality | Absence of parallax adjustment dial |
Price: €1,969.00
Nightforce ATACR 5-25×56
The ATACR 5-25*56 comes equipped with one of the largest objective lenses (56mm) among Nightforce scopes. It is available in both first and second focal plane configurations, with a multi-coated ED glass and illuminated reticle. Inarguably, the ATACR is among the best low-light rifle scopes in 2024.
Top Features:
- Elevation adjustment over 35 mils
- A large 34mm main tube with a 5x-25x zoom for long-range
- Exit Pupil has a low magnification of 10.5mm and a high magnification of 2.2mm
- Tube diameter of 34mm
- Field of View 18-4.9 ft. for 100 yards
- Turret click value of .25 MOA
What’s Good | What’s Bad |
Unbeatable low light performance for long range shots | Pretty heavy (39.1 ounces) and uncomfortable to carry |
Side focus parallax and exposed elevation turrets | Pricey |
Price: $4,795.00 (AUD)
Sig Sauer Whiskey5 2.4-12×56
Hands down, the Sig Sauer Whiskey 5 2.4-12×56 is the best second focal plane low-light rifle scope. Seamlessly designed for traditional and MSR/AR platforms, it comes with high transmittance and extra-low dispersion. Plus, the digital level plex anti-cant system is sheer bliss!
Top features:
- World class Sig sauer optics (5x optical zoom)
- Comes with custom Sig Ballistic Turret
- Turret click value of .25 MOA
- Locks TH-100 tactical hunter elevation turret
- Covered windage turret
- MOTAC to save battery life
- Has side parallax adjustment
What’s Good | What’s Bad |
Robust build | Triplex crossfire could be a hit or miss |
Excellent glass | Expensive and chunky (27.9 oz) |
Price: €1,239.00
Closing Thoughts
Choosing a low-light rifle scope is easy. Make sure your preferences and budget guide your buying decision. To know more about any low light rifle scope, drop a comment.