Hunting with Non-Illuminated FFP

[General RE LEE]

Anyone hunt with a FFP that isn’t illuminated? I’m curious if a hunting friendly FFP design is doable without illumination, especially at the 8-10x range.

 

[kylem]

I’ve had no issues at all using my SWFA 3-15 that’s not illuminated.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

All the time, I only have one scope that is illuminated that I just got and only got it that way cause that is how it comes. I don't hunt dark timber but to date I've not had an issue seeing a reticle in light that was still hunt able. Some reticles are bolder than others if concerned but I think the concern is fairly overblown unless you're minimum magnification is already on the higher end.

 

[BradArnett]

Yep, no issues with multiple lrhs' 3-12× scopes I have on rifles, also the swfa 3-9x.

 

[Lando]

Very few of the SWFA scopes are illuminated, and roksliders use them a lot.

Most of my ffp scopes are not illluminated, and I've never had it be a problem.

 

[KenLee]

No, nope, never. Awful in low light at low magnification

 

[sndmn11]

Yes

 

[MidGAHunter]

All the time. With a proper reticle illumination isn't necessary I have found (that includes hunting hardwoods at last light). Problem is, there are a lot of poor reticle designs out there.

 

[RockAndSage]

What specifically has you not wanting illumination?

 

[4cMuley]

Maybe an unpopular opinion. Illumination in a hunting scope is a feature that adds price and weight for something I never use. Please give me a simple, robust, and repeatable scope and save me the $100? (arbitrary dollar amount) by omitting illumination.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I don’t even have the battery in my Maven RS1.2. Best FFP reticle I’ve ever used other than my Minox ZP5. I pretty much never use illumination.

My maven lives on 6-8x all the time.

 

[hereinaz]

A good reticle design brings the eye to the center without illuminating it. If the design capitalizes on the brain’s innate ability to center, I don’t worry at all. I can see through my scope well past last shooting light in my hunting areas, but they are not dark hardwoods though.

 

[Wrongside]

I’ve hunted exclusively with non-illum FFP scopes for close to 10 years. Never a problem with a good reticle.

 

[General RE LEE]

What specifically has you not wanting illumination?

The Gen I Burris Veracity PH 4-20x50 has a non-illuminated FFP reticle. I own the Gen II but might add a Gen I at $799.

I like the design of the reticle cause it has holds that match pretty much to the DOPE of my 6.5 CM and 308.

 

[JollyRoger]

I’ve used SWFA 3-9 a lot, and the SWFA 5-20…. No illumination and they do great.

Also, for the scopes I’ve used the most for hunting with illumination I think I’ve turned it on once in the past 10 years. I say that because for me the illumination/non illumination isn’t really a factor for my scope decisions. Many come with it and that’s fine

 

[FB Trout]

I also use them all the time without illumination, SWFA 3-9s and Bushy LRHS 3-12. Now with a Maven 1.2 2.5-15, I’ll likely never use the illumination.

 

[BCD]

I thought the SWFA 3-15 was horrible in low light or low magnification. The 3-9 works well though.

 

[Shortschaf]

Ive never used illumination and have owned ffp-only for last 5 years or so. In low-low-light the animal disappears way before the reticle does in my eyes.

To be fair, I only hunt ~3 weeks a year. So perhaps I just haven't been in that situation yet where illumination would save my bacon.

Until then, illumination is the last thing I care about having in my riflescope. (I think its illegal to use in my state anyway)

 

[Kimber7man]

Use a lot of S&B’s with the non illuminated P3 reticle. Works great for hunting.

 

[Balderdash]

Like many have also stated, I've done the majority of my hunting and shooting for years and years with non lit FFP's. Bunch of Swfa 3-9, 6x's, 3-15, 5-20, numerous LRHS's and LRTS's, and bunch of lit reticles that I rarely turn on. Not too many issues seeing things on game.

Have also tried a bunch of poorly designed, for hunting anyway, FFP reticles that weren't visible at low light on dark backgrounds. I don't typically buy or hold onto those scope for very long, especially nowadays when there's more and more good options available.

I know the illumination systems have gotten better through the years, but I'm still dubious of any reticle that has to be lit in order to be usable on lower X's.