Is glass quality in scopes actually a factor?

[Rich M]

We can debate this until people are blue in the face. Form also made a post in the thread about the S2H (or maybe it was in THIS thread?) scope where he took a Simmons scope, covered up the logos, and put it next to two "alpha" glass scopes and told everyone it was a secret test model of a german scope. After everyone looked through it and talked about how great it was compared to the other two scopes, he took the tape off and everyone was shocked and some were pissed about it.

If YOU need alpha glass to get it done, so be it. I don't care what you use.

That argument holds about as much water as the guys who say that you have to be able to take 500 yard or longer shots on game because "you just can't get closer"... Tell that to all of the archery, handgun and black powder muzzleloader hunters who've killed everything that can be killed.

I'm not saying that better glass isn't.... better glass. But any scope $200 or more has glass good enough for almost every legal daylight hunting situation. I'll question anyone who says they "can't see at last light" to make a shot unless they're buried deep under the canopy or actually past legal light. I spent 5 days in Maine a couple of years ago bear hunting, and even with a Leupold Vari-X 2-7 shotgun scope (that's long gone for obvious reasons), I had no issues seeing the bait site 40 yards away at last legal light and I was BURIED in the woods. I was usually in the woods at least an hour after legal light waiting to get picked up, so I had plenty of time to amuse myself.

Fair enough.

Our perception can certainly create things in our mind.

I had a trijicon huron on rifle last year. Had 2 bucks i could not see thru scope. Hated that feeling enough to drop close to $2k on a 50% off S&B T96 so it doesnt happen again.

Had a Leica ER that could see in the dark. Could see spikes on a lil buck about hour after sundown and was scoping animals at 930 pm on a clear starlit night. It Just couldnt handle my 3006’s recoil. Got it fixed and regret selling it now that am shooting 243.

Looking back over the years, ive only shot a handful of deer in low light, most have been good clean light where scope really doesnt matter.

Big muley on wall was w $250 backup gun and bushnell scope package at 220 yards. Antelope skull comes from some super custom gun guide had that i had to use without any practice shots. Was tip top of the line but i hated it, bipods floppy, unknown recoil and noise, etc.

We dont need half the stuff we have but hit a point where we want something. Im tired of the parade of nocturnal bucks and then get one a minute late where can shoot it, want to be able to.

The Huron is a good scope. Just not what i need at this time.

 

[BCDJR]

The team at area 419 has a good review….on YouTube

The ULTIMATE TEST - 2025 Big Boy Precision Optic Shootout​

 

[Scottf270]

Glass only needs to be good enough to get you to legal shooting light in the worst conditions. Anything more is a want, not a need. If a guy can afford it, have at it.

 

[JimIsland]

I hunt from a tree stand so moving in closer isn't an option for me. My shots are from 50-300 yards with an average of 150ish. Hunters have different scenarios, needs, wants, budgets, eyes....you name it. I completely understand the merits of a "drop test" or proper tracking.....but when I pay premium money for a premium scope with alpha glass, I expect those things to work as they should. IF I should happen to drop one, I'll check to see if it held zero. If it doesn't, I'll grab another rifle and go hunting.
Alpha glass DOES make a difference in extreme low light however, whether that is less or more important than tracking, drop tests, etc. is entirely up to the user.