Scope objective lens size?

[Thinkingman]

I think a good reticle makes a big difference here in low light also.

This is exactly the argument I've made previously about my preference for second focal plane.

 

[Reed104R]

Better glass will serve you better than larger objectives. Everyone’s eye is different and only X amount of light can be taken in. YMMV

This is the truth. Its really personal preference. With the same glass, there's very little benefit to the larger objective (or larger tubes). Same objective rule applies to binoculars. Glass quality is the key.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Growing up my rifle had a 50mm and it was incredible how much I could see at dusk. I recall one night I hit my dad on the walkie talkies to let him know to leave me in my stand because I wanted to shoot a hog. Probably an hour after legal but with a decent half moon a real nice buck was working a scrape about 125 yards out and I could count every tine and see him clearly enough to judge size and all. He was a shooter and I hunted that stand the rest of the season and never saw him in daylight.

Having said all that, for legal hunting purposes I've never been in a situation where my 42mm I use now isn't enough. I may someday have a dark overcast evening with a couple legal minutes left in the deep timber or something where I want more but so far haven't experienced it.

 

[Rich M]

There are diff quality scopes w diff quality glass. Trijicon Huron vs Acupoint - the Acupoint is more expensive and better.

I just bought a 2.5-10x50 T96 scope designed for low light. I have a 1900 4-12x56 Redfield Illuminator andbit is better than current day vx-3 and Viper quality scopes.

Ask yourself a question - what diff is it if the bell is .2 inches larger or whatever? That’s an influencer gimmick. Same guys have jacked up trucks to get thru a mud puddle. The tube size is what doesnt doesnt matter - glass quality and bell size will give better low light.

You want more light - get “a better scope” or a bigger bell.

Figure on spending around $1,000 or more to get some additional shooting time.

 

[06 SB]

I would get the best glass you can AND get an illuminated center dot or +. In low lightbit really helps. Steiner’s E3 reticle is a good on in this application.

 

[stromie]

A larger objective lets in more light, but without good glass /coatings (Like Schott HT Glass), it won't necessarily look brighter through high-quality scope with a smaller objective. Most of my scopes are 44mm and 50mm with 30mm tubes.