The best time for hunting is about 30 minutes after sunset. But at such time, it’s getting dark and you won’t see your prey as clearly as in daylight. To get a better vision for precise shooting, you should equip your rifle with the best scope for low light.
Here are the best scopes for low light (Apr 2024 Update):
- Best Overall: Bushnell Trophy TRS-25
- Best for Long-Range Shooting: UTG 3-9X32 1" BugBuster
- Best for Night Hogs Hunting: ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day
- Best for Experienced Shooter: Vortex Optics 1-6x24 Scope
- Best for Quick Target Acquisition: Bushnell Banner Multi-X Riflescope
- Best for Mid-Distance Shooting: Monstrum G3 6-24x50 Rifle Scope
| 6 Best Scopes For Low Light | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 | |
Best for Long-Range Shooting | UTG 3-9X32 1" BugBuster | |
Best for Night Hogs Hunting | ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day | |
Best for Experienced Shooter | Vortex Optics 1-6x24 Scope | |
Best for Quick Target Acquisition | Bushnell Banner Multi-X Riflescope | |
Best for Mid-Distance Shooting | Monstrum G3 6-24x50 Rifle Scope | |
Best Overall: Bushnell Trophy TRS-25
- Super-manageable capability - easy to sight-in with no requirement of redoing
- Affordable yet quality – made with Nitrogen Purged Fog Proofing, Shockproof construction, and Waterproof Construction
- Good consistency & lock up tightly without budging
- The brightness dial is a bit stiffer
The Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 is very well done for a budget red dot sight. It’s very clear to see, easy to adjust, simple to attach, and all at a very low price point.
The best thing is its super-manageable capability with no fiddling around by turning screws forever until the dot moves because the scope moves whenever you click it on the knobs as it should.
In low light conditions, it gives plenty bright (and probably brighter than your initial needs). Battery life is pretty good as well.
Besides, it locks up tightly without budging after 300+ rounds. We were very happy with its consistency at 50 feet.
| Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Magnification | No magnification |
Field of View (degrees) | Unlimited |
Field of View (feet @ 1000yds) | Unlimited |
Close Focus Distance (feet) | 9-300 |
Eye Relief (mm) | Unlimited |
Highlight Features | Nitrogen Purged Fog Proofing, Shockproof construction, and Waterproof Construction; |
If you’re looking for a reliable red dot for low light, the Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 is highly recommended.
Best for Long-Range Shooting: UTG 3-9X32 1" BugBuster
- Good field of view for the compact size - 377' to 140' @ 1000yds & 7.2 to 2.7 degrees
- Allow for quick sight in long-range - Red/Green Dual Illumination
- Give perfect grouping consistently – accurate adjustment
- Unclear instructions
- No place for mounting and handling to manipulate the magnification adjustment
The UTG 3-9X32 1" BugBuster is a great scope for mid to long-range shooting. We tested it for 300+ with 5.56/.223 with no issues. The field of view is pretty good for its size and there also comes with plenty of magnification.
A favorite thing is that it allows us to dial the red and green crosshairs light for distance and heavy for quick sight.
The adjustment of scope was accurate and provides me perfect grouping and never changes. It also gives us variable illumination to work phenomenally well on different light conditions, especially in darkness.
Two other notable features are the elevation knobs and locking wind.
| UTG 3-9X32 1" BugBuster Specifications | |
|---|---|
Magnification | 3-9 as listed. |
Field of View (degrees) | 7.2 – 2.7 |
Field of View (feet @ 1000yds) | 377' - 140' |
Close Focus Distance (feet) | 9-300 |
Eye Relief (mm) | 4.2" - 3.2" |
Highlight Features | 377' to 140' @ 1000yds & 7.2 to 2.7 degrees field of view; Red/Green Dual Illumination; |
For the price and quality, you can’t beat this long-range scope.
Best for Night Hogs Hunting: ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day
- Easy to sight and scan at night – wider field of view
- Emit no visible light to alert hogs - an Enhanced HD Night Vision Mode
- Many practical add-ons - Recoil Activated Video function, Dual Stream Video Recording, Ballistic Calculator, and Ultra HD Sensor
- The phone app is also a little buggy and laggy
- Require pushing the center button pretty hard
- A bit pricey
As night vision is your only means of finding game after dark, choosing a scope with lower power is essential as it gives a wider field of view for extra benefits at closer ranges and at night when scanning.
By giving a max field of view of 20 feet at 1000 yards, the ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day is a potential candidate for this purpose.
But what makes this scope truly stand out from the rest is it doesn’t alert the hogs and send them away by not emitting any visible green or red light like other counterparts would do.
Also, the max height from its center bore to the center scope is 2-3/4”, which is perfect to “zero” the scope. There is also a mount included as well for stable sighting.
| ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day Specifications | |
|---|---|
Magnification | 5-20x Smooth Zoom |
Field of View (degrees) | 4.6 |
Field of View (feet @ 1000yds) | 240ft. |
Close Focus Distance (feet) | 33-feet |
Highlight Features | an Enhanced HD Night Vision Mode; Recoil Activated Video function, Dual Stream Video Recording, Ballistic Calculator, and Ultra HD Sensor |
If you plan to hunt hogs at night, the ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day is definitely worth a try.
Best for Experienced Shooter: Vortex Optics 1-6x24 Scope
- Function as properly as a high-end scope - The fast focus dial on the eyepiece, updated magnification ring, and more
- Perfect to work in darkness with no light-scatter - The new illuminated BDC3 reticle
- Durable - O-ring sealed & Nitrogen purged
- The rear flip cap cover isn’t solid
- The throw lever could provide a better fit
With the Vortex Optics 1-6x24 Scope, our rifle is shooting just as tight of groups as it did with a higher-end model, meaning that it functions super-properly.
One of the best features is its reticle. It comes with nice spacing – not too thin nor too thick – and is not cluttered at all.
Meanwhile, the parallax adjustment works well, the turrets are crisp, and the glass is extraordinarily good for this price.
The illumination in darkness is perfect with no light-scatter whatsoever. It’s great out to about 250-300 at 6x for a silhouette target or similar, which is perfect for experienced shooters.
| Vortex Optics 1-6x24 Scope Specifications | |
|---|---|
Magnification | 1-6x |
Field of View (degrees) | 22.2 – 3.7 |
Field of View (feet @ 1000yds) | 1165-192 |
Eye Relief (mm) | 88.9 |
Highlight Features | O-ring sealed & Nitrogen purged; The new illuminated BDC3 reticle; The fast focus dial on the eyepiece, updated magnification ring |
The Vortex Optics 1-6x24 Scope features proper functions and good illumination in low light conditions, making it a good choice for experts.
Best for Quick Target Acquisition: Bushnell Banner Multi-X Riflescope
- Easily find your target in low light conditions - better eye reticle & good dusk and dawn coating
- User-friendly – easily adjustable eye relief & clearly marked adjustment knobs
- Allow for quick target acquisition - Fast focus eyepiece
- The crosshairs are a little on the thick side
- The magnification ring is a little stiff
We assure you this is a great replacement for the .22 scope as it has a much better eye reticle to help easily find your target in low light conditions. The dusk and dawn coating on this scope works very well.
By giving clear and bright images, it is excellent for long-range target practice and hunting.
It is also easy to mount and holds the zero well. The scope, when adjusted to the desired eye relief, has a wonderful view of everything in your sights.
To provide extra ease of adjustment in the field with no tools needed, it comes with clearly marked adjustment knobs for windage and elevation.
| Bushnell Banner Multi-X Riflescope Specifications | |
|---|---|
Magnification | 3-9X |
Field of View (degrees) | 5.5 – 2.0 |
Field of View (feet @ 1000yds) | 290 - 110 |
Close Focus Distance (feet) | 45 |
Eye Relief (mm) | 83.82 |
Highlight Features | Fast focus eyepiece; clearly marked adjustment knobs; good dusk and dawn coating |
If you are searching for the best scope for quick target acquisition then look no further.
Best for Mid-Distance Shooting: Monstrum G3 6-24x50 Rifle Scope
- Ideal for mid-range shooting - a magnification range of 6x to 24x
- Good tracking – clearer glass & hold its zero better
- Durable and long-lasting – scratch-resistant finish
- After adjusting everything, the eye box seems a bit small
Highlighting a magnification range of 6x to 24x, the Monstrum G3 6-24x50 Rifle Scope is a wonderful option for mid-range shooting. Shot 50 rounds through it with no problems.
Compared to the 4-16x50 G1, Leupold or Nikon scopes, the glass of this model is way clearer and seems to hold its zero better for good tracking. The eye reticle is nice also. It’s easier to use than the G2 version and is a great feature at low light.
We love that it comes with a great set of rings to securely mount the optics to the weapon and flip-up covers to keep fingerprints or damage off of it.
The finish on the scope is incredibly good at scratch resisting for in/out of the safe, even after knocking it on a few before it leaves that comfort.
| Monstrum G3 6-24x50 Rifle Scope Specifications | |
|---|---|
Magnification | 6-24 |
Field of View (degrees) | 3.54 – 0.92 |
Field of View (feet @ 1000yds) | 186'-48.4' |
Eye Relief (mm) | 101.6 – 114.3 |
Highlight Features | a magnification range of 6x to 24x; scratch-resistant finish; |
For those who are finding the best low light scope for mid-range shooting, we highly recommend this.
How To Choose The Best Scope For Low Light?
Magnification
When choosing the best scope for low light, you need to look into magnification. No matter how much light the objective windows get, less light will get out if the scope has a higher magnification. And less light getting out is better.
Exit Pupil (EP.)
The Exit Pupil, or EP, is the beam of light created when magnification and objective lens work together. The larger the EP, with more light will exit the scope.
The best hour for hunting is a little bit after sunset when your pupils dilate to 6 mm.
At this time, if you want to get maximum brightness, you will need a scope with 7mm EP. However, it’s likely that you will find such scope on the market, so you can opt for a 50mm objective at 7x to yield an EP of 7.1 mm.
Anti-reflection coatings
Anti-reflection can double the scope's brightness without making the scope bulkier or heavier.
With a microscopic coating of rare earth minerals, reflection loss can be reduced through wave phase cancellation. So, you should definitely go with a scope that features anti-reflection coating.
Which Brands Make The Best Scope For Low Light?
UTG
UTG is a brand owned by Leapers Inc., which was founded in 1992.
To provide customers with the best product, the brand focuses on perfecting its business operation, industry trends, and especially customers’ feedback. It aims at producing the best products for shooting, hunting, as well as outdoor activities.
ATN X-Sight
Founded in 1995, ATN is currently the leading company in terms of Tech Optics. The company stands out from competitors and became the market leader of its endless innovation in each product.
Vortex Optics
This brand is specialized in making optical equipment for bird watching, hunting, outdoor recreational sports, wildlife watching, as well as law enforcement. Its products include spotting scopes, binoculars, riflescopes, along with other optics accessories.
Bushnell
This is an American brand with the main focus on outdoor products and sporting optics.
Bushnell offers binoculars, spotting scopes, telescopes, red dot sights, riflescopes, laser rangefinders, GPD devices, night vision, game cameras, as well as other optical equipment.
Monstrum
While having been around for just a decade, this brand has built its reputation for the best value of optics, handguards, along with other shotgun and rifle accessories. It works towards the new, innovative products for the best user experience possible.
FAQs
What magnification do I need for 300 yards?
Generally speaking, the least magnification that offers clear target images makes the best magnification. A 4x or 6x magnification is adequate.
What range is a 3 9x40 scope good for?
A 3-9x40 scope should give you a range of around 900 yards.
What scope should I use for 500 yards?
Some of the best scopes for the 500-yard range are Nikon M 308 4-16x, Bushnell AR Optics 4.5-18x, Vortex Optics Crossfire II 6-24x, Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x, and Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x.
What distance is a 4x scope good for?
A 4x scope would be good for a 600-yard distance.
Is a scope better than binoculars?
When it comes to vision, a scope is a better overall choice, though binoculars are more widely used.
Conclusion
There are a few technical factors to consider when you choose the best scope for low light. It’s important that you understand the technical details before starting searching for a scope for low-light environments or you will be confused looking at their specifications.
Last but not least, make sure you buy your new scope from a reliable brand to ensure quality.
Bryan Listor
