Seeing the revolution of night vision scopes in the last couple of years have shaken the world to its core. In the past, people would just look for a spare that had only a few features being extremely cheap for that matter.
But not anymore. Now the best night vision scope comes with full-on features and new techs to amaze you every time. With these awesome tools, you’ll be able to hunt even in the foggiest and darkest night.
If you are looking for the best night vision scope then you’ve come to the right place. You’ll know just how perfect these night vision scopes will be. Although the price tag coming with them is a bit high.
But they would be worth every penny you spend. Choosing the best night vision isn’t that easy as you need to consider a lot of aspects.
So, before going further into details, let’s take a sneak peek at what you need to know before buying one.
Night Vision Scopes: How Do They Work?
If you are just a beginner in this new and exciting field you must be wondering how these night vision scopes work. Well, it happens like this.
Night vision scopes have higher end objective lenses and these lenses are designed in a manner to amplify the lower intensity light to a great extent. This allows you to see even in the darkest environment.
The thermal unit of the night vision is made to detect the difference in temperature levels in all objects. You’ll see color differences between a cold and a hot object. This is how you spot your prey with the thermal view and differentiate from the background.
Some illumination scopes take up any light source available such as from the starts or moon and increase it, so that, you can see it in low light environments. Well, these are all scenarios of when any light source is available.
What happens when there isn’t any available?
Usually, good night vision scopes are designed in a manner that it can utilize the infrared light to ensure your vision. Typically it happens when there isn’t enough light to make an image.
Although this infrared light source is extremely difficult to pick up or even use. The scope ensures this light source and then magnifies it to a great extent. It can range from 15000x to 40000x more than the infrared light.
The image you’ll see afterward is not normally a real image, it’s amplified to electronic level and then used on the screen. This makes the view seem to be like green. It’s because the human eye is capable of seeing more shades of green color than other colors.
When Should You Use These Scopes?
Most of the hunters hunting at night use this vision to shot their prey and ace their game. If you are looking for the best night vision scope for this purpose then you’re on the right track. Hunting at night is entirely different than hunting in broad daylight.
You have to know or have the slightest idea of where your preys will be at night. If you don’t then you won’t be able to use night vision that well.
Night vision doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be able to cover miles with just one view. Night vision will help you to see at night, that’s true, but it would be at most about 150 yards in total. It doesn’t have the necessary clarity or range to spot your prey from a great distance.
You need to use the thumb rule for spotting your prey and then get close enough to see with the night vision and make the shot.
If your job requires you to work in low light environments then night visions will surely seal the deal. Or you can also go for higher end scopes with better thermal settings to make sure everything’s on spot.
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How to Choose the Best Night Vision Scope
Knowing just what to look for before buying will surely help you choose the best night vision scope. You can’t just go to the market and buy the first thing that you see. There are some specific features that you need to make sure before considering one.
This way you’ll always get the best output of the price.
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The Magnification Level
As far as scopes go the greater the magnification the better. Although magnification more than 10x will need another pair of support to keep it steady while shooting. It will also shorten the Field of View, so you won’t be able to cover a lot of grounds with it.
But for night vision, too much high magnification power doesn’t matter that much. Also, you’ll want a lighter scope that would be easier to carry at night time. That’s why you can stick to 3x-5x range in order to get the full experience of these scopes.
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The IR illumination Factor
This is by far one of the most important factors for you to consider before buying the scope. You should always go for one which supports this feature. It’s because you won’t always have an arbitrary light source. So, your scope would need to collect the Infrared light source and then amplify it enough for you to see in the dark.
This will give you somewhat a clear image to help you see and hunt. That’s why you need to choose the best night vision scope that has this feature.
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Robustness of the Scope
People tend to make this mistake a lot while buying the perfect scope. They go for cheap ones that don’t last very long and becomes obsolete right after a few rounds. You need to make sure to invest your money in a pair that will last for a longer time and can sustain any harsh conditions.
Usually, scopes are made of aluminum and with additional features such as being waterproof or fog proof ensures its durability.
It makes the scope more sustainable to harsh or difficult weather conditions.
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Digital Panel
Some of the night vision scopes come with digital panel viewing. This is an awesome feature that you can look out for if you want the full experience of a night vision scope. Digital panels gather all the light sources and then convert the image to a digital form and give you a much clearer imaging compared to manual viewing.
Although this feature tends to drain the battery life pretty quickly. If you can go without this feature then it’s not absolutely necessary for you to look for it.
Get Batteries for Longer Life and Always Carry Extra
Imagine a scenario where you have spotted that prey after stalking for a long time and turned on your night vision to make the shot. All of a sudden everything becomes black. What happened? Your night vision died.
It happens a lot to nighttime hunters. Usually after being on for a long time or regular usage can drain the batteries really fast. This type of sight depends highly on electronic elements which run solely on battery power.
Filtering out the image or collecting the light sources will drain the battery life.
That’s why you’ll need to go for a scope that comes with a longer battery life even after fulfilling all of your requirements. Some scopes have remote plugging option to deal with these situations but most of the night vision scopes have disposable batteries.
If you want to go on for a longer session you need to start carrying spare batteries to avoid this situation. You don’t want to end up with a spoiled hunting session now, do you?
Some manufacturers provide good batteries with a higher power that goes on for months or even years. Always remember to use the battery that the developers recommend. As using other batteries can ruin the night vision.
5 Best Night Vision Scope for Hunting
ATN X-Sight II 3-14x/50mm Smart Day and Night Rifle Scope
ATN X-Sight II 3-14x/50mm Smart Day and Night Rifle Scope is full packed with features with the capability of giving you clear images even in the darkest hours. The obsidian II core is the main attraction of this scope.
It enables it to add extra functionality to the night vision scope and be full of modern properties. The resolution is definitely of HD quality providing you with the clear image you need.
The best part that I loved about his scope is that you can even record videos of any object you want. The video works in every environment; night or day. This scope also offers smart shooting to make sure you always hit your target no matter what.
Key Features:
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Gyroscope
ATN X-Sight II 3-14x/50mm Smart Day and Night Rifle Scope offers an integrated gyroscope. Gyroscopes come in handy when you need to stabilize the image for taking your shot or have a better view.
The gyroscope will surely back you up in every situation, giving you the steadiest image.
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Smart Rangefinder
This is another great attraction of this night vision scope. The rangefinder feature will allow you to aim better and calculate the necessary distance for the kill. Adjusting the scope is really simple and you can do it just with a spin.
So, all you have to do is to aim and shoot after that. No extra complex solution will be in your way anymore.
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SD Card Adaptable
The scope supports the use of SD cards. Recording any video will probably take up a lot of space and you might run out storage space in the end. Sometimes some scopes need to reset fully before you change the rifle.
But not for this one. ATN will always have your videos saved and profile set for any particular rifle. So, all you need to do is to set up the scope and select the profile and you’re done.
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Magnification Range:
The magnification range of this scope ranges from 3-14x with an objective lens size of 50mm. This makes sure that you can cover long distances. You won’t always be using this scope at night.
So, the extra magnification will come in handy in the daytime.
Pros
- Clear images with a steady view to accelerate things.
- HD video recording capability.
- Supports profile management. So, no need for resetting it.
- Rangefinder makes shooting easier and better.
- Waterproof, fog proof and shockproof.
Cons
- No Elevation or Windage settings to tweak up.
Firefield FF16001 NVRS 3x 42mm Gen 1 Night Vision Riflescope
Firefield FF16001 NVRS 3x 42mm Gen 1 Night Vision Riflescope is here to save your day. This scope is best known for its night vision features rather than daytime shooting. Made with the mindset of nighttime shooting this scope can be your next best buddy while hunting.
If you are looking for an optic that has a higher durability value then you should definitely try this one out.
Key features:
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Durability:
You’ll be amazed to see the durability of this scope. The exterior is made of titanium that gives it a rugged look. Every part of this night vision scope is made of titanium. So, you can abuse it in any way you like and it’ll still go on for ages.
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Balanced Design:
A scope that has the best of every feature. If you want a balanced design then this is your best bet. This night vision scope is Gen 1 and provides a magnification with a fixed range 3x. It also comes with a 42mm objective lens size which is responsible for clear and crisp imaging quality.
Mounting on any rifle is extremely easy with this one. It comes with an easy mounting option.
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IR Illumination:
Just like other awesome night vision scopes this one also supports Infrared illumination to help you out in your hunting sessions. The quality of the Illumination is comparatively great despite its cheap price.
Although the price is lower than most other, but it still is compact with functions that add quality to your hunting sessions.
Pros
- It’s highly durable and has a rugged body.
- Easy mounting system.
- Good magnification range.
Cons
- The technology is a bit older.
- The imaging isn’t as clear as others.
Sightmark Photon 6.5x50L Digital Night Vision Riflescope
Want a long-range night vision scope? Well, Sightmark Photon 6.5x50L Digital Night Vision Riflescope will definitely be the perfect one for that. Not every hunter shoots short range at night. There are some hunters that want to go the extra mile. So, if you are one of them you can definitely give this scope a try.
It’s full of features and comes with extra mount rings to help you mount it on any kind of rifle. The scope is a bit longer than conventional night vision scope and the body is rugged enough for any environment.
Key Features:
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Magnification Range:
It comes with a fixed magnification range of 6.5x. This magnification power goes perfectly with the long-range shooting at night time. The best part is that this scope is capable of giving you night vision backup even in longer distances.
The objective lens size is 50mm which makes up for the crisp imaging you need for longer shooting. Now you can shoot at ease with the quality imaging output in longer ranges.
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Designator:
The scope comes with an integrated designator that will help you to point exactly where you want to shoot. The laser light really comes in handy at night time hunting.
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Various Radical Designs:
The scope comes with six type of different radical designs that will help you shot more effectively. The night vision display doesn’t change the radical display. So, you can choose from a wide option and get the best output every time.
Pros
- Great Magnification Range.
- Has six type of radicals.
- Integrated laser pointer helps to aim better.
- Crisp imaging.
- Shock Proof.
Cons
- Is a bit heavy.
- Doesn’t hold zero after a few rounds.
Firefield FF26014T Tactical Night Vision Rifle Scope with Internal Focusing
Firefield FF26014T Tactical Night Vision Rifle Scope is another great night vision scope on the list. Many times hunters want a scope that offers less magnification and is best for short range shooting.
If you are one of them then try it out.
Key Features:
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Low Magnification Range:
Night vision scopes usually come with a low magnification range for a better shooting experience. This scope especially offers only 2.5x magnification to help out short-range shooters in their quest.
The scope also offers an objective lens of 50mm that provides a crisp view in any environment.
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Durability:
Firefield FF26014T Tactical Night Vision scope is highly durable with its solid titanium build and an easy mount. You can mount it on any rifle on the market. This scope was made for using it at night time only.
The scope offers a Gen 1 night vision viewing. Although Gen 1 is a bit old, it still offers a lot to the table.
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IR Illumination:
This scope also offers a high-quality IR Illumination to catch your prey even in the darkest environment. This IR Illumination uses the infrared light source and amplifies it to a great extent.
The result is clear imaging and a great hunting experience.
Pros
- The body is made of Titanium. So, it’s highly durable even in harsh weathers.
- Goes with every type of rifle on the market.
- The magnification range is perfect for short range shooting.
- Comes with easy mounting rings.
Cons
- The weight is heavier than most other night vision scopes.
- Older generation vision.
- Not suitable for daytime shooting.
Armasight Vampire 3X Night Vision Rifle Scope
Armasight Vampire 3X Night Vision Rifle Scope is the last great deal on the list. If you want to go the extra mile and get yourself features like Gen 2 vision then Armasight Vampire can help you out with that.
Although it’s not fully Gen 2, still you could think of it as a Gen 1+ scope.
Key Features:
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Magnification Range:
Comes with just the perfect magnification range of 3x. With this range, nothing can stop you now. This range is perfect for any activity. You can go on hunting or practice your shooting, whatever the case, this scope will definitely help you out.
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Core Technology
The night vision scope offers a unique technology, unlike other scopes. It’s an integrated engine that provides better image clarity and sensitivity while shooting. This CORE system is responsible for the upgradation to Gen 1+.
It also comes with 70lp/mm which is something none of the market scopes offers. This feature is even better than Gen 2 night vision scopes. So, this scope can definitely be worth every penny you’ll spend on it.
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Rail System:
I really loved this extra added feature with everything in the mix. The scope comes with an integrated Picatinny rail system that’s just perfect for any lasers or illuminator. This rail system adds versatility to the whole scope and gives you an opportunity to add any accessory with it.
The long-range IR illumination can also be detachable according to your needs. So, if you don’t need it, just detach it.
Pros
- The body is highly durable for being made of aluminum.
- The rubber coating makes it scratchproof and shockproof.
- Has a greater eye relief.
- Perfect magnification range.
Cons
- Small battery life.
- The weight is heavy for most rifles.
The Final Pick,
Hunting in the night time can be fun if you can get your hands on the best night vision scope. Night vision scopes are usually full of features, but you need to make sure which one to choose.
If you want more features then always go for the pricey ones as cheap ones with more feature options won’t last long or be able to satisfy your needs.
These night vision scopes are the top 5 best night vision scopes on the market. Every one of them is capable of handling any situation at night. But considering every aspect, ATN X-Sight II 3-14x/50mm Smart Day and Night Rifle Scope seems to have the perfect combination of all the required fields.
Other scopes like Firefield FF16001 and Sightmark Photon doesn’t provide the durable quality like ATN. Also, Armasight Vampire and Firefield FF26014T are a bit heavy. On the other hand, ATN X-Sight is lightweight.
ATN X-Sight II 3-14x/50mm Smart Day and Night Rifle Scope is the perfect one for you solely because:
- It provides a great magnification range.
- Offers quality IR illuminations.
- HD video recording and imaging.
- Gyroscope view.
- Rangefinder features that make up for the perfect aim.
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options.
So, don’t wait up! Get yourself one now!