Night/low light optic for Handi-rifle

[cynergyou]

Hey All,

I have the opportunity to do some night coyote hunting this season. Someone who has a farm is having issues with coyotes, especially in the evening. She would like to thin out the pack. NH allows the night hunting of coyotes during the winter with written permission from the landowner and we can use lights (as long as they are not from or attached to a vehicle).

Currently I can use my Browning shotgun, which has a pair of white beads on the barrel, for night hunting. If I wear a red head lamp, the beads are very visible and I can take a shot like I would during the day.

However, I also have a single shot Handi-rifle with a Weaver style scope rail on top. I am looking for a scope or a reflex / holographic type of sight that can be used easily at night. I am not interested in a night amplification type of sight, just something that would allow me to aim my single shot rifle in very low light conditions.

I don't think I need much (if any) magnification, since the shots would be fairly close (I would guess 50 yards max - depends how far the spotlight can cast a red beam).

what type of optic would you recommend for night hunting? Would an Aimpoint type or some reflex/holographic sight work? How about a traditional scope with an illuminated reticle? It will be very dark, except for the light from the red spotlight.

Thanks in advance.

[trotterlg]

Here is my experience with illuminated scopes.  I find that unless you spend a bunch, the red dot types have a very big paralax problem.  Someone may know of one without this drawback, but I don't.  I had a NC Star 2.5X32 as a scout mount on a .22 Mag, it worked well, but it won't work for your mount.  If I were to go with an illuminated scope in the conventional mounting location I would probably go with something like a centerpoint.  The low magnification NC stars are short with a large front element, so are hard to mount back very far on the H&R.  Good luck and tell us what works out for you.  Here is the one I would try, the price is right, I doubt you want to spend much on a science experment.  Larry

http://cgi.ebay.com/CENTER-POINT-3X9X32MM-RED-GREEN-ILLUMINATED-SCOPE-/180601421074?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0caefd12

[necchi]

I have the Center Point 4x16 on my 223, for a inexpensive (cheap) scope it's working out all right. 
Walmart has it for $70. It also has the red/green lighted feature, I haven't used it so I can't tell ya about the lighted part, but it's adjustable,, it's not ON/OFF you can trunit just to a little or alot,,what ever you need

[cynergyou]

Thanks guys. 

Currently I have a NCStar "tactical" scope that has a quick release lever.  After I posted my thread, I did some testing using this scope.  I think it's a fixed power, 4x magnification scope.  I used a red LED flashlight to illuminate the far wall in my basement, then viewed the image through the NCStar.  If I have the illuminated crosshairs turned off, I can see the reticle very well.  If I turn the illuminated reticle on to red or green, the light from the illuminated reticle is too bright and i can't really see well beyond the reticle. 

I think for now I am going to figure out how to mount a red filter LED flashlight onto my rifle (it's a 22 Hornet so I'm not too worried about recoil damaging the light) and use the fixed power NCStar tactical scope with the illuminator turned off.  I hope this will be good enough for the field.

[Dinny]

I have a 30mm Leupold Vari-XIII 3.5-10x50 with an illuminated reticle that works very well for night hunting. The key is to have a reticle that can be easily adjusted for brightness and the lowest setting can't be too bright. It took me a few years to finally find a scope that could do all that. I had a Nightforce that was nice, but the adjustments had to be made after the batteries were removed....bad idea. Now that I'm a father and more budget minded, I would like to try the Bushnell Trophy 1.5-6x42 30mm with illuminated reticle. It might work good enough for short range shots when there's good illumination or snow on the ground for color contrast.

Something else to keep in mind. An old sniper instructor told me to tape a mini chemlight to the inside of the bell of my scope. The chemlight should be almost completely covered in black electrical tape, only leaving the very end of the light exposed. Place the lighted end inside so it touches your lens, tape in place. If done correctly, it will illuminate your crosshairs enough to make better shots at night.  

EDIT: I forgot one itsy bitsy small tidbit of information. This works best if the scope has a sunshade attached to the end of it. The chemlight has more to be taped to. Also, you may have to play around with the exact position of the chemlight, it's been years since I did this and my memory is coming back in pieces....

reusable--http://www.rod-n-bobbs.com/index.php?page=prodView&pid=116
http://www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=17983&tabid=548

Thanks, Dinny

[quickdtoo]

The Mueller 4-16x50AO with it's illuminated dot german #4 reticle is an excellent night use scope.

Tim

http://www.muelleroptics.com/products/MU41650IGR

[cynergyou]

Thanks guys for the replies and thanks Dinny for the tip on the chemlight!   

[thejanitor]

After seeing your link Dinny I remember seeing these in our local sporting store for night fishing they hook them to bobbers. I got a 4pk for 3.99 And if after tweeking/taping trying one, I will end up with a cheap way to night hunt. Maybe many of you knew about that use but it was new to me! Thanks Dinny!!!   thejanitor

[Dinny]

After seeing your link Dinny I remember seeing these in our local sporting store for night fishing they hook them to bobbers. I got a 4pk for 3.99 And if after tweeking/taping trying one, I will end up with a cheap way to night hunt. Maybe many of you knew about that use but it was new to me! Thanks Dinny!!!   thejanitor

No problem, I hope it works to your satisfaction.

Thanks, Dinny

[PHATINJUN]

I had a inexpensive low power 56mm on my 32H&R mag w/lighted reticle it worked very well.One thing to remember is the larger bell will let more light in and the chances of taking many shots past 100yrds at night are not very great most of my longest shots were 60yrds. Biggest thing is to get set up so that when you call is to try and bring the coyotes in over the snow. After missing one the other night I sure wish I had not sold that scope with the AK. Kurt

[hhunter]

Trijicon Accupoint 2.5x10x56 or 3x9x40  Standard crosshair with green dot would be excellent scopes for what you are wanting to do. Best low light scopes I have used. No batteries to fail and always "on".
I use them for hunting hogs at night.
Half moon or greater, shots can be made at 150 yards and beyond (open pasture) without any other light source. 
Seems they always have the perfect brightness for the conditions.  Not too bright not to dim.
I have tried the illuminated Leupolds, Mueller, etc. and have found that the Accupoints dominate the low/no light game.