24mm objective lens for night shooting

[masterdekoy]

I'm considering a viper PST 1x4 or strike eagle 1x6 for an AR I have, with the intent to be able to shoot to 400m or so (I know 5.56 and wind and all that). My concern is mostly target ID through a 24mm objective at night. Not at 400m, but I would like to be able to see my target at 1-200m at night. Am I better off going with a 2.5x10x32 or 2.5x10x44 or would the lower power optic be ok? I like the option of 1x for up close work, but I have another AR with a t-1 and want this optic to fill more of a DMR role. I don't have much experience with scopes, so I wanted to get people's opinions.

 

[phylodog]

Generally speaking the larger the objective and lower the magnification the better you'll see in low light. It has been my experience that 6x is about as high as I can go and still see reasonably well at dawn and dusk.

 

[cwillour]

If you act fast, Cabela's has the Viper PST 2.5-10x44 MRAD on sale for $249.99 w/ free S&H:

Vortex® Viper PST Riflescope : Cabela's

 

[masterdekoy]

Wow that's a deal...

 

[42769vette]

OBJ lens size is only part of the equation in light transmission. As Cory mentioned, another big part is zoom. Rule of thumb is 1x of zoom=5mm OBJ, so a PST 1-4 on 1 x would transmit the same light to your eye as a 4-16x44 on 4x (not an exact equation as there is more that goes into it than that, but a rule of thumb).

No need to act fast on the Cabelas deal, Ill match it, and I dont expect you to stare at the computer 24/7 to catch the deals, Ill match it for a day or so.

Also, are we talking about low light, or NIGHT shooting?

 

[cwillour]

OBJ lens size is only part of the equation in light transmission. As Cory mentioned, another big part is zoom. Rule of thumb is 1x of zoom=5mm OBJ, so a PST 1-4 on 1 x would transmit the same light to your eye as a 4-16x44 on 4x (not an exact equation as there is more that goes into it than that, but a rule of thumb).

No need to act fast on the Cabelas deal, Ill match it, and I dont expect you to stare at the computer 24/7 to catch the deals, Ill match it for a day or so.

Also, are we talking about low light, or NIGHT shooting?

Now that is a stand-up offer on the price match.

 

[masterdekoy]

OBJ lens size is only part of the equation in light transmission. As Cory mentioned, another big part is zoom. Rule of thumb is 1x of zoom=5mm OBJ, so a PST 1-4 on 1 x would transmit the same light to your eye as a 4-16x44 on 4x (not an exact equation as there is more that goes into it than that, but a rule of thumb).

No need to act fast on the Cabelas deal, Ill match it, and I dont expect you to stare at the computer 24/7 to catch the deals, Ill match it for a day or so.

Also, are we talking about low light, or NIGHT shooting?

Wow awesome. I guess it would be low light. Guess I didn't realize zoom had that much effect on light.

 

[42769vette]

Wow awesome. I guess it would be low light. Guess I didn't realize zoom had that much effect on light.

When folks say night shooting, I think PVS-28, thermal, etc

Low light is diffrent, and I personally have a PST 1-4 on my coyote rifle with no complaints.

 

[masterdekoy]

When folks say night shooting, I think PVS-28, thermal, etc

Low light is diffrent, and I personally have a PST 1-4 on my coyote rifle with no complaints.

After thinking back to my time in the army, even with the sights we had seeing something at 200 m was a bit of a stretch.

 

[42769vette]

Update on the Cabelas deal.

It was just another bait and switch. When you placed your order saying the price was wrong. I kept my word and matched it for awhile even though they did not. I cant make a habbit of selling scopes for 1/2 dealer price so Im canceling the sale.

How many bait and switch's will the customer put up with before stopping shopping at a location? There have been 3 or 4 from Cabela's in the last month.

 

[Vamptepes]

Which is why my next optics purchase will be through your never have had the pleasure of doing business with you, but I admire your honesty and willingness to help people. It is a great quality for a business owner to have that sadly you don't see often enough. If I could I would buy something right now. But sadly I'm a poor kid.

 

[masterdekoy]

Figures. That was way too good of a deal. Don't think anyone is going to blame you for not honoring that price. You have to make money. Just how it works.

We appreciate the offer though!

 

[42769vette]

Figures. That was way too good of a deal. Don't think anyone is going to blame you for not honoring that price. You have to make money. Just how it works.

We appreciate the offer though!

I honored it long enough to sell 35, but at losing a couple hundred per scope i just cant be the only honest company in the game.

 

[masterdekoy]

Ya definitely can't do that.. It's not sustainable. If I ordered one I would tell you to cancel it. Kinda shady business practices on cabelas part...

 

[42769vette]

Ya definitely can't do that.. It's not sustainable. If I ordered one I would tell you to cancel it. Kinda shady business practices on cabelas part...

I actually had a couple people thank me and tell me to cancel the order. Its very nice to see the good will go both ways. Truth be told, I get just as much of the customer trying to screw me out of a dollar, as the customer gets of the vendor trying to screw them out of a dollar.