Scopes, including starlight scopes in particular, help you find your target and make an accurate shot. Seems straightforward enough, right? But there are actually multiple types of scopes and several brands under each one to choose from.
For veterans hobbyists, that sounds like being a kid in a candy shop, but for people who are new to the hobby and haven’t bought a lot of scopes before, this can be confusing if not outright frustrating.
So before we go into what starlight scopes you should get, let’s pin down what a starlight scope is, what makes it different from other scopes, and what it’s for to see if it’s right for you.
What Are Starlight Scopes?
Starlight scopes are a type of night vision scope that requires a minimal amount of light to function. This is because it works by intensifying the light coming from stars and the moon. Its battery-free operation gives it a leg up over most night vision scopes that require a power source to work.
That said, it’s not without its drawbacks. If you’re out hunting on a completely moonless, starless, and overcast night, there’s no hope of your starlight scope catching any light to amplify for helping you see in the darkness.
Meanwhile, night vision scopes may work in three ways. They can intensify existing light, use a digital night vision system, and have an active infra-red vision. To simplify, all night vision scopes are starlight scopes, but not all starlight scopes are night vision scopes.
What Are Starlight Scopes Used For?
It might seem like starlight scopes and goggles are at a disadvantage, but they still find use among hunters, search and rescue, military sports games, and law enforcement.
They’re especially good for detecting movement at night and, for those of you who enjoy nature, observing nocturnal wildlife.
Which Starlight Scope Should I Get?
1. Sightmark Wraith Digital Night Vision Riflescope
The Sightmark Wraith Digital Night Vision Riflescope is a digital night vision scope that’s designed to fit rifles. It has a durable aluminum body and offers a minimum magnification of 4x using its 50-millimeter lens. It’s a little heavier than the average scope, but the features make it worth the weight.
This scope has full-color vision when used during the day and a typical monochrome green for nighttime use, both of which are clear and vivid enough to make watching wildlife enjoyable. If you’re the type to take photos and videos to remember your trips by, you’re going to love the 1080p HD camera built into this scope that allows you to record videos while you’re on the move.
2. ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day/Night Hunting Scope
The ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day/Night Hunting Scope is a high-tech night vision scope that comes with video recording features, Wi-Fi access capabilities, and up to 18 hours of battery life, just in case you want to upload your videos directly to your social media accounts.
Unlike the previous scope, it’s made of durable ABS plastic, bringing it down to a more manageable weight that’s virtually unnoticeable when you mound this scope onto your rifle.
The enhanced night vision mode offers clearer, sharper focus compared to other night vision scopes which plays perfectly with the 120 FPS built-in recorder. Speaking of built-in features, this scope also has a built-in ballistic calculator with six different profiles for range, angle to target, temperature, and humidity so you never miss a shot.
3. Vortex Optics Recon R/T 15×50 Tactical Scope Monocular
The Vortex Optics Recon R/T 15×50 Tactical Scope Monocular is a monocular scope with what is easily the most accommodating eyecup on this list. Sure, capabilities are great, but after long periods of staring into a scope with one eye squinted, you can’t help but get tired and feel like you’re straining your eye too much. This scope’s adjustable eyecup blocks stray light from entering your eye and on top of that, it’s designed to work for glasses wearers.
This scope has a hash marked range reticle that uses MRAD-based sub-tension lines to help you make corrections.
As for the scope lens, you’ll find that it’s covered with an anti-reflective coating and is equipped with both a large focus wheel and reticle focus, all of which help to make your usage of it feel more efficient.
Final Thoughts on Starlight Scopes
Starlight scopes, and night vision scope for that matter, get more efficient as the tech for it evolves. With that comes additional features like HD recording, infra-red, and ultra-clear digital magnification, all of which make it easier to stay in action and appreciate the flora and fauna when you’re not on the move.
