great crossbow scopes

4125 Views 23 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Mark1958, Jan 14, 2020

BillC54

Discussion Starter · Dec 17, 2019

Why aren't there any really great Crossbow scopes With the money spent on today bows I can't think people wouldn't spend $$$$ on a better scope.Offer 3 or 4 different crosshair spacings then the user could decide what power he or she wanted to be close to.A lot of scopes come with lighted reticles because there are not really all that great in low light.I have a couple Hawkes and a Ten Point but I have rifle scopes that are much better in low light.I know that in the past there were some better scopes made I quess they don't sell.As many crossbows as there are you would think all the major makers would have scopes.

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KTownKiller

· #2 · Dec 17, 2019

It's like the response I got yesterday from my nephew though. I told him I'd found a Evo-X for $300, and right away he says, "That's a lot of money for a crossbow scope"! I think that's pretty typical of the mentality out there towards xbow scopes. I'm not sure why, 'cause I like decent glass! I spent as much on my scope as I did on my rifle, but then I could make the 470 yds shot on my Stone ram! So it sure paid off!!!!

Reactions: 2

Gabowman

· #3 · Dec 18, 2019

Like anything else it all boils down to Supply and Demand. IMO there just isn't a big market for the high dollar scopes on bows shooting 50 yards and less. JMO though...………..

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KTownKiller

· #4 · Dec 18, 2019

The bucks I hunt are not move'n in daylight, so I need a scope that'll do the deed at dusk! So I'm willing to pay extra to get better glass...

Reactions: 1

TX_RDXguy

· #5 · Dec 18, 2019

2

I think there are and there are more to come in 2020 if the rumors are right.

I know several guys here that shoot ATN day/night IR and Thermal scopes and now the SIG Sierra3s.

Take a look at the Sierra3 BDX scope write ups in this Scope section. It allows you to build your own reticle set (1-9) and choose progressive yardages that fit your needs. It's design frees up the ability to use magnification and the LEDs reticles wont wash out thew scope not are they visible to game. It also has canting indications that you can tune.

Optical instrument Monocular Spotting scope Cameras & optics

Text Font Screenshot Technology Stopwatch

It's also intelligent enough to work in tandem with Kilo BDX rangefinder and can do auto ranging.

There are several threads on this scope in this section of the Forum.

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KTownKiller

· #6 · Dec 18, 2019

Hey Rich, are those made for rifles though? They look much bigger than the Evo-X.

TX_RDXguy

· #7 · Dec 18, 2019

2

KTownKiller said:
Hey Rich, are those made for rifles though? They look much bigger than the Evo-X.

Yes, the 3.5-10x and larger scopes are. They are longer than traditional xbow scopes with larger objective lenses. The 2.5-8x30 is a good xbow fit.

Optical instrument Monocular Spotting scope Photography

I ended up with the 3.5-10X42 because it was on a 1/2 off sale at Cabela's.

Now this is a big scope

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KTownKiller

· #8 · Dec 18, 2019

Yikes, buddy! Those might dwarf my Swat! I think I'll be pleased with your old Evo-X!!! Thanks again for let'n me buy it from ya!!! I like the simplicity of it.

jpe5714

· #9 · Dec 18, 2019

TX_RDXguy said:
I think there are and there are more to come in 2020 if the rumors are right.

I know several guys here that shoot ATN day/night IR and Thermal scopes and now the SIG Sierra3s.

Take a look at the Sierra3 BDX scope write ups in this Scope section. It allows you to build your own reticle set (1-9) and choose progressive yardages that fit your needs. It's design frees up the ability to use magnification and the LEDs reticles wont wash out thew scope not are they visible to game. It also has canting indications that you can tune.

View attachment 161236
View attachment 161238

It's also intelligent enough to work in tandem with Kilo BDX rangefinder and can do auto ranging.

There are several threads on this scope in this section of the Forum.

Are the Sig scopes made in China or Japan?

tpcollins

· #10 · Dec 18, 2019

KTownKiller said:
It's like the response I got yesterday from my nephew though. I told him I'd found a Evo-X for $300, and right away he says, "That's a lot of money for a crossbow scope"! I think that's pretty typical of the mentality out there towards xbow scopes. I'm not sure why, 'cause I like decent glass! I spent as much on my scope as I did on my rifle, but then I could make the 470 yds shot on my Stone ram! So it sure paid off!!!!

Yup - guys will spend $1500 - $2000 for a crossbow but balk at a $300 scope.

Retail-wise the scopes on my Tikka T3 .204, Ruger M77 .243, and Thompson Center ML cost more than the rifles they sit on. The exceptions is my AR15 - but I interchange 2 scopes in Bobro mounts and together they total a lot more than it.

I love great optics.
.

Reactions: 3

tpcollins

· #11 · Dec 18, 2019

TX_RDXguy said:
Yes, the 3.5-10x and larger scopes are. They are longer than traditional xbow scopes with larger objective lenses. The 2.5-8x30 is a good xbow fit.

View attachment 161240
I ended up with the 3.5-10X42 because it was on a 1/2 off sale at Cabela's.

Now this is a big scope

View attachment 161242

How do those 3 illuminated dots actually look like against a target in low light?
I saw another pic where it looked like there could be some more tiny little illuminated dots within the crosshair lines itself but I’m not positive.

Line Circle Parallel Diagram Symmetry

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TX_RDXguy

· #12 · Dec 18, 2019

2

tpcollins said:
How do those 3 illuminated dots actually look like against a target in low light?
I saw another pic where it looked like there could be some more tiny little illuminated dots within the crosshair lines itself but I’m not positive.

View attachment 161244

The scope has 10 levels of LED brightness that you control with the dial on the left side of the scope so it can be very light to pretty bright. I set it on 3 during daylight hours and it's perfect against a deer and better against darker hogs. I have yet to have a low light animal encounter but testing it from my climber in dawns early hours against trees, brush, grass and such I turn it up to 5 and it's fine.

I'm not sure why there would be LEDs on the horizontal line for crossbow. There are canting LEDs on the far left and far right. The holdover LEDs are just a single in the Auto-ranging mode and multiple in the Ballistic Hold mode based on your setup but they are only on the vertical line.

I use this setup in the Ballistic Hold mode.

Text Font Screenshot Technology Stopwatch

It looks something like this.

Line Circle Parallel Symmetry

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tpcollins

· #13 · Dec 18, 2019

Here’s why I asked about the illuminated dots in the crosshairs.

Click on this link, highlight the reticle, and keep clicking on the + to magnify it. Those little extra dots is what I was referring to.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/sig-sauer-sierra3bdx-2-5-8x30mm-rifle-scope.html?image=7f0a58522f

.

TX_RDXguy

· #14 · Dec 18, 2019

tpcollins said:
Here’s why I asked about the illuminated dots in the crosshairs.

Click on this link, highlight the reticle, and keep clicking on the + to magnify it. Those little extra dots is what I was referring to.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/sig-sauer-sierra3bdx-2-5-8x30mm-rifle-scope.html?image=7f0a58522f

.

The scope can correct for windage and that's what they are showing with the two LEDs lit on the horizontal crosshair. There is a setting called "Symmetrical" when turned on will show the LED on both sides of the main cross hair. The assumption is that you could have a shot with wind form either way.

robertyb

· #15 · Dec 18, 2019

Each of those little dots is a LED that can be lit up.

WickedRidge400

· #16 · Dec 28, 2019

The scope that came with my TenPoint WickedRidge RDX 400 package doesn't have a speed rating dial. Judging from looking up a few scope reviews, the scope that comes with the package is a more basic model with less quality.
My question is: are speed rated scopes that much better?
Is it necessary to dial in a speed based on the chrono so the accuracy past 20-30 is dead on?
The reason I ask is I'd like to shoot out to 40 yards without being concerned about errors especially when shooting at a deer. I want accuracy that's reliable and I won't end up wounding a deer rather than making a clean kill shot.
Currently the TenPoint 3x Pro View scope sits on it. It has a reticle for 20,30,40, and 50.
Is it worth an upgrade if I'm not shooting long ranges?

robertyb

· #17 · Dec 28, 2019

Upgrade to a speed dial scope. Then you can adjust the dial to get the marks on at 20-30-40 etc. No chrono needed.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ravin-Cros...649711?hash=item420e69b32f:g:0UYAAOSw6i5dwIic

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Redfield-R...:pjIAAOSwmrpbft~N:sc:USPSPriority!30125!US!-1

Reactions: 1

WickedRidge400

· #18 · Dec 28, 2019

robertyb said:
Upgrade to a speed dial scope. Then you can adjust the dial to get the marks on at 20-30-40 etc. No chrono needed.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ravin-Cros...649711?hash=item420e69b32f:g:0UYAAOSw6i5dwIic

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Redfield-R...:pjIAAOSwmrpbft~N:sc:USPSPriority!30125!US!-1

Thanks...just purchased the Ravin Crossbow scope with the rings. Great price and it will do exactly what I need.
Thanks Robert for your quick reply and very helpful information!

Reactions: 1

Shootanae

· #19 · Dec 29, 2019

Nikon bolt xr is great for low light you can shoot past legal shooting time at 20 yards,not done that but I had a doe come in and I was just getting ready to go and I didn’t want to give up my location and I thought I wonder if I could see it through the scope and I could see it better than my naked eye ,I don’t think you should shoot past 20 yards close to legal shooting time,risky shots usually don’t end well for the animal or the hunter.

Huntersthompson

· #20 · Dec 29, 2019

I practice shooting at last light and darker than I can see by eye using illuminated scope. Can clearly see and hit spots well after normal shooting light. Still do not want to track and drag in dark. I would use this option in low morning light however.

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