JG26Irish_2
AH enthusiast
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2023
- Messages
- 282
- Reaction score
- 757
- Location
- United States
- Media
- 4
- Member of
- Bluegrass Safari Club
- Hunted
- RSA-Limpopo, KY, WV, TN, ND, SD, NM
The illuminated reticle is a game changer and as long as you have an option, I would strongly suggest choosing an illuminated reticle. I know they are more complex and batteries go flat and need changing but they work just fine turned off as well.
I have a Swarovski Z5 in 3.5-18x on a 7mm Mag. It is a great non-illuminated optic and I like it but... It is not illuminated and for hunting there is a big time benefit of having that illuminated dot in low light. It reduces target acquisition time. I know from experience that once you see a shy animal like a Kudu your time to aim and fire is very limited. Once the Kudu sees you? You will have about 3 heartbeats to shoot and then he will tilt those big ass horns back and melt into the Mopani.
Now, I have a Z6i on a 375 with the illuminated dot. It is clear as a bell with a wider field of view and is 100% superior despite the smaller objective and the lower magnification. I also have a Kahles on another 375. It is the K16i and has all the advantages of the Z6i but with a better reticle. The glass is the same and they are made by the same parent company. The Kahles will be going to Africa with me this next trip.
One more - I have the Arken EP-8 in 1-8x on a 7mm/08. It is also illuminated and unlike all the others is a FFP optic. Even though it was a $300 scope, it has better capped turrets than all of the others above and the glass is in my judgement better than 90% of the scopes I own or have tried and within 95% of being equal to the Swaro or the Kahles. Down side is that its field of view at 1x seems slightly smaller than both of the other 1-6x scopes and the lighted reticle seems to drain the battery a little faster in sub freezing temps. Overall, I like the Arken as good or better for hunting and this is especially if hunting where there is lots of cover and shots will be closer. It is good out to 400y so any handicap at long range is small compared to the 18x scope. Very small. After a lot of back and forth, I decided to take this combo with me to Africa for PG since 8 of our 10 days will be in the bushy regions of Limpopo where a long shot is 200y and we may do some night hunting as well. It is a perfect fit. The two reasons I chose it over the Swarovski Z5 are: The Illuminated reticle is a huge advantage. And the FFP design is also a big advantage if a shot needs to be taken beyond MPBR. This is not likely but is possible and I can hold over at any power setting and have the same sight picture with the FFP optic. The 2FP scopes require me to use max zoom for hold overs and that makes sight picture acquisition more difficult for follow up shots. This Arken is turning into one of my favorite hunting scopes. Light, fast, precise and affordable.
