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Hunting Who's solely using a digital scope?

Varminter

Varminter

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I'm looking to optimise/streamline my hunting setup, and have been considering the new Alpex 4K Lite to go on my HW100K for all of my hunting. I know I'll need an IR illuminator for the NV side of things, but I'm trying to avoid the expense of a dedicated night time rig if I can. That is the other option, a cheapy PCP with an adjustable comb and a Zulus 3-12. The HW100K would need a cheek riser/additional stock to comfortably use it with a Zulus I think, and honestly I'm not that keen on the aesthetics for a day time gun.

Day time shooting will be squirrels, rabbits and pigeons/corvids under the relevant GL's, night time will be on rats mostly, hopefully with some rabbits.

So, has anyone made the switch to a digital scope full time, and how does it compare to using glass, or switching optics etc? I just want as least faff as possible.
 
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Varminter said:
I'm looking to optimise/streamline my hunting setup, and have been considering the new Alpex 4K Lite to go on my HW100K for all of my hunting. I know I'll need an IR illuminator for the NV side of things, but I'm trying to avoid the expense of a dedicated night time rig if I can. That is the other option, a cheapy PCP with an adjustable comb and a Zulus 3-12. The HW100K would need a cheek riser/additional stock to comfortable use it with a Zulus.

Day time shooting will be squirrels, rabbits and pigeons/corvids under the relevant GL's, night time will be on rats mostly, hopefully with some rabbits.

So, has anyone made the switch to a digital scope full time, and how does it compare to using glass, or switching optics etc? I just want as least faff as possible.
Click to expand...
I use the DNT Zulus exclusively, rats, rabbits, day and night and targets at my club. I am no expert but I get good results, well that I am happy with anyway😁. Looking at getting something FAC and will go for the 5x 20 Zulus for that as well. I do have a fairly good glass scope and as time goes on I would like to learn to use that properly as well
 
Interesting I was thinking much the same thing. Don't see many reviews that compare the two conditions.
 
I'm sold on the night time use of either, a mate has the Zulus 3-12 on his ratting rig and the LRF/BC work really well and video quality is decent.

I suppose the question is more what a digital scope is like to live with as your only day time optic.
 
I swap between a Hawke Airmax 6-24 and a Zulus 3-12 on my HW100, depending on what I'm doing.

If it's a daytime session at the range, then the Airmax every time, it's just so much clearer.

If it's a stalking session where distances and elevation angles are constantly changing, or it's dark, then that's where the Zulus comes into it's own. There's also no parallax to worry about as you're looking at a screen.

So to answer the OP's question, I don't think I would use the Zulus exclusively. Its not that it can't cope with any condition, it's just sometimes glass is better. It just depends on what suits your needs and budget.
 
How do you find swapping between the two, and have you got an adjustable comb or riser to get decent eye alignment with the zulus? I assume you’d mount your scope on picatinny too so swapping is faster and shouldn’t need re-zeroing.

Cheers
 
Im alpex full time. Don't see the need to faff or have the expense of both. I do have the glass scope I used before the alpex however ive never felt the need to put it back on. Image day and night is spot on. Im used to having digital only now. The end of the day as long as you can hit the quarry where you need to there is nothing else you need?? Mines LRF which i find has been a game change and somthing i wouldn't want to be without now when out in the field! Cheating? Maybe? %of shots missed is very low now. I use my guns for pest control so as much as I do it as a hobby and love it im also trying to be as efficient in the field and do a job, alpex full time is a no brainer.
 
The newer digital scopes are probably at the stage where most can stay digital during the day.

I tried with the previous generations, and it was about 85% successful, but that last 15% made some situations unworkable.
I found that I could not make out the head shape of squirrels on leaf litter, the body stayed distinct, but for some reason, as soon as the thing stopped moving, the outline got lost in the processing, and as I was going for headshots, I went back to optical.

The LRF is obviously a leap forward, though I'm not convinced it always handles elevation correctly.
 
Varminter said:
How do you find swapping between the two, and have you got an adjustable comb or riser to get decent eye alignment with the zulus? I assume you’d mount your scope on picatinny too so swapping is faster and shouldn’t need re-zeroing.

Cheers
Click to expand...
I'm having an adjustable riser done soon as I sometimes find getting a repeatable cheekweld difficult when using the Airmax. Not so much of an issue with the Zulus as eye position isn't as critical.

I have a full length Eaglevision picatiny rail, as you say, swapping is faster and minimal chance of re zero'ing. I still check after a swap though. I also put the Zulus on the Kral PB which also has a picatinny rail. Depends on whether I want to launch a 177 or 22 at the target.

With the Zulus on max zoom (12x), the image clarity does suffer as the zoom is digital. So you're looking at a lower resolution image. This is where glass is better. Would the 5-20 be any clearer? But do you want/need to range find at less than 10yds like you can with the 3-12? Everything has a compromise somewhere:unsure:
 
My primary use for the LRF/BC would be ratting in and around sheds, and nothing past 40 yards, so I can’t see the benefit of the 5-20 for me. I only shoot at 4 or 5x mag maximum at those distances with glass.
 
Varminter said:
My primary use for the LRF/BC would be ratting in and around sheds, and nothing past 40 yards, so I can’t see the benefit of the 5-20 for me. I only shoot at 4 or 5x mag maximum at those distances with glass.
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If you're only shooting at lower magnification then the 3-12 should be OK.

Where I struggle is when trying to see the centre ring of a BR20 target at 30yds. Homer face palm I just aim for the middle of the fat black ring that I can see(y)
 
I use my pard night stalker 4k 50mm full time, much prefer it than my old Zulus mainly due to the eye relief
 
I have a DTN ThermNight and Pard DS35 as with my vision, I don’t do too well looking through glass scopes 🤓👍
 
I’ve tried many times and just can’t get on with digital for day use, even a cheap scope offers a better experience for me, I always go back to an addon as I am familiar with my day gun/scope and it’s reticle, then I simply addon and click butt out one click and we’re good to go as Im only shooting rats around the farm.

I nearly bought a new nv a while back due to the ballistic thing as I was going .25, but by the time I next thought about it I’d got my poi’s dialled in anyway 😂
 
32:1 said:
I’ve tried many times and just can’t get on with digital for day use, even a cheap scope offers a better experience for me, I always go back to an addon as I am familiar with my day gun/scope and it’s reticle, then I simply addon and click butt out one click and we’re good to go as Im only shooting rats around the farm.

I nearly bought a new nv a while back due to the ballistic thing as I was going .25, but by the time I next thought about it I’d got my poi’s dialled in anyway 😂
Click to expand...
Couldn't agree more 👍
 
I shoot exclusively with them now. Hunt around 90% of the time in all kinds of light. Not having to get on the gun properly is a huge help when shooting from fence post or the like. The BC helps no end.
 
I only use digital. They're obviously unbeatable in the dark, and good enough in the daylight. If minimum faff is required then something like a Zulus with an on-board IR illuminator takes an awful lot of beating. I prefer the 5-20 as I zero at 35 metres (for rabbits), and at that distance it's a lot easier to see .177 sized holes on 20x than 12x! 5x is wide enough for me when ratting (I used a Pard previously with great success, and the widest that went to was 6.5x). No problem for me with either of them an an HW110.

HW110.webp
 
I’ve decided to go Zulus 3-12 for night time primarily, and picatinny mount my scope for daytime use - hopefully re-zeroing will be minimal.
 
Do they come in glossy finish for the discerning period springer shooter?

I assume the TV view / image moving part applys. 😆👍
 
I have recently swapped a Nikko Diamond LR 10-40x56 for a Pard NV008S LRF. I used to shoot on 40x mag most of the time. The jury is still out on whether 13x is going to be enough for daytime plinky plonk fun. May need to downgrade to a Zulus to get 20x :LOL:.
 
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