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- Alfred Mendoza
- June 1, 2023
Night vision scopes make it virtually possible for hunters to spot and acquire targets when shooting in low light settings. However, most of them aren’t affordable. If you’re on a tight budget yet need to buy one, check out this Night Owl Optics Nightshot review and see if it’s both affordable and reliable.
Table of Contents
What is Night Owl Optics NightShot?
Night Owl Optics is a cheap alternative for a digital night vision scope that features reasonably good quality and performance.
It offers 3x magnification and has a 640×480 resolution display. Its detection range is between 100 yards and 200 yards.
It has a built-in infrared (IR) illuminator that works like a flashlight for optimum nighttime viewing. You can choose between three reticle types with both black and white colors.
This digital night vision riflescope is reasonably durable, ultra-lightweight, and easy to operate. It can also be used in any lighting condition. It offers an eye relief of 2.7 inches and a field of view of 5.6 degrees. These figures aren’t impressive but good enough for a close-range scope.
It’s compatible with Picatinny or Weaver rails. It’s designed for hunting and scouting. It can be mounted on rifles, crossbows, airsoft, paintballs, and pellet guns.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Excellent image resolution
- User-friendly
- Versatile
- Very affordable
CONS
- Short battery life
How Do You Use It?
This night vision rifle scope is quite easy to use. After installing the batteries, you would need to rotate the eyepieces in a clockwise direction until they stop. Then press the power button and look through the eyepiece. Rotate the eyepiece until you can see your target clearly. If the image is too dark, use the built-in IR illuminator for better visibility and resolution display.
Night Owl NightShot Key Features
Quality & Design
It was designed and engineered in the United States. It measures 13.2’’x2.7’’x4’’. While it’s not as rugged and durable as other high-end brands, it’s fairly rigid and able to withstand abuse. It’s made of thermoplastics, making it super lightweight. The built-in caps are made of plastics, whereas the eyeshade is made of rubber. It’s fully coated, making it water-resistant and dustproof.
For streamlined spotting devices, you may want to take a peek at our Pulsar XP50 review here.
Aiming & Magnification
This scope is suitable with a 30 caliber and lower. Its eye relief is fairly fine, considering that it uses non-magnum ammo. The FOV is reasonably good enough since it’s a close-range scope. You can magnify it up to 3x for greater clarity of your target.
Adjustability
Night Owl is easy to adjust. It has three knobs for elevation, windage, and objective lens focus. When you aim at 50 yards, the elevation and windage knobs can alter these settings per click at a rate of ¼’’. It has three essential buttons for power, brightness regulation, and IR illuminator.
The infrared illuminator greatly enhances target recognition. It would be best if you used it in pitch black or low ambient illumination. On a full moon night, you’ll get a clear image at about 150 yards. Meanwhile, on a half-moon, you’ll recognize a man-sized target at about 100 yards.
Mounting Options
Setting up Optics NightShot digital night vision rifle scope is quick and easy. It can be mounted on Weaver and Picatinny rails. If you have a dovetail rail, it’s better to purchase an adapter.
Related Post: Highly-Rated Clip-On Thermal Optics
Battery & Warranty
NV scopes are powered by batteries. Optics Nightshot night vision requires 4 AA batteries to get it running. When the IR is set at high power, the battery life can last up to 2 hours. When it’s at low power, battery life can last 4 to 6 hours. Turning off the IR extends battery life to 12 hours using alkaline batteries. But if you’re using lithium batteries, it’ll be over 17 hours.
A one-year limited warranty covers Nightshot night vision rifle scope. The company will repair or replace the defective product at no cost to the owner.
What Are The Benefits?
NV riflescopes enhance viewing in dark or low-light settings so you can get clear and detailed images. One advantage of Nightshot scope is that you can use it during the daytime as long as you turn off the infrared illuminator [1]. It’s lightweight and relatively small, so it’s very convenient to carry around when you’re hunting or scouting at night.
Night Owl Optics - Any Drawbacks?
It’s not ideal for rifles above 30 calibers. The material composition is not very durable. Moreover, thick fog and dust may sometimes obscure its ability to detect a target.
Customer Reviews
Some feedback from our gun brothers:
“The visibility you get from this scope is pretty amazing! I could easily shoot a target at 200 yards.”
“I have looked through numerous NV scopes, and what attracted me to this scope was the price, the simplicity, and the weight."
“The rubber mount to cover the eye is large enough to prevent "scope eye," even on a 308.”
Night Owl Optics NightShot - Our Verdict
After testing this in the field, we think that it’s a high-quality digital night vision riflescope for a cheap price. It can be used in both daytime and nighttime. The control buttons are quite intuitive, and it features multiple reticle options. It can generate incredibly clear images.
You can mount it on various platforms, and it’s great for close-range hunting, shooting, and surveillance. If you’re practical and frugal, this scope is your best deal.
We Recommend
Night Owl
- Compact and lightweight
- Excellent image resolution
- User-friendly scope
- Cheap