If you are planning on hunting with a crossbow under cover of darkness, no doubt, you need the best night vision crossbow scope because the accuracy of your shot will depend largely on the type of crossbow you have mounted.
This is especially when you consider hogs like to move around fast at night. And as such, whether you like it or not, a night vision crossbow will be essential to the success of your hunt.
This article will review some of the top-rated night vision crossbow scopes for the nighttime hunter.
Our number one spot went to the Night Owl optics Nightspot digital night vision riflescope, which was the best low light crossbow scope among the three we reviewed.
It is followed by the Firefield NVRS 3×42 night vision riflescope and the ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day/Night Rifle Scope, respectively.
How To Choose The Best Night Vision Crossbow Scopes
There are countless options available in the night vision crossbow scope market. So how do you differentiate the best from the average? Well, here are some of the things that will help you identify the best scope for your crossbow.
Magnification and Objective lens:
When looking at any scope, you will find a set of two numbers being used to describe the scope. These two numbers refer to the scope’s magnification and objective lens size. The magnification number will be marked with an “X” while the objective lens size is measured in mm.
This means if you find a scope marked as 4×32, it has a magnification of 4 and its objective lens has a diameter of 32 millimeters.
So what exactly does the 4x magnification mean? It simply means that when you look through the scope, your target will appear 4 times bigger than it would through the naked eye. A higher magnification, therefore, means you can see far away objects more clearly.
On the other hand, the wider the objective lens’s diameter more light passes through. Meaning a wider diameter translates to brighter image quality. However, a bigger objective lens means a bigger and bulkier scope.
It is recommended to keep the objective lens to around 32 to 40x. This is sufficient for nighttime hunting using a crossbow.
So Is a Higher Magnification Useful For You?
Well, no, a higher magnification translates to a narrower field of view. But wait, what is field-of-view, and why should you care?
Field-of-view is the total observable area you can see when looking through your scope. Sounds important, right? A narrow field of view means you are not able to see the complete picture of your target.
When crossbow hunting, you will most likely be aiming at targets from close range from 70 yards or so. Thus, field-of-view is important when crossbow hunting. That said, the best magnification for your crossbow scope is 4x or less.
Higher magnification will only be necessary if you aim from long distances such as 200 yards or 400 yards. But since this is unlikely with a crossbow, a 4x or less magnification is recommended.
Weather Resistant:
You never know when the weather will turn on you when out hunting. So it is always recommended to have a weather-resistant scope. This means a scope that is waterproof and is also fog proof, at the least.
Durability
Hunting can take a toll on your equipment, and your crossbow scope is not excluded. Therefore, your scope needs to be tough enough to withstand the occasional knocks and bumps. A rubber-coated scope is ideal as the rubber coating acts as a protective shield for the scope.
Clarity:
How clear your target looks when looked through a crossbow night vision scope depends on the lens quality. Lens coating helps improve light transmission, thus improving clarity. A scope with at least multi-coated lenses is ideal.
Infrared vs. night vision
A night vision scope can either use infrared or night vision technology. With infrared technology, you will be able to see an animal even through thick bush. Infrared relies on the heat generated by animals.
Night vision, on the other, uses ambient light. At night there is very little light; the night vision scope amplifies it giving you a clear picture of your target.
Infrared technology may be a better option for areas with thick undergrowth for animals to hide behind.
Easy To mount:
How easy a scope mounts onto your crossbow matters a lot. The best night vision scope for crossbow will be easy to mount on any crossbow.
Top 3 Best Night Vision Scope for Crossbows
Night Owl Optics NightShot Digital Night Vision Riflescope
The Night Owl optics Nightspot digital night vision riflescope has an interesting design that is hard to miss. But a unique design is not the only thing that this night vision scope offers.
At heart, this is a close-range scope. Its fixed 3x magnification is good enough to give you an accurate image of your target from 100 yards out. As for the display on which the target appears, it’s a 640 x480 resolution display.
Though not the best resolution, it does an excellent job for close-range viewing of fewer than 100 yards. Its field of view is also decent enough at 5.6 degrees. At the front of the scope is an IR illuminator for night time shooting.
This IR illuminator will give you enough illumination to get a clear view of a target from 75 to 100 yards. This is the average distance you will be shooting from with a crossbow. As for the reticle, you get three reticle options, each with the option of changing the background from white to black.
What we liked
- This night vision scope comes at an affordable price tag for its features.
- Can give you a clear image quality from up to 150 yards
- The 2.5-inch eye relief is excellent for a scope at its price point.
- Overall the scope is lightweight.
- Comes with an IR illuminator mounted
What we did not like
- Is only best suited for close-range shooting
- The battery life is not all that great.
Features
- 3x fixed magnification
- 40 mm Objective lens
- 640 x 480 display resolution
- 5.6 degrees field of view
- IR illuminator mounted
- 4 AA lithium batteries
This is an affordable night vision scope for close-range shooting that does best at distances of below 150 yards. This is why it is considered one of the best night vision crossbow scopes since you are unlikely to be shooting from over 100 yards with your crossbow.
Firefield NVRS 3×42 Gen 1 Night Vision Riflescope
Overall the Firefield NVRS 3×42 night vision riflescope is decent enough without being overly expensive. It works well from distances of between 100 and 150 yards. Being a first-gen night vision scope, it is not suited for long-range viewing of beyond 200 yards.
Given its a first-gen scope, you get a 3x fixed magnification paired with a 42 mm Objective lens. The latter is big enough and gives the scope decent light transmission. Additionally, the lenses are multi-coated, which adds a level of light transmission.
There is a single red duplex reticle option. However, you get the ability to adjust brightness depending on the time of day. There is also an IR illuminator built-in. The illuminator is a great addition for nighttime hunting.
Where this scope excels is in the eye relief department. It has an impressively long 4.5 mm eye relief. It is excellent for tactical style rifles but is even better for crossbows.
What we liked
- This scope is an affordable night vision scope.
- The reticle is visible, and you can adjust its brightness depending on the time of day.
- There is a good IR illuminator attached to the scope.
- Has a decent enough rage for close-range shooting
- The battery life is decent enough.
What we did not like
- Overall the scope is a bit bulky.
- The mounting is not the best.
Features
- 3x fixed magnification
- 42 mm Objective lens
- Built-in IR illuminator
- Red duplex reticle
- Weaver mount
- 4.5 mm eye relief
This is another great scope for close-range shooting. So if you are looking for the best crossbow scope for night hunting, this could be a great option. Its built-in IR illuminator is good for up to 150 yards.
ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day/Night Rifle Scope
The ATN X-sight 4kpro smart scope comes in two variants, the 3-14x, and the 5-20x. The latter is pricier, but the former has a wider field of view and is the one we decided to review. Both scopes come with a 50 mm objective lens.
Being a smart scope, it comes with a pretty decent sensor. The sensor has a resolution of 3864×2218. And it boasts bright colors and vivid recordings during the day. The same cannot be said for its image quality at night, though.
As for the lens image quality, it is crisp and bright. You get several reticle options. You can switch between. More importantly, you can adjust the gamma, brightness, and contrast of the scope.
One of the best things about this scope is the eye relief. At 3.5 inches, it is one of the longest. When it comes to zeroing, I found that this was easy and comparably better than other scopes in the same price range.
What we liked
- Has excellent day time performance
- Comes with an impressively long eye relief
- Features a built-in ballistics calculator
- Has an incredible battery life
- The scope is lightweight and durable.
What we did not like
- The nighttime performance is average.
- Overall ease of use could be better.
Features
- Ultra 4k HD sensor
- ATN Obsidian IV Dual Core processor
- 90 mm eye relief
- 1280 x 720 display resolution
- 30 mm standard rings included
- 3-14x magnification
- 50 mm Objective lens
This is an excellent crossbow scope for those on a budget. It manages to deliver some exciting features at a reasonable price tag.
Sightmark Photon XT 4.6x42S Digital Night Vision Riflescope
There comes a time when buying a riflescope for your crossbow makes more sense than buying a basic crossbow scope. When such a time comes, I recommend the Sightmark Photon XT. This is a night vision scope design for helping you see in darkness.
Being one of the best night vision crossbow scopes available, this Sightmark model is awesome. It has a fixed magnification of 4.6X and a large objective lens of 42 mm. Thanks to its amazing features and design, this scope can spot targets from a distance of 120 yards. Additionally, it has two different reticles that work well with bows of speeds of 320, 350, 370, and 400 fps.
What we liked
- It weighs almost 30% lighter than most other digital scopes on the market
- Comes with the option of Duplex reticle, mil-dot reticles, and a German-style reticle
- Offers the ability to spot targets from long distances of about 120 yards
- Is a versatile scope that can be used with both a rifle and a crossbow
- Has night vision capabilities for better night vision hunting
What we did not like
- The front focus knob is located too far forward making it hard to reach
Features
- Fixed 4.6X magnification
- 42 mm objective lens
- LCD digital display
- 22.5 ft at 100 yards field of view
- 2.36 eye relief
- Two AA batteries
- 30 mm diameter tube
If you are looking for crossbow night vision scopes, this Sightmark model should be high on your list. While it has some minor design flaws, it is important to remember that this scope is designed for a rifle. Thus, the fact that it works well on a crossbow is a bonus, especially if you use both a rifle and a crossbow.
Yukon NVRS Titanium 1.5×42 Night Vision Rifle Scope
The smallest night vision scope in Yukon’s line of Titanium rifle scopes is the Yukon NVRS. While it does not look anything like an ordinary scope, it does have some pretty impressive features.
One of which is the PULSE IR illuminator. This is an infrared illuminator designed to conserve battery power. This IR illuminator is so impressive it has been known to illuminate up to a distance of 100 yards. The IR illuminator is an added bonus to the scope’s red illuminated reticle. To crown it all off, this scope can be fitted with a digital camera.
What we liked
- It offers great value for its price
- Has an ergonomic design which makes handling easy
- Attaching it and detaching it from a crossbow is easy and quick thanks to its weaver mount
- The lenses come equipped with a cover to protect them from extreme conditions
- Comes with great light gathering capabilities
What we did not like
- The PULSE IR illuminator tends to wash out close targets and works best for long-range targets
Features
- 1.5X fixed magnification
- 42 mm objective lens
- 20 degrees field of view
- 45 mm eye relief
- IR illuminator with a 100-yard range
- 8.6 inches length
- 30-ounce weight
Being one of the smallest and lightest scopes on the market, this scope is designed for short-range and long-range hunting. However, due to its affordability, it is prescribed for varmint killing and hunting small rodents at night. Bottom line, this is one of the best night vision crossbow scopes designed for the budget-conscious buyer in mind.
About The Author:
Lake Streeter, A Gun enthusiast, and loves to hunt in the middle of the wood. Always check the latest hunting gears out in the market and try to share his honest opinion with the audience in Hunting Nook.