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Best Night Vision Scopes Under $500

Best Night Vision Scopes Under $500

Cheap night vision scopes under $500 are not made equal. You can end up with an expensive paperweight or a high-performing scope that you can't rave enough about. It's why you need to know what's worth buying and what it is you must look for.

These are the night vision scopes to buy if you want to save money for a thermal scope. There is widespread speculation that individuals are losing interest in night vision as thermal imaging gains popularity. Night vision has one distinct advantage versus thermal: lower price points. With a limited budget, you can have your cake and eat it too!

Best Night Vision Scope Under $500 Reviews

1. Sightmark Wraith HD 4-32X50 - Best Digital

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We agree with the people that the Sightmark Wraith HD series is the best on the market.

It has a 50 mm lens and high magnification. Though larger and heavier than its twin, it offers the same amazing characteristics.

Digital scope with high-resolution sensor and display. With sharp, vivid images, you can see 200 yards and possibly 300 yards. Color for day hunting and green and black/white for night vision.

Recoil-resistant up to.308 calibers, it provides a fantastic night vision scope for AR-15 platforms, hunting, and long-range surveillance.

Its reticle patterns, colors, and brightness are user-adjustable. Video record and micro SD card download are also possible. No WiFi for live streaming, but who needs that when hog hunting at dark? A cheap scope doesn't record audio.

The new Sightmark Wraith 4K Max may lead this series into the future, so buy one up soon.

Pros:

  • Digital
  • High resolution
  • Day & night modes
  • 200-yard detection
  • Battery life

Cons:

  • Need extended mount


2. Sightmark Wraith HD 2-16X28 - Best for Hunting

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Wraith HD 2-16x28 is small but powerful. This digital rifle scope can be used in daylight without damaging the night vision system. It even includes a color display setting for day optic-like detail. Night vision options include green and black/white.

Such its larger sibling in the series, it contains digital features like a zeroing feature, 10 reticle patterns, 9 reticle colors, and user-adjustable display brightness. This may be mounted to a.308 to hunt stock-threatening carnivores without recoil damaging the optics.

You can record video and images, but not audio. It doesn't have WiFi compatibility, but most hunters don't want to deal with the technicalities anyhow.

Varmint and predator hunters love its 200-yard detecting range. Though close-range, it outperforms its competitors at this price point.

A field-tested scope is valuable. Since Sightmark upgraded the series, we can't predict how long it will be available. It may be best to grab one while you can. This scope is unmatched at this price.

Pros:

  • Digital
  • High resolution
  • Multiple display modes
  • 200-yard detection
  • Video recording

Cons:

  • Battery hog


3. NightOwl Optics Night Shot - Best Value

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The Night Shot is a good example of old scopes that use AA batteries. AA batteries won't last long. One set has a three-hour limit. Please bring spares.

Despite its power-hungry technology, it has been one of the best cheap night vision scopes for years. It's light at 20.8 oz but long at 13" and features the bulkier night vision body design. New body shapes like the ATN X-Sight LTV are lighter, thinner, and more day scope-like than previously.

It's a digital scope, but it only provides visibility. Its main use is night hunting. Its IR illuminator is permanent. You can place a rail on board if it's worth it, but it's your expense.

Night Shot is a basic night vision scope. No problem. An introduction NVD should be simple, visible, and accurate.

Pros:

  • Digital
  • Decent resolution
  • Easy to use
  • Weatherproof
  • Lightweight

Cons:

  • Battery hog


4. Henbaker CY789 NV Digital Scope – Best for Multi-Purpose

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Chinese OEM/ODM night vision maker Henbaker has 12 years of expertise. A multi-purpose NVD makes sense.

The digital scope can be mounted on a day scope or used as a weapon sight on the rail. Though you can switch reticle use, you can choose any of the seven crosshair reticles in red, green, black, and white for lone wolf mode.

A unique 21700 lithium battery powers it for 4-10 hours. Rechargeable, but pricey. It sports a telephoto lens for 1-8x magnification to improve resolution across its zoom range. You can manually lock that magnification to avoid accidental changes in the field.

Despite detecting huge objects at 400+ yards, its ID range is 150 yards. Two built-in 850nm and 940nm IR illuminators maximize distance and clarity.

It's "recoil-resistant," but assume.223/5.56 calibers. The Henbaker, a budget NVD, has unique characteristics for buyers who want to maximize their dollar with multi-purpose functions.

Pros:

  • Versatile NVD
  • Selectable reticles
  • Recoil-resistant
  • 2x IR illuminators
  • Locking magnification

Cons:

  • Battery type


5. NightStar NS43250 2X50 Gen 1 - Best Gen 1

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Sales drop when a brand provides less information. This is a drawback because buyers want to know what they're getting. The brand is lucky that the NS43250 is a generic scope like its competitors.

With a 50 mm lens and 36 lp/mm Gen 1 resolution, it will provide good images. Its fixed 2x magnification maintains FOV resolution as best it can.

Its projected detection range is 100 yards, like Gen 1 for this price range. It has an IR illumination, however a better one might push distance and visibility.

Beginners like its straightforward UI. This is a novice night vision scope.

Pros:

  • Price
  • Gen 1
  • Decent resolution
  • Battery life
  • 100-yard detection

Cons:

  • Limited info


What to Look for in a Night Vision Scope Under $500

If you want to avoid buyer's regret, you must first understand what you're getting. 500 dollars is still 500 dollars, whether it's a paperweight or a working nighttime scope. Here's how to spot the difference and pick the best model for you.

Gen 1 IIT

Forget Gen 2, Gen 3, CORE tech. This price range won't get you the night vision technology. Gen 1 IITs at this price are rare. They stink, are discontinued, or created by generic, non-authoritative brands.

Not to sound like a Debbie Downer, but Gen 2 is hitting lower-than-ever price points, so many will pay the difference for close-to-Gen-3 quality. If you need night vision now, have limited funds, or are new to night vision, there are a few scopes worth the money.

These IITs have 35 lp/mm or greater resolution. Green phosphor imaging displays will be standard. Simplicity and usability will preclude digital features. An IR illumination is essential for clarity and increased detection ranges.

These entry-level night vision scopes are meant for newcomers to shooting in the dark or for close-range hunting of pests like rabbits, rats, possums, coyotes, and more. These scopes are best for air, rimfire, and light recoil rifles.

Digital Night Vision

This is as cheap as digital night vision gets if you want good images. Camera image systems, modules, and single-unit digital scopes vary. We recommend the single-unit digital kind for $500.

They're cheaper because they have less digital features, but they'll still work. Zeroing, adjustable brightness, reticle patterns, and 640x480 resolution are required.

You may be missing video recording, WiFi, several display modes, high recoil resistance, and more.

But if you're good with the basics and don't need or want the extras, you can find some nice digital scopes for this price without spending more.

Detection Range

Realize. Imaging and detecting capabilities cannot be compared to higher-generation or higher-digital-quality scopes. While scopes twice the price can reach 200-400 yards and high-end ones can reach well above 500 yards, you're limited to 100-150 yards at best in this price range.

That's not awful, and an IR illuminator tuned to 200 yards may make a great difference. However, a digital scope's lower display and sensor resolution and Gen 1 tubes' poorer resolution limit performance to 25-100 yards. Some perform 60-80 yards, while some perform more.

Build Quality

At this price, scopes with tubes or digital sensors will have poor construction quality. Optics may be IPX4 splashproof if you're lucky.

Recoil-resistance is also important. Most are incompatible with slug guns and high-caliber firearms. Scopes may be rated for.308 caliber recoil. Zero-recoil weapons like air guns and rimfire rifles require zero eye relief.

These parameters may make it a paperweight or a scope that meets your needs.

Power Source

CR123 batteries are currently the most popular source of power for night vision optics. Digital scopes will have a substantially shorter average operational time of 2 to 5 hours. This must be addressed when determining if it is worthwhile to purchase an IIT with a longer working time than a digital scope.

FAQs

What is the Best cheap-Cost Night Vision Scope?

Your favorite cheap night vision scope is best. You get what you paid for. In low price ranges under $500, performance and quality will vary between manufacturers. Only cheap digital scopes or Gen 1 IITs are available.

Sightmark's cheap night vision is the best.

What is the best cheap night vision brand?

Yukon and Sightmark are the cheapest night vision brands, but ATN, Pulsar, and Flir are the best. Sightmark is best for under $500.

Can a Night Vision Monocular be Used with a Rifle Scope?

Night vision monoculars are cheaper than rifle scopes and goggles. Even if you mount it to a weapon system, it has no reticle. Recoil-resistance remains if you mount it in front or behind a day optic. Most monoculars cannot withstand recoil.

Night vision through a day scope is most practicable using a clip-on night vision scope, although they cost over $1000. Night vision scopes cost $500 or less.

What type of night vision can you get for under $500?

You get basic Generation 1 and digital night vision for $500.

Digital choices outnumber Gen 1 IITs. Before the camera module, multi-component digital design for low prices, even specialist digital night vision scopes are limited.