Air rifles are mainly used for hunting, pest control, plinking, and competitive shooting. One may ask, why go for cheap night vision riflescopes?
Hunting and pest control activities are very likely to take part in the early hours of the morning or later in the evening when there is less light. This is why you need an affordable night vision rifle scope.
However, most of this equipment is expensive, and finding a cheap one with good quality can be challenging. We have reviewed the best cheap night vision rifle scopes in this article to ease your burden.
These budget night vision scopes are of good quality and will assist in achieving your objectives at night and make your hunting sprees successful.
Types of Night Vision Rifle Scopes
- Gen 0- these rifle scopes need an active infrared light to produce a viewable image. They are heavy and have relatively low-quality images.
- Gen 1 – Gen 1 night vision scopes use passive infrared and ambient light. They use improved photocathode to increase image resolution and reduce distortion. Unfortunately, their images are a bit blurry.
- Gen 2- these scopes feature an added micro-channel plate to increase light gain and image resolution for more clear images.
- Gen 3- to the Gen 2 technology, these scopes also have gallium arsenide for increased sensitivity. Again, their images are very clear.
- Digital Night Vision- they convert ambient light into a digital image that is viewed on a screen. Some of them can be used in daylight but have blurry images.
- Thermal Imaging- this technology uses heat instead of light to produce a viewable image. These scopes can detect tiny differences in heat down to 0.01 Centigrade.
To know more about thermal riflescopes, check out the Top 5 Best Thermal Riflescopes Review.
Best Cheap Night Vision Riflescopes
Below are the best night vision rifle scopes in the market;
1) ATN X-Sight-II Smart Day/Night Hunting Rifle Scope
ATN X Sight II HD not only comes with an excellent design and durable case, but it also offers Smart HD Optics Technology that allows you to use your scope both day and night with clear images.
It is one of the best long-range scopes in the market, with the ability to withstand elements, provide collected data of every shot, and adjust the profile for every possible condition, ensuring the scope is zeroed and ready at any range.
The rifle scope features Recoil Activated Video (RAV), which allows recording all your victories in 1080p full HD. In addition, it uses an SD card to record your adventures without any additional USB cables.
Key features
- The scope features ATN HD technology which gives crystal clear vision both day and night
- It has a ballistic calculator which shifts the point of impact for ballistics calculation
- The smart range finder identifies the range to your target with two clicks
- It has a 3D Gyroscope and E-compass that keeps images steady and blur-free
- It has a variable magnification of 3-14x
- Field of View @ 1000 yards- 240 ft.
- Adjustment per pixel- 1/8 Inch
- Ballistic Coefficient: 0.371
2) Sightmark Wraith Digital Night Vision Riflescope
The Sightmark high-resolution Wraith is designed for all hunting applications, including hog, predator, and even deer. It has a customizable design with 10 reticle options and 9 color choices to fit your needs.
The riflescope offers up to 4.5 hours of battery life with 4 AA batteries and an external Micro USB port that expands options for power.
The riflescope also allows HD photo or video recording. It comes with a weaver rail that enables the addition of different accessories. Additionally, it includes a powerful 850 nm removable IR flashlight that provides up to an additional 200 yards of light at night.
Added features include a color mode for daytime shooting, black & white, classic green, and a removable eye cup to stop light dispersion at night and be removed during the day for easier viewing.
Key features
- It features day/night mode with full-color viewing for day use
- It has a high-definition sensor for high-resolution imaging with video recording in 1080p HD
- It allows 8x digital zoom and has a 2x optical system for up to 16x magnification
- It features 10 reticle options and 9 different colors for easier aiming and accuracy
- The 5 weapon profiles help save zeroes for other firearms and calibers
3) Night Owl Optics NightShot Digital Riflescope
NightShot digital night vision rifle scope was designed to address the need for a low-cost, yet high-quality night vision rifle scope. It is inexpensive, lightweight, and features a polymer construction that is easy to operate.
The scope has a flat spot on one of the cross-bolts that can be reversed to work in different mounts, particularly “weaver mounts,” where the spacing between the slots varies.
The NightShot riflescope is suitable for guns with an approximate 2.0 to 2.5-inch distance from the center-line of the scope to the center-line of the barrel. It is compatible with a rifle, shotgun, crossbow, paintball, airsoft, and pellet guns.
It is compatible with any rifle below 30 caliber bullet (magnum or non-magnum) and any rifle with a 30 caliber non-magnum bullet.
Key features
- Weatherproof
- This riflescope is easy to mount, sight, and shoot
- It comes with a choice of 3 different reticle types
- The NightShot uses 4 x AA or lithium batteries
- It has a range of between 100-200 yards in typical nighttime environments
- High resolution, 640X480 display
- It has a built-in infrared illuminator
4) Firefield NVRS 3×42 Gen 1 Night Vision Riflescope
The NVRS 3×42 Night Vision Riflescope is made with a built-in, high-power IR illuminator that improves the image quality and increases viewing range in total darkness. The scope features a rock-solid, lightweight titanium body and flip-up lens covers that help to protect it from impact and harsh weather conditions.
The flip-up lens covers help protect the enhanced, multi-coated optics and illuminated red duplex reticle with different brightness settings for different shooting conditions. With a 42mm lens, the riflescope can deliver high light-gathering capabilities and a powerful 3x magnification for clear pictures of medium- to long-range targets.
It has a quick-detach weaver mounting system that is easy to operate when changing optics or switching to iron sights while still maintaining return-to-zero reliability.
Key features
- It is made with a lightweight and durable titanium body with a water-resistant IPX4 Rating
- Ergonomic design and quick power-up
- The scope features a quick detach weaver mount
- It has a built-in high-powered IR illuminator
- It offers incremental reticle brightness adjustment
5) Sightmark Photon RT 6-12×50 Night Vision Riflescope
The Sightmark photon RT 6×50 features a 768×576 CMOS sensor and an invisible 940nm built-in IR illuminator that allow hunters and shooters to detect objects out to 200 yards in the dark.
It also has a high-resolution 640×480 LCD display, built-in video recording with sound capability, and a stream vision app to offer Wi-Fi remote view on smartphones and other devices.
The riflescope offers 6 reticle options with 4 colors and 2x digital zoom to help shooters close in on faraway shots, and a power input jack works with power banks via MicroUSB. In addition. the scope comes with a carrying case, user manual, USB cable, spare battery container, battery container pouch, and lens cloth.
Key features
- This riflescope has a glass-nylon composite and metal construction
- It is waterproof, shock resistant, and withstands up to .375 h and h recoil
- It is user-friendly with a one-shot zero function
- It has a built-in video/sound recording
- It offers WiFi remote view via pulsar stream vision
- It comes with a high-resolution 768×576 CMOS sensor
- The scope also provides 6 reticle options with 4 different colors
- It uses 4x AA batteries which provide 3.5 hours of battery life
6) Bushnell 4.5X40 Equinox Z Digital Night Vision W/Mount – 260140MT
The 4.5 x 40mm Equinox Z Digital Night Vision offers affordable consumer Night Vision. It is designed with high-performance glass objectives, zoom capability, and extremely long battery life, allowing you to continue your hunting way after dark.
The Equinox Z provides an unparalleled viewing experience in low-light conditions by giving outstanding optical clarity and a wide field of view.
It offers powerful infrared illumination for day or night viewing. It also has other features, including image capture, video recording, daytime color, and tripod-mounting compatibility.
Key features
- It offers unequaled night vision with excellent optical clarity
- It has a wide field of view
- The scope has image capture and video capture
- It offers 1x-3x zoom and daytime color
- It has a video out and adjustable IR brightness
- The scope uses AA batteries
7) Sightmark Photon Digital Night Vision Riflescope
The Photon Digital Night Vision Riflescope is an original combination of a digital riflescope and daylight sight. It utilizes a digital reticle with the option of six different styles and is equipped with a built-in IR illuminator for increased viewing range in the darkest of nights. It also uses a CMOS array, which allows daytime use.
In addition, the riflescope features a lens cap with a light filter for improved image clarity in the daytime. The Photon Riflescope is designed for hunting, sports shooting, security, and general observation and can easily be mounted using the regular mounting rings for riflescopes.
Key features
- It has a built-in 810nm LED IR illuminator
- It uses a digital reticle with the option of 6 reticle styles
- It has a high 4.6x/6.5x optical magnification for an extended viewing range
- The scope has a high-resolution display
- It offers an extended operating time of up to 5 hours and an external power supply
- Adjustable image brightness
- It is resistant to light exposure
Choosing the Best Cheap Night Vision Rifle Scopes
Price
This is assumably the most crucial thing to look out for when working on a budget. It would be best if you got a night vision riflescope that is within your planned expenditure. However, you should also check the quality and make sure you get value for money.
Durable construction
Another vital factor to consider is the durability of your scope. The hunting scene tends to be quite rough, especially at night. Therefore, it is important to get a rifle scope made out of high-quality materials that withstand harsh elements.
Weight
For best hunting results, the lightweight scope is always advantageous. This is because hunting involves moving around, and you do not want anything slowing you down or getting fatigued before your kill.
Dual usage
Most night vision scopes are also designed to be suitable for day use. Such scopes are more costly, bulkier, and carry more features. You should go for this kind of scope if you need daytime shooting and want to avoid the cost of having to purchase two riflescopes.
Clarity
This makes one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a rifle scope. Like all scopes, clarity is measured by lines per millimeter (LP/MM). The higher this number, the clearer and crisper the image will be. Night vision rifle scopes may not provide clear images as the day scopes, but most are made to spot prey 200 yards away.
Range
Night vision scopes have limited magnification levels. The scope’s range is essential as it influences the clarity of the image. Your scope should have long optics that can produce more light. The most common range is a range of 100 yards but some scopes have longer ranges.
Battery Life
A night vision scope should be convenient to use without having to swap batteries between shots. The battery type and size affect the lifespan of your scope and its performance. The best scopes use high-grade AA batteries or Lithium-ion batteries.
Final Thoughts
Having the best cheap night vision riflescopes means that you do not have to break your hunting after darkness creeps in. These rifle scopes help you to locate and accurately acquire your targets even in the dark cover. Some of them are also useful during the day.
The above-discussed rifle scopes have been designed with the thought of hunters who need the best. Therefore, they are all loaded with high-quality features that ensure a lifetime of high contrast, and clear images for the best shots.
See also: Best Night Vision Riflescopes for AR15