Rifle Optics: Is an Illuminated Reticle Necessary?

As someone who teaches precision rifle courses, I cover optics as a major part of my curriculum. In fact, the first day of my five-day course is largely dedicated to understanding optics — their history, how they work, and how to use them properly on precision rifles. Because of that, I’ve developed strong opinions about many aspects of rifle optics. But I’m also perfectly willing to admit when I’m wrong. This is one of those times.

My Previous Opinion

Most of the optics used in my classes are fairly high-end. At that price point, it’s standard for them to include illuminated reticles. Many shooters consider it a must-have feature when buying premium glass. Manufacturers know this, which is why most optics in this category include illumination. For years, however, my advice was simple: Remove the battery. My reasoning was that illuminated reticles rarely get used in typical precision rifle shooting. Most engagements happen in lighting conditions where the reticle is already easy to see. The one major exception I always mentioned involved clip-on night vision or thermal devices. When running night vision or thermals in front of your optic, illumination can make it much easier to see the reticle against the image produced by those devices. Those setups are very specific and usually involve rifles built specifically for nighttime operations. Outside of that application, I considered reticle illumination mostly unnecessary. There was one minor caveat I mentioned as well: sunrise and sunset hunting. Predator hunters sometimes benefit from reticle illumination in low light, but even then, I didn’t consider it essential.

The Moment That Changed My Mind

Then I had an experience that forced me to reconsider. I was assisting with a pigeon management hunt on a dairy farm. On that particular day, we removed nearly 500 pigeons from the property. Early that morning, just as the sun was beginning to rise over the hills — technically legal shooting light, but still extremely dim — we spotted a coyote in the distance. Locating the coyote through my scope was already challenging due to the low light. But finding the reticle itself was nearly impossible. Even after shining a light toward the target area, the reticle simply blended into the dark background. I could see the silhouette of the coyote, but I couldn’t clearly see my aiming point. At that moment, I decided to try something I rarely did. On my Steiner scope, I reached over and turned the illuminated reticle on. Thankfully, it illuminated green. Instantly, the reticle appeared clearly against the silhouette of the coyote. I was able to overlay the reticle onto the animal and take an ethical shot with my 20-inch AR-15. That single moment changed my perspective.

The Result

That first coyote was just the beginning of the morning. Within the next hour or two, I ended up taking five more coyotes, bringing the total to six coyotes in a single morning, which became a personal record. All of the later shots could have been made without reticle illumination. But that first coyote likely would have walked away if the reticle hadn’t been visible. And that animal would probably still be roaming that dairy farm today, causing problems if the illuminated reticle hadn’t been available.

What I Learned

Because of that experience, illuminated reticles have now earned a third legitimate use in my mind. The first use remains night vision or thermal clip-on devices. The second is the hunting conditions for sunrise and sunset. The third is something slightly different: extremely low-light conditions just before or after sunrise, especially when using white light to identify targets. In those situations, the reticle itself can disappear even when the target is barely visible.

Where I Stand Now

Where I Stand Now I still don’t believe reticle illumination is necessary for most precision rifle shooting. But after that experience, I’ve changed one habit. I now make sure there is a battery in the optic, even if I rarely use the feature. Because when you need it, you really need it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rob Orgel enlisted in the USMC in 2004 as an Infantry Rifleman (0311), serving with 3rd Bn 1st Marines in Iraq, including roles as a point man in OIF-3 & team leader in OIF-6. Later, he joined the 1st Marine Regiment, achieved the rank of Sergeant in 2010, & continued service in Afghanistan. Upon returning, he became a Combat Instructor at the School of Infantry West. Transitioning to private military contracting with Securing Our Country (SOC), he instructed at the American Embassy in Iraq. In 2018, Rob became Chief Instructor at GPS Defense Sniper School, revamping their program. Now, as owner & lead instructor at Emergency Response Tactical, he focuses on training novice to advanced shooters on the range over 300 days a year. Rob also hosts the Silencer Syndicate channel on YouTubeMDT.