Best night vision scope for ar10
Coyotes, elk, and deer are most active at dawn and twilight, making using a night vision scope when hunting a necessity. A good night vision scope improves visibility, allowing you to hit your target more accurately.
This article reviews the best night vision scope for Ar10 available on the market and also outlines the qualities you want to consider before buying one.
How Night Vision Works
Night vision systems utilize tiny amounts of light reflected from target objects, just like the human eye does, and then amplify it to give you a visible image.
The tiny amounts of light originate from ambient light from discreet sources like fireflies and night stars. Without the ambient lighting, however, the night vision device would only work if used with an IR illuminator.
An IR illuminator functions like a typical flashlight, by reflecting invisible IR rays onto the target object, which subsequently serve as ambient light.
Night Vision Scope for AR10-Top Picks
| Product | Image | Best Price |
| ATN X-Sight 4K 5-20x |
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| SightMark Wraith HD 4-32x |  |
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| NightStar 2x50mm Tactical |
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| AGM GlobalWolverine Pro-6 6x |  |
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| Pulsar Digex C50 3.5-14x |  |
The detailed review…
1. ATN X-Sight 4K 5-20x70mm Day/Night Rifle Scope
One of the most valuable alternatives when it comes to night vision scope. It comes at an affordable price yet delivers a well-defined image. This scope utilizes a high-quality CMOS sensor measuring 3864×2218 pixels that process the images, displayed on a 1280×720 pixels microdisplay.
Another distinctive feature is the battery life of more than 18 hours, which is made possible by low power usage. This scope also stands out when it comes to features that aid the shooter get the perfect shot. One of the features that makes it suitable for the ar10 is an eye relief of 90mm.
You also get a wide magnification range of 5-20x that favors it to be used for distant targets. The others are a ballistic calculator, a smart range finder, and a separate IR illuminator that can be attached to the scope. To give you brighter images under extremely low light.
Features
- Magnification: 5 – 20 x
- System/Lens Resolution: 600 lp/mm
- Display Resolution: 1280×720 pixels
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Sensor Resolution: 3864×2218 pixels
- Eye Relief: 90 mm
- 5 degrees field of view
- Supports 64GB SD card
- Dimension: 13.8 x 3 x 3 in
- Weights 2.2 lbs.
Pros
- Recoil-activated video recording
- Long battery life (18+ hours)
- Multiple reticle options
- Good quality images
Cons
- Heavier than competition
2. SightMark Wraith HD 4-32x50mm Digital Rifle Scope
This night vision scope should be taken into consideration if you require an inexpensive option that provides good value. It offers you a respectable image quality thanks to its 1920 x 1080 digital sensor. It also allows you to zoom in on targets with a remarkably high magnification (32X). up to its 200-yard effective range. With the help of the 10 reticles and 9 color options offered by this scope, you may contrast your vision based on the environment around a target.
A removable 850 nm IR illumination provides bright images in complete darkness. Power is provided by 4 AA batteries, which can last up to 4.5 hours. More importantly, the recording capabilities allow you to share your favorite activities. The field of view, which is only 4 degrees, is what makes it fall short. And won’t allow you to adequately track your target if you don’t want to strain your neck. Another issue is the eye relief, which is only 2.4 inches but is adequate for the AR-10’s recoil.
Features
- Magnification: 4 – 32 x
- Display Resolution: 1280×720 pixels
- Sensor Resolution: 1920 – 1080 pixels
- HD Image and video recording
- 4 degrees Field of View
- Removable IR Illumination
- 200 yds Range of Detection
- Battery Type: CR123A
- Battery Life: 3.5 – 4.5 hours
- Dimensions: 10.5 x 1.87 x 3 in
- Weight: 3 oz
Pros
- Long eye relief (4 in)
- Rugged build quality
- 10 Preloaded Reticles and 9 color options
- Affordable
Cons
- The detection range could be better
3. NightStar 2x50mm Gen-1 Tactical Night Vision Rifle Scope
This is the best Gen 1 scope out there. It uniquely features a dual focus that is controlled using a knob located on the objective lens. The glass of the lens is multicoated to further enhance the quality of the image viewed by the user, and it does this by allowing the transmission of more light. This scope is also well-suited for tracking targets in low light, which has been facilitated by the wide field of view of 15 degrees.
It may suffer the shortfalls of Gen 1 night vision like a short range but overall it’s packed with useful features like a weaver rail mounting system making it perfect for mounting on an AR 10 rifle. Additionally, the scope reticle has an adjustable brightness that will help in adapting it to the ambient lighting
Features
- Gen 1-night vision
- 15-degree field of view
- Weaver rail mounting
- Military-grade titanium body
- 45mm eye relief
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Reticle with adjustable brightness
Pros
- Good build quality
- Built-in infrared illuminator
- Automatic shut-off
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Can be used only for 80 yards
4. AGM Global Vision Wolverine Pro-6 6x Scope
With a military-grade level of night vision, the AGM GlobalWolverine Pro-6 6x stands out in just every other way. One of the most obvious ways is its rugged build quality which allows it to withstand the harshest type of use.
The general construction uses a specially coated high-strength aluminum covered with a non-reflective matte black finish. Everything is weatherproofed and will withstand adverse weather elements, such as snow, fog, dust, or rain.
If you are concerned about ergonomics, you’ll be glad to know that this scope has been designed to accommodate every shooter’s comfort, with easy-to-use controls. Moreover, it’s also easy to set up on your Ar10.
It will be good to note that this scope is capable of running for 40 continuous hours without fail and also comes with limited a 3-year warranty
Features
- Magnification: 6 x
- Gen 2+
- 51-64 lp/mm resolution
- 30 mm Eye Relief
- 5.7 degrees Field of View.
- Limited 3-Year Warranty
- weights 3.25 lbs
Pros
- long battery life
- Easy to mount
- Military-grade technology
- Rugged build quality
Cons
- Pricey
5. Pulsar Digex C50 3.5-14x30mm Night Vision Rifle Scope
This rifle scope gives you a good viewing range of over 500 m in addition to a long battery life of over 10 hours on a single charge. You can put it on your AR 10 with ease because it is compatible with normal 30mm rings.
The adaptive brightness, which balances the illuminator’s and the display’s brightness, is another feature that makes this a valuable companion. Meaning that it will be easy for you to see items in complete darkness and from a distance.
Albeit with a bulky weight of 2.8 lbs, this scope is designed with the shooter in mind. It is equipped with various tools like 5 unique shooting profiles, a 3.5-14x variable magnification, and high-precision aiming with picture-in-picture mode. Additionally, it’s able to handle weapons with a heavy recoil.
Features
- Magnification: 3.5 – 14 x
- AMOLED display 1280×720 pixels
- 7 degrees Field of View
- IPX-7 Water Resistance Level
- 850nm IR wavelength
- Focus Range: 500 m
- Lithium-Ion battery
- Battery Life: 10 hours
- Dimensions:16.06 x 3.07 x 3.26 in
- Weight: 1.3 kg
Pros
- Decent battery life (10+ hrs)
- 500m viewing range
- Multiple reticles
- Wide field of view
- Wi-fi compatible
Cons
- The illuminator works out to 200 yards
Best Night Vision Scope for Ar10- Buying Guide
these are the characteristics to look for when buying a night vision scope for AR10.
TYPE OF NIGHT VISION
There are different types of night vision depending on how they process low light to give you a clear image of the target.
- Intensifier tube
The earlier night vision devices utilized an intensifier tube with a photocathode and a microchannel plate (MCP). To amplify the photons of the ambient light surrounding a target. To give a clear image to the user. This type of night vision scope is available in 4 generations (Gen1, Gen 2, Gen3, Gen 4) each generation with its capabilities in terms of detection range, image quality, and longevity.
Gen1-It is capable of 70-100 yards of range gives very low-quality images and has a lifespan of around 1,500 hours
Gen 2- These manage around 200 yards of detection range, give a cleaner image compared to Gen 1, and have a lifespan of around 5,000 hours.
Gen 3– has the longest lifespan of 10,000+ hours, gives you bright well-defined images, and will manage a range of over 300 yards.
Gen 4– This is an upgrade of Gen 3 it gives better images than Gen 3 but fails in reliability. Only managing a lifespan of fewer than 10,000 hours. The Gen 4 it’s not common due to its high price and the fact that even the military, still uses Gen 3.
- Digital Night Vision
This is the second type of night vision that doesn’t utilize an intensifier tube but rather a CMOS sensor to convert the ambient light to digital signals. Which are amplified into a visible image. These types of night vision devices usually give a black-and-white image, as opposed to the green color, common with intensifier tubes.
This type of night vision device is more like the Gen 1 type and fails to give a natural image like the one on the intensifier tube. It however is cheaper, and safe to use in daylight.
BATTERY
A battery is what powers the night vision, and the longer a battery can last the longer the device will function. This means that you should consider getting a device that will give a considerable duration of time ideally more than 5 hours. Additionally, a device with a rechargeable battery will be more advantageous because it’s more expensive in the long run to replace the batteries.
MAGNIFICATION
The magnification is denoted by “X” and it makes the target appear closer for more a detailed view. magnification may be fixed or variable. The variable magnification gives you more flexibility in magnification levels and is denoted using two numbers, for example, 3-8x. That represents the minimum and maximum magnification. The drawback of using a high magnification is a reduced field of view and a decline in image quality.
LENS QUALITY
A higher lens quality results in a clearer image irrespective of the type of night vision. The quality of the lens is determined by the levels of coating applied. A multi-coated lens is the best option for giving you sharp, well-defined images. This is because a multi-coated lens reduces reflective loss and allows more light transmission through the lens.
DURABILITY
A night vision gadget should not only be useful to you but also continue to be so for a long time. Although damage is occasionally inevitable, the maker should install safeguards that will allow the scope to endure adverse circumstances including impact and weather extremes like fog, snow, and rain.
Night Vision Scopes-FAQs
What is better between night vision and thermal?
Both the night vision and the thermal can be used to provide you with vision at night. The night vision however is cheaper and displays actual images. The thermal scope displays a thermogram which comprises different colors representing different levels of thermal energy.
See also: Night Vision vs Thermal Imaging
Can you add night vision to a normal scope?
yes, you can. We have add-on attachments that can be fixed on the scope and will convert the scope into night vision
See also: Best night vision scope attachment
How durable is a night vision device?
If you drop a night vision you’ll probably break it. But a good night vision should have some level of protection, that will help it withstand some level of impact without breaking.
How much is a good night vision device?
A night vision device’s price varies according to the features that it comes with. The generation of night vision however is what determines the price of the device. Gen 1 and Gen 2 devices are the cheapest alternatives costing less than $500. The more advanced Gen 3 will cost more than $1,300 to more than $4,000 for the more advanced models.
CONCLUSION
This article gives an in-depth review of the best night vision scope for AR10 rifles. All the products we have listed provide you with the best value for your money. The buyer’s guide will also help you make an informed decision if you are searching for an alternative, not on this list.