Last Updated on March 9, 2021
Night vision scopes are oftentimes used for nocturnal activities whether you are a professional hunter or night vision enthusiast. After purchasing an infrared or thermal night vision scope you need to know how to sight in a night vision scope. Truly, the process differs from the day vision scope but not very hard. However, you must learn the techniques first.
If you can’t adjust the night vision scope (NVS) perfectly you can’t see the target accurately and miss the shot. You need to zero the scope in a way so that it syncs with the target and shooting range. This is why we’ve got you covered to teach the techniques in easier ways. So, stay tuned!
How to Sight in a Night Vision Scope
Night vision scopes aren’t used in the day because even a small amount of daylight can damage significantly the scopes’ lens. As a result, you simply have the option to sight at night with the night vision scopes.
But, it’s quite difficult to sight clearly the target due to low light conditions. However, this can be easily adjusted through some general solutions that every night vision scope users go through.
We are fairly sure, by following the steps below you will be successful at sighting in a night vision scope at night.
Guidelines on How to Sight in a Night Vision Scope
Check Manufacturer’s Instruction or Website
Most of the night vision scope manufacturers provide a detailed manual to explain its features and functions elaborately. You need to see it first what they’ve recommended for sighting in a night vision scope. If there is not enough information you can visit the manufacturers’ website or contact them because they know the best methods as they created the scope.
If you don’t get enough information from manufacturers or their websites, then read on the next.
Zeroing During The Day
Standard day vision scopes are easy to zero by turrets and rotations. But these are usually uncommon in night vision scopes. The reticles may be adjusted as day scopes by MOA or MIL variation. The traditional night vision scopes can’t be easily zeroed in daytimes but the best night vision scopes will allow you to do that. Most of the beginners wonder how to zero a scope, so this is for them.
For zeroing the scope, you should check the lens cap on the night vision scope. In most cases, you will find small pinholes in the objective lens cove. This hole allows passing a small amount of light through the lens. Keeping the objective lens in place firmly you can easily make necessary adjustments and sight in the day with the NVS without significantly harming the scope as you do with the other day scopes.
You can make zero the scope by three round shots also. We recommend you to start with 25 yards range and then increase the range by 50 yards and 100 yards.
But, if there is no pinhole you can’t do that in the daytime. Never try to create a pinhole on your own, it may damage the lens permanently. The only option that you can adopt is to try and sight in the scope at nighttime.
Sighting at Night
If the NVS has no manufacturer manual, even doesn’t have a lens cap pinhole then you need to be more creative to sight in the NVS. In the darkness, you don’t know where the shots are hitting. For sighting in a night vision scope at night you need to first choose a moonlight or adequate starlight night and then set the visible target. After that, you can resolve the sighting problems with a few methods.
Spotlight and Pair of Binoculars
The main problem of sighting the night vision scope at night is that you don’t see your target in the dark. If there is no natural night then you can use a spotlight to illuminate the target. Then you can sight through the NVS. Now, with the help of an additional pair of binoculars, you can measure your accuracy and make necessary adjustments.
Get Help to Your Partner
Alternatively, you can seek help from your hunting partner. Say him/her to stay at a safe distance from the target and say reporting of each shot. And according to his/her information make necessary tunings.
Thus you can get the total benefits of night vision scopes!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Adjustments Are Included for Sighting in NVS?
Generally, windage and elevation are the main adjustments to sight in a night vision scope. Adjusting these you can easily line up the NV scope.
Is Sighting in A Scope and Sighting in A Night Vision Scope Same or Different?
To understand this, you need to learn how to sight in a scope elaborately. But here we simply answer this.
From the earlier discussion, perhaps you understand these are two different techniques. Sighting in scope usually refers to sighting at day whereas night vision scopes sighting is mainly related to sight in at nighttimes. Moreover, the sighting of scope in the day is easier than sighting in the night.
Conclusion
It’s time to wrap up this important article on how to sight in a night vision scope. Night vision scopes are complicated devices but the zeroing process is very easy. We believe this is a must-have skill that every night hunter should acquire and we tried our level best to share the knowledge with our readers in a simple way.
Hopefully, you can now easily sight in the NVS day or night. Now it’s time to apply the knowledge that you gained today. Happy hunting!
Kalman is a hunting expert who has a vast experience with wild game hunting. Though night time hunting is his favorite, he masters the art of daytime hunting and shooting. Being a nature lover and outdoor enthusiast, he wants to pass the knowledge acquired over time to the next generation.
