Scopes and Optics

6 Best Night Vision Scope for ar15

Best Night Vision Scope For ar15

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Best Night Vision Scope For ar15

An AR 15 is a great rifle on its own but mounting the best night vision scope on it allows you to derive its full potential. The best night vision scope for ar15 will make coyote hunting, shooting hogs, or even personal defense easy especially at night. In the beginning, night vision scopes were a preserve of the military during the war. It is said that the Germans were the first people to build a night vision scope for world war 2. Ever since then night vision technology has come a long way, from generation 1 night vision scopes all the way to generating 4 and digital night vision scopes.

Some night vision scopes on the market come with video recording features which means you can easily go back and watch that one breathtaking hunt you succeeded in taking last year. So how do you know which scope will be the best one for your ar15? The sheer number of them on the market can make your night vision scope search feel like a daunting task but we are here to help.

In this review, we will run through 6 of the best night vision scopes for your ar15 to make the process a little less tiresome and well-informed.

At a quick glance

Product Image Price
Pulsar Digisight Ultra N455 Digital Night Vision Riflescope Pulsar Digex N455 Digital Night Vision Riflescope
SightMark Photon RT 4.5-9x42S Digital Night Vision Riflescope

 

SightMark Photon RT 6-12x50 Digital Night Vision Riflescope
ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day/Night Rifle Scope – Ultra HD 4K technology

 

ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day/Night Rifle Scope - Ultra HD 4K technology
ATN ThOR 4, 384×288, Thermal Rifle Scope ATN ThOR 4, 384x288, Thermal Rifle Scope
Night Owl Optics NightShot Digital Night Vision Riflescope

 

Night Owl Optics NightShot Digital Night Vision Riflescope
Firefield NVRS 3×42 Gen 1 Night Vision Riflescope Firefield NVRS 3x42 Gen 1 Night Vision Riflescope
Yukon Digital Sightline N475 Night Vision Riflescopes Yukon Digital Sightline N475 Night Vision Riflescopes
AGM Wolverine-4 NL2 Night Vision Rifle Scope  AGM Wolverine-4 NL2 Night Vision Rifle Scope
Bering Optics D-760U Bering Optics D-760U

 

 

Best Night Vision Scope for ar15 Review

#1) Pulsar Digisight Ultra N455 Digital Night Vision Riflescope

Pulsar Digisight Ultra N455 Digital Night Vision Riflescope-Best Night Vision Scope For ar15

To start us off is the Pulsar Digisight Ultra N455 which is a great scope for shooting at night at extended distances. You can easily mount it on your ar15 and use it to take down pesky varmints and predators day or night. It comes fitted with a sensor bonded 1280×720 CMOS with a 1024×768 AMOLED display. This means the display resolution is in 1024x768p and the video record resolution is in1280x720 pixels.

It features over 10 reticle options and a wide field of view with generous eye relief to prevent eye injury. As one of the best night vision scope for ar15, this cope lets you record your hunting adventures with the built-in recorder that is 16 GB worth of internal memory. This means streaming your adventure is easy and you can share videos with your friends and family. This night vision scope from pulsar comes fitted with a removable IR illuminator and batteries that can last up to 8-hours on a full charge.

Features

  • Comes with a powerful long-range illuminator that is also detachable.
  • 5 shooting profiles capable of holding up to 10 zeroing distances.
  • Side incline and elevation angle sensor
  • A digital picture in picture zoom
  • 1280×720 HD resolution

Pros

  • Comes with a wide magnification range
  • A 600-yard detection range
  • You can record your hunting adventure
  • You can go up to 8 hours with batteries on a full charge
  • This scope can withstand heavy recoil 
  • High shock resistance

Cons

  • Setting up might take some time

 

 

 

#2) SightMark Photon RT 4.5-9x42S Digital Night Vision Riflescope

SightMark Photon RT 4.5-9x42S Digital Night Vision Riflescope

The best night vision scope for ar15 is one that is constructed like this SightMark Photon RT. For starters, it is a resilient and strong scope that is also water-resistant. This means you can use it under harsh conditions with surety that it will not disappoint. 

It comes with an extra weaver rail which means you can easily add on other accessories to your AR 15. This night vision scope delivers a super clear 640×480 LCD display with high-quality sound recording hardware and video recording that has been integrated into it. 

With the 2X digital zoom plus, the built-in LED IR illuminator, you get to see your target at night as you shoot with your AR 15. It gives you a 280-yard detection range in the darkness with exceptional clarity. 

Other important features included are a one-shot zero function which makes zeroing an easy action while you are given 6 reticle options with four colors to suit your preference. 

Features

  • It is a shockproof scope
  • 2x digital zoom
  • A built-in LED IR illuminator
  • 6 reticle choices
  • Fitted with a sid Weaver rail
  • A one-shot zero function that ensures zeroing is a swift action
  • Sound/Video recording is built-in

Pros 

  • It is water-resistant which lets you take out to play even under harsh conditions
  • Has a one-shot zero function that makes zeroing simple
  • Comes with LED IR illuminator combined with a 2x digital zoom enhances clarity
  • Can record video and sound
  • Display: 640 x 480 LCD 

Cons

  • Battery life is low

 

 

 

 

#3) ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day/Night Rifle Scope – Ultra HD 4K technology

ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day/Night Rifle Scope - Ultra HD 4K technology

Your AR 15 calls for the best of the best night vision devices and this ATN X-Sight 4K Pro is one of the best night vision scope for AR15 on the market. This scope comes with a myriad of features with advanced technology to make sure your nighttime hunting is easy and fun.

With this scope, you can record onto an SD card and stream your adventures simultaneously in High-definition. This means the clarity of your recordings and live streams are impeccable. This feature also allows you to scrutinize your style and take note of what you need to improve on.

The scope comes with an ultra-low-power profile which extends battery power to stunning 18+ hours of continuous usage. The ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart rifle scope is one scope that means business and performs to your expectations. It can be operated in temperatures between -28°C and 48°C which lets you use in unfavorable weather conditions. 

Features

  • A built-in ballistic calculator
  • Recoil Activated Video
  • Dual Stream Video- You can stream and record videos simultaneously
  • Auxiliary Ballistic Laser
  • Smart Range Finder for target estimating
  • One-shot zero function

Pros

  • 18 plus hours of continuous battery power
  • Comes fitted with a smart Mil-Dot Reticle
  • It is easy to use as well as mount
  • You can simultaneously stream and record videos
  • Comes with an integrated ballistic calculator
  • A smart range finder helps in estimating your target’s distance
  • Recoil activated video which lets you focus on the target as the video is recorded
  • It is easy to zero the scope with its one-shot zero function
  • It is constructed to withstand pressure from high caliber weapons

Cons

  • Its memory card slot could use an improvement

 

 

#4) ATN ThOR 4, 384×288, Thermal Rifle Scope

ATN ThOR 4, 384x288, Thermal Rifle Scope - Best Night Vision Scope for ar15

 

This another best night vision scope for ar15 from ATN. A great hunter is one with exceptional hunting skills and the ability to know what to mount on their AR 15. This scope comes with an 18 plus house of battery life so you don’t have to worry about your scope running out in the most important moment. 

This particular model comes with higher thermal sensitivity in comparison to other ATN scopes and it comes fitted with a laser range finder that enhances your accuracy. An easy to detach mounting system plus a generous eye relief make this thermal scope. one of the best for night vision. 

The ATN ThOR 4, 384×288 comes fitted with a built-in ballistic calculator that allows you to exactly determine ballistics for long-range shots. It also enables you to simultaneously stream videos to your mobile and record videos on the SD card. A recoil-activated feature lets you focus on the target without worrying about recording videos. 

This scope proves its worth and price with every top-of-the-line feature it comes with. An ultra-sensitive next-gen sensor has the capability to capture crisp images even at further distances with higher sensitivity and improved resolution. 

Features

  • Ultra-Low Power Profile 
  • A generous eye relief
  • You can stream and record video simultaneously
  • A ballistic calculator
  • Laser range finder

Pros

  • You can record and stream simultaneously
  • Recoil Activated Recoil lets you focus on the target without worrying about the recording of videos
  • A built-in ballistic calculator that helps in determining the exact ballistics for long-range shots
  • Battery life is 18 plus of continuous usage
  • Captures crisp clear images with high sensitivity and improved resolution
  • Comes with a battery pack
  • A profile manager feature that lets you save your AR 15s data
  • Comes in different sizes

Cons

  • Some users have reported reliability problems

 

 

#5) Night Owl Optics NightShot Digital Night Vision Riflescope

Night Owl Optics NightShot Digital Night Vision Riflescope

The Night Owl Optics NightShot Digital Night Vision Riflescope is a great budget-friendly scope that lets you target as far as 100 yards in the nighttime. It is a great night vision scope that is built to last with its sturdy construction.

It comes with a 640×480 high-resolution display that allows you to spot your target and take accurate shots.  This night vision scope is great for your AR 15 as it lets you spot varmint easily. The 3x magnification combined with the built-in infrared illuminator brings your target closer for an accurate shot.

It comes with 3 black and white reticles and it is also waterproof.

Features

  • 640×480 display
  • A built-in infrared illuminator
  • It weatherproof
  • A nighttime range of 100 yard
  • 3X magnification
  • 3 black and white reticles

Pros

  • It is easy to mount
  • High resolution 640×480 display
  • It is built to last
  • An integrated infrared illuminator

Cons

  • Battery life is too low
  • Cannot be used during the day

 

 

 

 

#6) Firefield NVRS 3×42 Gen 1 Night Vision Riflescope

Firefield NVRS 3x42 Gen 1 Night Vision Riflescope- Best Night Vision Scope for ar15

 

 

The Firefield NVRS 3×42 Gen 1 night vision scope is a scope that comes with a 42 mm objective lens diameter which allows maximum light transmission for clearer and brighter images. It comes with 3x magnification that lets you acquire targets at medium ranges.

The best night vision scope for ar15 is lightweight and doesn’t weigh heavily on your rifle. The Firefield NVRS 3×42 is just that, it is constructed using durable titanium giving it its lightweight feel. It also comes fitted with IPX4 water-resistant qualities which means it can withstand harsh conditions. The lenses are multi-coated for enhanced image brightness during the day and an illuminated red duplex reticle for clarity in images at night.  For lens protection, this scope comes with flip-up lens covers.

Features

  • An integrated high power IR illuminator
  • Constructed using a durable and lightweight aluminum body
  • It’s quick to power up
  • Delivers high-quality image and resolution
  • Comes with a quick to detach weaver mount

Pros

  • Comes with multi-coated optics for high image quality
  • The reticle is an illuminated red duplex reticle
  • Its construction is solid ensuring durability
  • Come with flip-up lens covers
  • Generous eye relief

Cons

  • Easily falls off

 

 

 

Best Night Vision Scope for AR15 Buying Guide

There are factors you need to consider when buying a scope. Some of them include:

Weight and Size

The best night vision scope for ar15 is one that is not too heavy. A big night vision scope might need you to buy a cheek riser in order to balance it properly. If you get a heavy scope, it might affect the balance of your  ar15 and you will not be able to properly shoot. However, you can mount the rifle on a bipod and the weight of the scope won’t be much of an issue. 

Magnification

A night vision scope with a wide magnification range is an ideal scope for your ar15. A higher variation of magnification means you can spot and acquire targets at longer distances. Like for example if the magnification range is, 3-9x, it means if you adjust the magnification to 9x you can see targets that are 300 yards away, and if you adjust it downwards to 3x you can shoot at short range. 

Generation

Currently, most night vision scopes are categorized in generations from Generation 1 all the way to Generation 4. Generation 1 scopes have the least technology while the latest Generation 4 is the modern-day night vision scope. Comes packed with features with the most technological advancement.

If you see a ‘+’ sign in front of a generation sign, like for example Generation 3+ it means the scope has more added features than a Generation 3 and therefore more superior. 

Durability

You are mostly using the scope at night which means the likelihood of tripping and falling is significant. The best night vision scope for ar15 is built using high-quality material to give it durability. Hunting conditions might not be the best so you need a scope that can survive harsh environmental conditions. It should also be waterproof.

 

Conclusion

The most important function of a night vision scope is to enhance your eyesight in low light conditions. With this in mind, scopes that have multi-coated optics and high-quality illuminators make the best night vision scope for ar15. Ensure you get the best night vision scope for your ar15 that is durable and will last longer. Our review has compiled some of the best night vision scopes for the ar15 on the market and we hope it helps you make an informed purchase.