sightmark photon XT ?

I love hog hunting at night. I have been looking at the sightmark photon XT. But I have been asking myself if I really need it because I have a great green and red scope light. For 500$ it's pretty reasonable price. Y'all have any experience with them? For that price are they worth it? Do you think my success rate would increase if I had one instead of my scope lights? I have seen hundreds of 4-5 star reviews on them.

To me they are worth $500, but you can find them cheaper. I think I paid $429 for mine. In my opinion they are superior to any type of scope/light combination. They're very simple and lightweight, can be mounted using your choice of 30mm rings, very effective to 50ish yards with the built-in IR illuminator and much farther with a good external illuminator. They're the best value in night vision in my opinion.

I shot a hog at about 110 yards with mine a few weeks back. I too think they are the best thing out there without spending few grand. Pretty simple to use. I've got mine on a .243.

Part of the story with the PhotonXT is this:

You are sacrificing a gun when you go with this scope - you increase your capability at night hunting but decrease (substantially) you capability in daytime.

If you have a gun to sacrifice then without a doubt the PhotonXT IS the best value in nightvision.

If you don't have a gun to sacrifice then maybe the setup your running now is optimal.

https://www.leupold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mountpage_qrmounts.gif

I have leupold qr scope rings in my muzzleloader and are great. I can take the scope off and back on with no adjustments. Will these fit on that scope?

Any 30mm medium rings will work. I have the Burris QD rings on mine. I take it off and on as much as I need to with no accuracy problems. Its been working great for 3 years.

I have an early Photon, the 3.5X. I don't have a video recorder, but if I did, the crosshairs don't show in the video output on this model. I think later models do show crosshairs in video.

It's a pretty good value for the money. If there's a quarter moon or better (half of the month) and the moon is above the trees, you can see pretty far across open pasture. Often I'll go out an hour before sunrise, when the sky is just beginning to lighten but you can't see anything at ground level, and search for hogs in open areas. Even though it's still dark, with the light in the sky I can see up to a half mile. This allows me to stalk from downwind without being detected.

Anything in shadows is invisible without illumination. I find the built-in illuminator is good for up to around 80 yards for shooting, and a little past 100 for identification. Most of my shots are in the range of 40-70 yards.

I dream about getting a thermal sight, but my beer budget doesn't allow for that kind of champagne.
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I have the exact same mount. and haven't had an issue with it either.

But I do agree with pig popper that you would then have to buy another scope for day use unless its a dedicated gun.

I agree completely, however I was able to see up to 250 yards easily with my UNV IR. I made the progression from scope/kill light to Photon XT, and then to IR Hunter Thermal scope. You will be surprised with how well the Photon works for the price...I was really amazed. I had the mag doubler and the external IR on mine.

However, the Photon is just a gateway drug to thermal.

So very true.

yes it is.

I disagree to a point. You can still use the Photon during the day, but this isn't the scopes primary purpose. After deer season, I pig hunt during the day with my Photon. Again, it's not the best daytime scope, but it's more than serviceable.