How do you make a hog hunt more productive?
Night vision.
The best night vision scopes for hog hunting will work as coyote hunting scopes too.
While I recommend a couple of the best Gen 3 night vision scopes for hogs, I also consider some affordable digital units that can do it and do it well.
From digital to analog night vision and budget to expensive units, I compare them all below!
Best Night Vision Scopes for Hog Hunting
Every hunter’s need is different from the next. Some may want a standalone scope while others prefer to use their day scope’s zero and add night vision with a clip-on.
Some may be diehard analog night vision users and others are open to using digital scopes. The appealing price points of digitals is attractive – it can’t be denied.
Not all scopes are made equal though. The cheapest night vision scopes are all digital and have mediocre or at least decent quality. The best of those are listed in this lineup and have proven their salt to be mentioned as a worthy pig hunting scope.
On the other hand, the best Gen 3 night vision scopes are extremely expensive, but they offer unparalleled night vision performance. To provide options, I have a handful of them below.
To give you an idea of what you can do to keep the pigs out of the peanut rows tonight, check out these scopes and have fun.
Best Night Vision Scope for Hog Hunting Reviews
1. Armasight CO-Mini – Best Clip-On
Armasight has weathered through some tough times and have come back with renewed purpose and improved quality like we’ve not seen from them before. The CO-Mini clip-on will see you through tough times in the field and improve the quality of your hog hunts in Gen 3 IIT style.
Pros:
- Gen 3 IIT
- Manual gain
- Battery life
- Compact/lightweight
- Green or white phosphor
Cons:
- Short range
The CO-Mini is 4.9” long and weighs 1.06 lbs which is more than doable for adding to the weight and bulk of a daytime scope and rifle. When it comes to range, it has 350-yard (approx.) max performance. Usual detection is inside 300 yards with excellent performance at 100-150 for observing and taking down the root cause of torn up crops.
With 1x magnification, it works efficiently with 1x red dot sights that have night vision safe brightness settings and with magnified optics that have very low power from 1-6x. Seeing as this is where it shines best, the LPVO comes to mind as a suitable scope to pair with the Co-Mini.
It mounts with a 1.5” height from the rail and comes with a quick release mount. Since it goes in front of the optic, it’s factory-set to at least be better than 2 MOA out of the box – no need to rezero your day scope, and it doesn’t affect eye relief.
The Armasight clip-on scope has manual gain for controlling the brightness in any night light conditions. It has a 38mm lens, focus that is adjustable from 20m to infinity, and a 20° FOV. With a dual battery option, you can squeeze out 24 hours of continuous runtime from a AA battery or stretch that to 45 hours with a CR123A battery.
Though you’re spending a lot of money on night vision and a clip-on scope generally costs even more, standalone scopes aren’t as versatile as clip-ons. The CO-Mini offers flexibility by converting your already proven daytime setup into a night vision system.
2. Sightmark Wraith HD 4-32×50 – Best Long Range
The 4-32×50 is the largest scope in the Wraith HD series and offers 8x zoom for long-range work. It gets grainy at max magnification, as it is digital magnification, but you can spot wildlife at 600-700 yards with more clarity in the mid-range powers than you can with other digital scopes.
Pros:
- Standalone digital scope
- High resolution
- Day & night modes
- Selectable reticles
- Video recording
Cons:
- Heavy
The Wraith HD is feature packed, but it’s heavy. At 10.5 x 1.9 x 3″ in size, it’s not too bad but it weighs 36.3 oz. For a digital device, it’s on the heifer end of things, but it is what it is.
What I really like about it is that it’s usually under $500, it’s a standalone scope, and it’s smart. It offers 10 reticles, nine colors, video recording and image capture, and of course, zeroing with digital adjustments.
I’d recommend the Wraith HD for hog, coyote, and varmint hunting. Though you can push the magnification to identify large game like deer at 700 yards, I think it’s best performance will inside 500 yards considering its digital magnification and resolution.
For the money, it’s a night vision scope that’s up for the hunt and comes protected with a 3-year warranty. Seriously, for the price, I’d have one of my AR-10.
3. ATN X-Sight LTV 3-9X – Best Value
Out of all the X-Sight series ever released by ATN, the LTV series is our favorite model out of the lot over the years. It’s HD, ultra-lightweight, has long-lasting battery life, and is a no-frills scope that holds its zero. Enough said, right? Now, where’s the buy button?
Pros:
- Digital
- Standalone scope
- New look
- Ultra-low power consumption
- Ultra-lightweight
Cons:
- Not “smart”
The only people who will be disappointed by its inability to connect the LTV with other ATN smart devices are ATN buyers with ATN smart gear. This is not your feature-packed X-Sight, and it’s intentionally designed to be scaled-down. We heart this bold move.
What else is new about this X-Sight, other than the Obsidian LT Core and QHD+ sensor (awesome!), is obviously its new body. Not only is it slimmer and you can see why standard 30 mm rings work for mounting, it’s super lightweight at 1.6 lbs!
While some may hold the X-Sight LTV’s simplicity against ATN, this series is designed to be the extreme opposite of the X-Sight 4K in terms of digital features. It’s meant to be simple, easy, and fast to use. The only real digital feature about it is its video recording.
With 10+ hours of operation, an internal rechargeable battery, and performance where it matters most – night vision and accuracy, the X-Sight LTV is a winner every time for everything hunting.
4. ATN X-Sight 4K Pro 5-20X – Best Digital
This X-Sight series is hardcore. Everything you could want in a digital scope plus some is offered through the 4K Pro 5-20x. Extreme magnification, extreme digital performance, and extreme battery life is what you can expect. What about an extreme cost? N/A.
Pros:
- Price
- Digital
- Standalone scope
- Feature-packed
- Recoil-proof
Cons:
- Tech gadget
With a digital scope of this caliber, it’s not just a rifle scope, it’s a technological gadget too. Some will dismiss it simply because they consider the additional features as non-essential that give rise to software/firmware issues. Others will love the capabilities of this scope which can translate to possibilities in the field. What possibilities?
Think Radar technology. With the app and other ATN smart devices, you can tag an animal and the entire hunting party can track it and home in.
Think WiFi for Dual Stream Video. Show YouTube viewers that you’re a master hunter. With a digital stadiametric rangefinder, Day & Night modes, Ultra HD quality, and recoil-resistance for high calibers, you won’t miss.
Since it it’s a dual-purpose scope, you must demand long-lasting battery life for both day and night hunting. ATN thought of that. The internal, rechargeable battery lasts 18+ on a full charge. Who says the hunt need stop just because it’s last legal light? Coyote hunting anyone?
5. Armasight Vulcan 4.5x – Best Gen 3
Overall, the Vulcan 4.5x is a high-end standalone night vision scope. It’s not a clip-on and it doesn’t require another aiming device to function suitably for professional engagements and for coyote and hog hunters. Though expensive as it is, performance of the Vulcan 4.5x meets expectations.
Pros:
- Gen 3
- Manual gain
- 4.5x magnification
- Long-range detection
- Dual power option
Cons:
- Price
- Size
It should come as no surprise that the Vulcan is a pricey night vision scope. It has a Gen 3 64-72 lp/mm tube with manual gain and automatic brightness. In order to bring maximum performance in the darkest nights, it has a huge 108mm lens that explains its 11.7 x 3.8 x 2.8” size and 2.4 lb weight.
As a true riflescope, it features an illuminated crosshair reticle. Though not a digital NVD where an adjustable brightness reticle is the norm, you can do that on the Vulcan. It’s a red reticle on a green screen or white phosphor screen – whichever tube you choose. You can also zero your scope with a total of 45 MOA in elevation and windage travel with ½ MOA turret adjustments.
Though its 1.77” of eye relief is short, it’s still better than the 0.9” (25mm) of other makeshift alternatives on a rail, i.e., monoculars paired with sights or scopes. Even so, it’s likely best with a semi-auto with little kick. You’ll need to be the judge of that for your coyote or hog hunt.
As is expected of a NVD, it has Bright Light Cut-Off, and it comes with a wireless remote. It’s also shock, water, and fogproof. Like Armasight’s CO-Mini, it has the dual battery option of using a CR123A or AA battery for the power source.
For the price and the capabilities, you should register it with Armasight within 60 days to acquire the Extended 3-year Limited Warranty. Seeing that you plan on keeping it for a long time to come, it’s best to not let it default to the Standard 1-year Limited Warranty. The Vulcan 4.5x is an investment into the most productive hog hunts you will see yet.
What to Look for in a Night Vision Scope for Hog Hunting
The most asked-about attributes of a hunting night vision scope are cost, magnification, recoil, features, and if night vision or thermal is better. We address all of it right here.
Price
Like daytime scopes, the prices vary due to scope type, quality, and additional features. If you know what type of scope you want to own, you can set a budget and save for it. If you have a budget in mind but have no idea what you can afford, it may help to have a general guideline of night vision scope costs.
- Filmed/Unfilmed (Unofficial Gen 4 ): $ 4000+
- Gen 3: $3500+
- Gen 2: $1500+
- Gen 1: $1000+
- Digital: $500+
These are approximate prices based on the lowest prices found online to date. It may be worth doing some research on night vision generations to understand why price points are significantly different.
Recoil Resistance
How much recoil can a night vision scope handle?
This is a common question for anyone buying a night vision scope or clip-on, and it’s a legitimate one. There is no universal standard for recoil resistance within night vision scopes. While it seems strange, some scopes are only good enough for rimfire calibers. It also doesn’t help that most manufacturers don’t post recoil resistance information, and if they do, it’s in measurements that the lay person can’t understand.
To provide some insight, clip-on scopes can usually only handle up to 3500 joules of maximum energy. This equates to an approximate 15-18 lbs of free recoil energy. To put that into perspective, the highest compatible caliber would be the .308 Winchester that is a great and popular hunting cartridge for hogs. Some standalone scopes are also only rated to .308 Win.
Often, the highest recoil that the toughest digital or IIT scopes can handle is 6000 joules (approx.). This equates to about 37 lbs of free recoil energy that includes calibers such as 375 H&H, 9.3×64, 450 Marlin, etc. For smooth bore shotguns, these scopes can handle 12 gauge with 2.75” long 1 ¼ oz loads.
What are the most popular hunting calibers for hogs?
- .308 Win – pair with scope rated for 3500 j
- .270 Win – pair with scope rated for 3500 j
- .30-06 Spfd – pair with scope rated for 3800 j
- .300 BLK (within 100 yards) – pair with scope rated for 3500 j or 8 ft. lb
- .223 (with excellent shot placement) – pair with scope rated for 3500 j or 8 ft. lb
These are the most common recoil resistant terms you’ll see when researching night vision scopes. The 8 ft. lb is a free recoil energy measurement.
Magnification for Hog Hunting
Shooting at night is harder and couldn’t be more different to shooting in the bright light of day. Using magnification or digital zoom will be different too. You have both fixed and variable magnification night vision scopes. You will want at least 3x magnification for detection beyond 100 yards.
But is there a point in having night vision if you can’t see hogs with low magnification? Yes – stay quiet and scoot closer to where pig activity is so that you can get a clear picture. Don’t be lazy now as it will take some effort on your part. Night vision doesn’t solve every problem for you.
The higher you crank the power, less light travels through the scope dimming the view and clarity. In a digital scope, the image quality may start to pixelate and degrade which destroys clarity and resolution. So, there’s a balance between magnification and effective range, and this revolves around many scope factors including the IIT and aperture or sensor and display quality.
It’s always best to sacrifice power and move on closer for better performance than it is to go with high power and experience poor night vision performance.
Additional Features
Digital scopes are all the rage for all the digital perks they offer. Perhaps the only real advantage they provide is their dual-purpose use – safe operation in daylight. But then again, hogs are mostly taken at night…
However, there are multiple features offered with digital scopes that gain a lot of attention. While some manufacturers are providing digital scopes with the attitude of “less is more,” there will always be plenty of options with all the digital works.
Digital scopes can have all or some of the following features:
- Digital zeroing program
- Multiple reticle patterns and colors
- Multiple color display modes
- User adjustable settings
- Stadiametric or built-in laser rangefinder
- Video recording and photo
- Simultaneous recording and live streaming
- WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity
- Smart connectivity to other devices
Whether you deem the additional features essential or non-essential is subjective. Some hunters need and want them, and others don’t have time to use them in the field. To each their own.
Warranty
Most night vision warranties are limited to a few years and to the original purchaser. Warranties vary between manufacturers. I recommend registering your night vision scope immediately and retaining your proof of purchase to prove purchase date and first owner evidence.
Night Vision VS Thermal for Hog Hunting
While having both is extremely satisfying and awesome, it’s a luxury. Hog hunting with thermal provides two advantages: long-range detection and it can see through fog and brush. However, determining detail is more difficult. Thermal is also much more expensive than night vision.
While night vision can’t see animals unless they’re within detection range, sometimes only within range of an IR beam, it can make out details that thermal imaging lacks. Night vision is also cheaper than thermal.
However, both can cost upwards of thousands of dollars, so it’s a matter of preference and how much you’re willing to spend. To compare the two technologies side by side, check out our night VS thermal imaging comparison.
FAQs
Snorting at the Bit to Hunt Oinkers?
If you intend to do any hog hunting, you must have night vision. Nighttime predators, invasive species, and varmints will hear you long before you can catch a glimpse.
Ignorance says they’re hard to hunt, but the problem may be your lack of night vision. With a good scope on your rifle, you can detect, get closer to see swirly tails wagging, and make for a productive night.
If you’re snorting at the bit to hunt hogs, night vision is a must.
Further Reading
- Sniper HD 4.5×50 Digital Night Vision Riflescope Review
- Wolf Performance WPA PN23 Night Vision Scope Review
- Wolf Performance Optics PN22K Day & Night Vision Scope Review
- AGM Wolverine PRO-6 3AW1 Night Vision Scope Review
- ATN PS28-4 Night Vision Scope Review (Clip On)
