Scope 1" vs 30mm Tube

[studz223]

I am looking to buy a Leupold VX-3L 4.5-14 50mm scope for my 264 Win Mag.
Is there a huge difference in low light conditions with a 30mm tube?
I like the reticle choices better on the 1" but would settel for 2nd choice reticle if the 30mm tube is that much better in low light.

Thank you!

 

[dubbleA]

The 30mm tube main attributes are that they are physically stronger and the bigger tube allows more elevation and windage adjustment over the 1" counterpart. It does little to nothing for light gathering.

 

[studz223]

Thank you.

I will be buying this...unless someone has a better idea.

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-...-riflescopes/vx-3l-4-5-14x50mm-illum-reticle/

 

[45crittergitter]

Scopes with 30mm tubes can contain half again as many windage and elevation clicks as scopes with 1” bodies, according to Leupold. Also, a 30mm tube can (but most American scopes don’t) accommodate larger erector lenses, for a brighter, clearer, image. When the adjustments are set away from center, the optical system is essentially bent, with the erector tube tilted inside the scope. This often results in serious parallax problems, and at the extremes of the adjustment range, each click moves the erector tube less consistently.

Sometimes the tube itself is better. For example, the Burris Xtreme Tactical 30 mm tube is 25% thicker and 42% stronger than typical 1” tubes. It houses premium extra-large internal lenses and is warranted forever.