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Pros - Integrated sunshade for bright lighting conditions - 5-step illuminated reticle in red and green - Includes rings, battery, and flip-up lens covers Cons - Optics are only fully coated, not fully multi-coated

Welcome to our review of the Barska 4×32 IR Contour Rifle/Crossbow Scope. Barska makes fine optics at budget-friendly prices. Their scopes aren’t the best in the industry, but they are excellent starters or upgrades from the included scopes on many crossbows. Let’s have a look at this one and see how it stacks up against the competition.

How Big or Small Is This Crossbow Scope?

The Barska 4×32 IR Contour Scope weighs in at only 10.4 ounces, so it won’t add a lot of weight to your kit. The tube is the standard one-inch diameter, and the scope itself is nine inches long. Sleek and svelte are words that could easily describe this modern-looking rifle/crossbow scope. The scope features a 32mm objective lens, which isn’t bad at all for mounting on a crossbow.

Eye relief is a comfortable 3.3 inches, shorter than what I would consider average but still very comfortable for use on a crossbow.

How Powerful Is The Barska 4×32 IR Contour Scope ?

This scope has a 32mm objective lens, with a fixed magnification of 4X. This is quite adequate for crossbow hunting, and the clarity and resolution of the image are quite good. Sure, there are better scopes out there, but this one is definitely impressive, considering the price of the glass.

How is the Optics Quality on the Crossbow Scope?

Barska has fully coated the optics on the 4×32 IR Contour, but they aren’t fully multi-coated. This means you lose out on some of the anti-reflective potential that the scope could have if Barska had spent a few extra dollars on more layers of coating, but it still provides you with an excellent view of your target and beyond.

What’s the Light Gathering Capability Like on the Scope?

The Barska 4×32 IR Contour scope has an impressive ability to gather light. It certainly isn’t the best, but I was able to use it quite comfortably in low-light conditions without any problems. Scouting the terrain in dense woods, the adjustable illuminated reticle makes it easy to pinpoint possible bedding locations for deer or other game.

Speaking of the illuminated reticle, the five adjustable brightness settings are designed to be used in both low light conditions and bright daylight. If you switch from red to green, you get a reticle that stands out nicely against brush and woods, allowing you an easier view of where you think your target might be.

During low light conditions, the adjustable brightness is perfect for making out your target point. There is no ghosting or haloing around the reticles, so you can pinpoint exactly where your shot will go. When I use this scope in early morning hunts, I can be confident of getting a kill shot, whether I’m taking on deer or wild boar.

The scope takes a standard CR2032 battery, and one comes in the package. Be sure to turn off the rheostat when you aren’t using the illuminated reticles, though, since the scope does not have an auto shutoff at all. Battery life is pretty decent, and I’ve only had to replace it once in the year and a half that I’ve been using the scope.

When you’re in bright daylight, the integrated sunshade is definitely a nice feature. You don’t have to worry about the sun getting into your view, and you maintain a nice, comfortable image of the terrain or your target.

How Wide is the Field of View?

From 100 yards, your field of view will be a comfortable 31.5 feet. This is pretty good, considering the scope’s 4X magnification, giving you plenty of room to scan for and acquire your target. I almost wish the scope had adjustable magnification, but 4X is definitely good enough for crossbow hunting.

How Easy is the Scope to Mount?

If you do the job right, you’ll have the scope mounted in no time. It comes with a set of rings, so as long as you have a standard 7/8-inch Picatinny or Weaver rail on your crossbow, you’ll be good to go. For some smaller crossbows, you might need to get a set of high-profile rings, but I don’t see many crossbows out there that would need that.

How Easy is the Barska 4×32 IR Contour Scope to Sight In?

Like mounting a scope, it’s all about following the right procedure. Do so, and you’re golden. Don’t follow the right procedure, and you’re in for a world of frustration and pain. The Barska 4×32 IR Contour scope features 1/4 MOA click adjustment wheels for windage and elevation, and it’s easy to adjust.

Once sighted in, you should be able to confidently leave the windage and elevation settings alone for quite some time, as the scope holds zero very well. In fact, I have yet to make any adjustments to mine after more than a year of use, and it still shoots true and accurately.

How Durable is the Scope?

This scope is both waterproof and fogproof, since it is O-ring sealed and nitrogen-purged. It’s also quite rugged, and I’ve dropped mine a few times without any problems. Intentionally, I dropped the scope in a puddle, and it came out without any water damage at all. I’ve also used it in very extreme cold temperatures without the lens fogging up at all, so the manufacturer’s claims of it being fogproof are right on the money.