I have a chance to buy a LNIB springfield Gen II 4-14x56 for $400, or a Gen III 4-14x56 for $530. The only difference I can see between these two scopes is the illuminated reticle. So the question is, is it worth $130?

Depends.

Are you ever going to try to shoot a long distance indistinct target at night?

My Loopy illuminated gave me a decisive advantage in the sniper comp earlier this month.

YES!

Even during daylight, when shooting from a sunny area into a shaded area, the reticle works great for standing out in the dark.  Your eyes are adjusted to the ambient light, so when you are looking at a dark area, the reticle vanishes.

Illuminated reticle is the first thing I look for.  Some way to judge range is 2nd. (Mil-Dot/MOA marks).  NightForce is excellent, a bit heavy, and bit expensive.  ATN makes a very good cheapie fixed 5x (no complaints).  Cannot say the same about variable power ATN's, though.

The illuminated reticle in my Trijicon TA-31 makes it much easier and quicker for my eye to pickup the reticle.

The next long range scope I get for my Remington LTR (it currently has a Leupold Vari-X III) will have an illuminated reticle.

Simply put, an illuminated reticle never hurts - it only helps.

As was said, Illuminated reticle can never hurt, only help.

I forgot to mention:  Make sure you turn it off when finished using it.  Battery will go for a very long time if turned on only when needed, and remembered to be turned off... (when they going to put a motion sensor/auto-on/off swtich on these?).  [:D]

Mine has a clapper activated on/off switch [:d]
[img]www.youcansave.com/images/clapper-pic.jpg[/img]