I'm in the process of outfitting my SBR with a better setup. I'm doing Cola Warrior in October and from what I've heard, a magnified optic is pretty necessary for the rifle stage. I've already planned to replace the Vortex Sparc AR I currently have on the rifle: it's in a knockoff Unity mount for trying it out before buying a real one. Doing some passive aiming with it was not fun as the FOV is fine during daylight but felt like I was looking down a soda straw with my monocular.

I want to go back to using an EOTech and am planning to get an EXPS3-0 and put it on a Unity riser. I feel like that will give me a better FOV and I prefer the reticle more anyway. With that, I've thought about grabbing a G43 or G45 to put behind it in the Unity OMNI mount. However, I've read that using LPVOs with passive aiming can be a miserable time. Granted, the magnifier will be raised up with the optic so that will alleviate one problem but I'm concerned about having enough space behind the magnifier to get my head and optic. I'm not sure how the eye relief will hinder that.

Has anyone run something similar and have any feedback? I do have a LAM and just because of the shooting position I may end up using that regardless.

Light transmission through two optics will be bad enough that you’ll have a hard time seeing anything.

I got a Unity setup with aimpoint magnifier(3x) + T2. Its possible to passive aim through it but its not something I'd reccomend. Its usable but not user friendly and I don't really see outside of shooting static targets it being useful.

I can see it useful as a scanning tool and thats about it but then you're scanning with your rifle.

I can use my vortex micro 3x in higher light settings passively.  


My 44mm objective 2.5-10x is actually quite usable with just a touch of moonlight up to 5x.   Have used it out to about 300yards pretty successfully.

I can use my D2’s illuminator to at least throw light down range to help ID the targets, but possibly it’d be better to use the magnifier or something else for scanning. Maybe using one of the attachable magnifiers on the monocular and using the LAM for aiming might be a better situation, though I don’t think I’d use it for anything outside of this specific situation.

I tried passive aiming with my NX8 a while back. Yes possible, but as you noted, the diopter was "a hair off" (reticle appeared and was usable grossly, but was a blur). The main thing I noted was how bloody fast the light got killed by magnification. My NX8 on 1x looks great compared to a T2 in daylight...but at night I really see how much light those compound lenses are sucking up. It's kindof bizarre how the naked eye doesn't "see" that going on, IMO!

That is exactly what I have set up on one BCM (EXPS3 & G45 in Omni Mount) On another I have the EXPS3 & G33 in a Unity Mount. All on Unity risers too.

They greatly enhance mobility by keeping everything steamlined. Why Eotech never thought of making their side mounts that way is ridiculous.

Passive aiming with a FP DBAL-A3 and MAWL work just fine thru either DTNVS or PVS14. If you want pics shoot me an email. Hope that helps some.

You need one of the 3x magnifiers that go on the night vision. Really helped me to see targets at Cola events. You should also get a good tight beam illuminator

I was considering that as the best option. Figured I'd either kneel or sit cross leg on the platform and just use the LAM to illuminate and aim at the targets.

I wonder if you couldn't use articulating binos, with your dominant eye having a 3x magnifier on it, and you basically run it as two separate monos. Flip down the 3x mag side to aim at distance with your red dot. Then flip it back up when not needed.

I've never tried this mind you. I don't even own an NVD magnifier.

The magnifiers have a press fit as well as screw in option. They also come with a flip cap so I usually have mine in a cargo pocket and just pop it on when I want a closer look at something. I rarely use the screw on method unless I'm carrying a 14/magnifier on a neck lanyard.

There were two for sale in the EE for $150 that I hesitated putting an offer in for. Everywhere online looks like $400 for one if they’re in stock. Though even $150 is a little much for what would probably be a one time use.