Hey guys, I am completely ignorant when it comes to this stuff and there is simply TOO MUCH info for me to sort through to make a reasonable decision.  What I want is some kind of setup to allow me to ID targets and hit them out to a max of 200m.  Obviously you get what you pay for, but whatever I end up with needs to come in as far under $2k as possible... the less expensive the better.

Head mounted monocular combined with an IWAL2 or some other civvie-legal IR laser?

Rifle mounted monocular used in conjunction with my Aimpoint?

What the best bang for the buck?

I say, keep saving for a GEN 3 or GEN 2 SHP, such as a MUM, or a 6015.(Check with Vic, or watch the EE for a used unit, but remember buyer beware with a used unit) I know it's not what you want to hear, but I speak the truth.The " cheaper " units (Gen 2) just don't have the resolution you need for 200 yards I.D.
I am NO fan of weapon mounted monos, leave that mono on your head, and aim with a laser.

Quoted: I say, keep saving for a GEN 3 or GEN 2 SHP, such as a MUM, or a 6015.(Check with Vic, or watch the EE for a used unit, but remember buyer beware with a used unit) I know it's not what you want to hear, but I speak the truth.The " cheaper " units (Gen 2) just don't have the resolution you need for 200 yards I.D. I am NO fan of weapon mounted monos, leave that mono on your head, and aim with a laser.

Yeah, the head-mount seems like it would be the best for anything other than shooting from a static position.  I've been looking around a little bit and there's a lot of stuff out there called Gen 2 or "Gen 2+" that is more or less in my price range, but I worry about "refurbished" Russian stuff that costs $2k and might take a dump on me after having spent all that money.

MUM's the word, huh?  That's around $3500 or so, right?

grrr.....

Anybody know anything about the ATN PS-14?  Looks like it might be pretty nice for less than half the price of a MUM, even if it's only Gen 2... as long as it keeps working.

 

Lets run over some basics to get ya pointed in the right direction.

There are two parts to any given Night vision device.

1. The image intensifing tube

2. The housiing the tube is in.

Image tubes have been and are made in three generations. Some will arguably called gated tubes gen 4 but that is pure marketing hype. Just like calling a high quality PVS 14, a PVS 14D. Aint no such animal as a PVS 14D.

Anyway, gen 1 tubes were the first image tubes and succsesive improvments brought us gen 2 tubes and later gen 3.

Gen 2 was the big step forward with the addition of an extra light amplification called the Micro Channel plate (MCP).

Gen 3 is an improvment in that the Photocathode (first element that ambient light strikes in the tube) is made from gallium arsenide and the MCP is coated with an ION barrier.

Autogated tubes are still gen 3 tubes but they have the ion barrier removed and the power supply turns on and off much like a movie projector so that the image seems constant. Now an autogated tubes "see" into very dark areas better and deal with bright lights with very little flare. HOWEVER, there is a cost. They can not handle recoil when used in a weapons sight and quickly develop spots... and the spots only get bigger with more use. They are very good for observational use only, i.e. aviation systems and the like.

Most gen 3 tubes are refered to as 18mm tubes and have the same outside deminsions. This has led to interchangability between systems. As such many manufactureres have made the housings to accept these tubes.

So that is a basics on tubes.

The hosuings out there are many and have varying features. It sounds like you want a mono for use as a weapons sight, is this correct?

IPSC_GUY
SIERRA II ALPHA

WOW, IPSC_GUY!   Thanks for the education...  I still don't understand some of what you wrote, but that's about as clear and concise as I've seen anything regarding NV equipment.

I think I'd prefer a head-mounted monocular for use in conjuction with some type of weapon-mounted IR laser and maybe IR illum.  It'll be mostly just a "toy", but kinda falls into the "what if" category of an item that would be nice to have if the Chinese hordes ever really DID decide to come rolling over the Rio Grande (or some equally likely/unlikely SHTF occurs)...  which explains why I have been a "gun nut" for 15 yrs and have never owned a NV device.

Right now I'm leaning toward one of the Gen 2 D-300's that Victor has for sale.  Also have been thinking about a ATN PS-14, but haven't seen much info about them other than advertisements.

Gonna take some work for me to even afford a decent Gen 2 setup, so Gen 3 is out of the question.


Question:  What is "Gen 2+"?  Marketing hype, or is there a difference between that and plain old "Gen 2"?