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Posted: 7/2/2012 4:47:54 PM EST
Does anybody here use or have any experience with night vision rifle scopes? I want to get one to put on a Rock River 5.56 or an Armalite AR-10 .308. The varmints are smart enough now to stay outside the circle of light that my flood lights provide so I can't see them. I don't want to spend the whole bank account so I am thinking about some kind of "generation 1" night vision scope. Inexpensive but good quality. Any ideas??
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 5:03:06 PM EST
[#1]
Inexpensive and good quality are mutually exclusive in the NVG arena.

What range do you need to be able to see/shoot?
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 5:08:54 PM EST
[#2]
I just need to see roughly 50-100 yards.

What are opinions on ATN gen 1 scopes?
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 5:14:03 PM EST
[#3]
Check out the stickies at the top of this forum.

Here is one in particular that will give you some of the basics.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_18/329958_.html

How much are you willing to spend to hit the varmints out to 100 yards?
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 5:28:46 PM EST
[#4]
$500-$650...............

ATN gen 1 scopes?
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 5:33:40 PM EST
[#5]
I really hate to recommend a gen 1 scope because so many are just junk and the ones that do work are very limited by shorter range,must have IR in rural,dark areas , and shorter tube life normally 1000 hours or less, and blurry images. That said One of the guys on my lease has a luma 2.5X gen 1 rifle scope that works fairly well much better than the cheaper brand gen 1 units I have seen. It holds POI well on his 223 and works out to 100 yards with IR as far as shooting pigs at the feeder I think it has a built IR  laser Illum or at least a real powerfull IR Led. Bad part is I think he paid around 700 dollars for it which is a lot of a gen 1 system.  A good gen 2 scope like the M845 would still out perform it big time overall. If you must buy gen one look at one of these luma models. I looked real quick I think it's a 4x luma scope sales for about  $750 it works for hunting from a fix distance but not good for anything tactical or moving around scanning for critters. Like most folks I think Real NV starts at gen 2

Link Posted: 7/2/2012 5:52:37 PM EST
[#6]
TDUNN: Good article, showed me a lot

TERRY1: Will check out the M845 but gen 2 is way out of my price range.
Link Posted: 7/3/2012 5:36:09 AM EST
[#7]
For gen 1 to have any utility at all, you will need a good IR illuminator.

Good information here:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_2_209/152963_IR_Illuminator_Shoot_Out_Review_.html

Keep in mind that all of those images are using a Gen 3 NVG.  Gen 1 will not be anywhere near as clear, but should give you some relative feel for the IR illum market.

I agree with Terry though.   Real NVG starts at gen 2 these days - particularly on small targets like varmints.  That said, you may be able to get by with a good illuminator and a gen 1, but you may just waste $500.
Link Posted: 7/3/2012 7:53:28 AM EST
[#8]
A few hundred more and you can get a used pvs4. Much better than gen 1.

Brent.
Link Posted: 7/3/2012 10:13:17 AM EST
[#9]
Quoted:
For gen 1 to have any utility at all, you will need a good IR illuminator.

Good information here:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_2_209/152963_IR_Illuminator_Shoot_Out_Review_.html

Keep in mind that all of those images are using a Gen 3 NVG.  Gen 1 will not be anywhere near as clear, but should give you some relative feel for the IR illum market.

I agree with Terry though.   Real NVG starts at gen 2 these days - particularly on small targets like varmints.  That said, you may be able to get by with a good illuminator and a gen 1, but you may just waste $500.


I agree about a good IR illuminator and the "Shoot Out Review" is very informative. I also agree with Terry about gen 2,  but due to retirement and health insurance I have to try to make gen 1 work.

Link Posted: 7/3/2012 10:16:54 AM EST
[#10]
Quoted:
A few hundred more and you can get a used pvs4. Much better than gen 1.

Brent.


I would like to, but "a few hundred more" just isn't possible now or in the forseeable future.

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