[ARCHIVED THREAD] - night vision (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 12/9/2010 5:02:42 PM EDT
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I just posted in the night vision forum. I am planning on buying a PVS 14. I have to decide on either the Larue kit or buying one from the folks at TNVC.
Does anyone know the differences? The Larue unit has a built in IR illuminator. I don't want to use that much or at all because it makes you easy to spot with other night vision. I can pick that up from a long way off with my cheap 1st gen scope. I really want to buy quality no matter what. I believe that for farm security this is one of my most important prep items and I will have the cash to buy it on the first of the year. |
| I can answer any of your questions.. if you want to do it here or via IM. All PVS-14's have a built in illuminator, but you don't have to use it. You DO still want to have the option though, so it is available if you are somewhere with extremely low ambient light. |
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I can answer any of your questions.. if you want to do it here or via IM. All PVS-14's have a built in illuminator, but you don't have to use it. You DO still want to have the option though, so it is available if you are somewhere with extremely low ambient light. So the Night Enforcer has an illuminator that I can turn off? It doesn't mention it at all on their website. I believe this is the one that I will end up going with. Mostly this NOD will be for non mounted observation, but I like being able to put it on many different rifles. All my aimpoints are nv compatible as well as my eotech. |
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As far as I know, all PVS14s have IR illum. ETA, I have a PVS14. The IR source does not put out much light. Good for close in only. I use an IR cover on my sure fire for lighting areas of complete darkness. Yeah, the built in illuminator is really only good for indoors use, or if you're in a cave or something. Outdoors it does very, very little. Need a much more powerful illuminator for that. |
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As far as I know, all PVS14s have IR illum. ETA, I have a PVS14. The IR source does not put out much light. Good for close in only. I use an IR cover on my sure fire for lighting areas of complete darkness. I might pick up the surefire M1 for an illuminator. I don't use incandescent lights any more and I don't believe led's put out infrared. I really don't want to be walking around with an infrared flashlight too much. Even a guy with a walmart night vision scope could see that I have night vision capabilities. I would rather stay mostly passive so I can observe and only use illumination when absolutely required. It would surprise the hell out of folks bent on doing me and mine harm if they thought they had a night time advantage over us and they did not. |
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I can answer any of your questions.. if you want to do it here or via IM. All PVS-14's have a built in illuminator, but you don't have to use it. You DO still want to have the option though, so it is available if you are somewhere with extremely low ambient light. So the Night Enforcer has an illuminator that I can turn off? It doesn't mention it at all on their website. I believe this is the one that I will end up going with. Mostly this NOD will be for non mounted observation, but I like being able to put it on many different rifles. All my aimpoints are nv compatible as well as my eotech. Yes, it has a setting that just uses ambient light, and it has an additional setting that activates the illuminator. I rarely use mine at all... the PVS 14 is pretty sensitive, and I find myself turning DOWN the brightness on it because the ambient light produces an image that's quite bright. I have a night enforcer myself.. the autogating feature is nice. Works great for weapon mounted behind an optic or mounted to some headgear. |
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I can answer any of your questions.. if you want to do it here or via IM. All PVS-14's have a built in illuminator, but you don't have to use it. You DO still want to have the option though, so it is available if you are somewhere with extremely low ambient light. So the Night Enforcer has an illuminator that I can turn off? It doesn't mention it at all on their website. I believe this is the one that I will end up going with. Mostly this NOD will be for non mounted observation, but I like being able to put it on many different rifles. All my aimpoints are nv compatible as well as my eotech. Yes, it has a setting that just uses ambient light, and it has an additional setting that activates the illuminator. I rarely use mine at all... the PVS 14 is pretty sensitive, and I find myself turning DOWN the brightness on it because the ambient light produces an image that's quite bright. I have a night enforcer myself.. the autogating feature is nice. Works great for weapon mounted behind an optic or mounted to some headgear. I am going to buy the Larue mount for it to begin with. I may end up with several mounts before its all done, but I like Larue products and would like to try it out. I am open to suggestions. I do like being able to flip it out of the way. I would still need to turn up the sight settings and turn off the monocular before entering a brightly lit area, but I don't want to fumble around with removing the scope until I am out of harms way. |
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I can answer any of your questions.. if you want to do it here or via IM. All PVS-14's have a built in illuminator, but you don't have to use it. You DO still want to have the option though, so it is available if you are somewhere with extremely low ambient light. So the Night Enforcer has an illuminator that I can turn off? It doesn't mention it at all on their website. I believe this is the one that I will end up going with. Mostly this NOD will be for non mounted observation, but I like being able to put it on many different rifles. All my aimpoints are nv compatible as well as my eotech. Yes, it has a setting that just uses ambient light, and it has an additional setting that activates the illuminator. I rarely use mine at all... the PVS 14 is pretty sensitive, and I find myself turning DOWN the brightness on it because the ambient light produces an image that's quite bright. I have a night enforcer myself.. the autogating feature is nice. Works great for weapon mounted behind an optic or mounted to some headgear. I am going to buy the Larue mount for it to begin with. I may end up with several mounts before its all done, but I like Larue products and would like to try it out. I am open to suggestions. I do like being able to flip it out of the way. I would still need to turn up the sight settings and turn off the monocular before entering a brightly lit area, but I don't want to fumble around with removing the scope until I am out of harms way. Nice thing about head mounting them is you can flip them up and they shut off. I've been looking at Larue's mount also for one of my other rifles, it looks pretty good. Right now I use a GG&G quick detach, so it can go from helmet mounted to weapon mounted and vice versa within a couple of seconds. |
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I can answer any of your questions.. if you want to do it here or via IM. All PVS-14's have a built in illuminator, but you don't have to use it. You DO still want to have the option though, so it is available if you are somewhere with extremely low ambient light. So the Night Enforcer has an illuminator that I can turn off? It doesn't mention it at all on their website. I believe this is the one that I will end up going with. Mostly this NOD will be for non mounted observation, but I like being able to put it on many different rifles. All my aimpoints are nv compatible as well as my eotech. Yes, it has a setting that just uses ambient light, and it has an additional setting that activates the illuminator. I rarely use mine at all... the PVS 14 is pretty sensitive, and I find myself turning DOWN the brightness on it because the ambient light produces an image that's quite bright. I have a night enforcer myself.. the autogating feature is nice. Works great for weapon mounted behind an optic or mounted to some headgear. I am going to buy the Larue mount for it to begin with. I may end up with several mounts before its all done, but I like Larue products and would like to try it out. I am open to suggestions. I do like being able to flip it out of the way. I would still need to turn up the sight settings and turn off the monocular before entering a brightly lit area, but I don't want to fumble around with removing the scope until I am out of harms way. Nice thing about head mounting them is you can flip them up and they shut off. I've been looking at Larue's mount also for one of my other rifles, it looks pretty good. Right now I use a GG&G quick detach, so it can go from helmet mounted to weapon mounted and vice versa within a couple of seconds. I have been told that the larue flip mount gets in the way of helmet mounting. Its okay for me since I don't have a helmet, but it might be a problem for you. |
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I've read the pvs guide and learned alot from it.
having said that, I want a unit that I can put on my OBR. 7.62. the litton tubes are not recommended for the 7.62 Even though the L3 is a lessor tube, its the only thing I can get for the OBR. Unless I buy a an/pvs 22 or 27 or BNS. Which I can't afford any of those. I wish Larue would respond to questions posted about their pvs-14. |
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I wonder if this is from TNVC or directly from ITT?
GG&G night vision |
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They don't get them from TNVC. They have a pretty good deal on the kit...comes with the mount, a hard case, and all the normal stuff at a good price, last I checked. |
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I would have to buy 5 of the aimpoint twist mounts. That is a no go money wise. I only need one larue or GG&G mount. |
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They don't get them from TNVC. They have a pretty good deal on the kit...comes with the mount, a hard case, and all the normal stuff at a good price, last I checked. is it the same night enforcer? hand picked like the TNVC. I would pay more to know for sure its right. |
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They don't get them from TNVC. They have a pretty good deal on the kit...comes with the mount, a hard case, and all the normal stuff at a good price, last I checked. is it the same night enforcer? hand picked like the TNVC. I would pay more to know for sure its right. It's the same Night Enforcer units. GG&G told me on the phone that they hand select them and send back the ones they're unsatisfied with, rare as it is. FWIW, Mine is nearly flawless. Has a couple of tiny, tiny black specs on the edges of the image. Next to impossible to see unless you're looking at a white wall. Any tube will have flaws, but good tubes have barely noticeable ones. I was very satisfied with GG&G.. but TNVC is also a fantastic dealer i've used with some other stuff, so you'd be good to go with either, imho. |
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as soon as you get it....you'll start looking for an IR laser.....  Which is a major pain. they are out there.....just gotta keep an ear to the ground.....I got a PEQ-4C.....finally got it working on a regular basis....before it was intermittent at best. |
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as soon as you get it....you'll start looking for an IR laser..... Which is a major pain. they are out there.....just gotta keep an ear to the ground.....I got a PEQ-4C.....finally got it working on a regular basis....before it was intermittent at best. They're obtainable.. just really expensive.
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as soon as you get it....you'll start looking for an IR laser..... Which is a major pain. they are out there.....just gotta keep an ear to the ground.....I got a PEQ-4C.....finally got it working on a regular basis....before it was intermittent at best. They're obtainable.. just really expensive. Gun show....really cheap.....found out why....it only worked about 50% of the time......a buddy of mine took it and very carefully worked it over....he said something internal was loose.....don't know how he opened it.....cause I can't tell..... I got the paperwork....finally....showing it was a demo/R&D unit.....removed from inventory due to malfunction.....seems to be ok now. |
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I just posted in the night vision forum. I am planning on buying a PVS 14. I have to decide on either the Larue kit or buying one from the folks at TNVC. Does anyone know the differences? The Larue unit has a built in IR illuminator. I don't want to use that much or at all because it makes you easy to spot with other night vision. I can pick that up from a long way off with my cheap 1st gen scope. I really want to buy quality no matter what. I believe that for farm security this is one of my most important prep items and I will have the cash to buy it on the first of the year. Assuming we are talking about ITT Night Enforcers, which are "real" PVS-14's, you can get them from any ITT dealer. ITT doesn't provide "mo' Bettah" PVS14's to any one or dealer, they are all the same. Find a dealer selling factory ITT PVS-14 Night Enforcers for a price you are willing to pay and you'll get a top of the line unit, period. ITT makes a "commercial" version of their PVS14 that has a lower spec tube (or at least one they won't certify) and no manual gain, this is not the NVD you want if you want a real PVS14. You only run into " trouble" when you start looking at NON ITT 14's, and competing products made with PVS14 tubes that the manufacturers call PVS14's. These units will likely have tubes that won't pass mil-spec (Which is all you get in a premium unit, that it meets bare minimum performance levels) and are sold by ITT to other companies in order to make lower end products like ITT does with their "commercial" tube. I've been in the game long enough to buy one of these units without fear as long as there is an inspection return policy. If you have to have "the best", get a ITT Night Enforcer Hope This Helps. 
Dave |
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As far as I know, all PVS14s have IR illum. ETA, I have a PVS14. The IR source does not put out much light. Good for close in only. I use an IR cover on my sure fire for lighting areas of complete darkness. Yeah, the built in illuminator is really only good for indoors use, or if you're in a cave or something. Outdoors it does very, very little. Need a much more powerful illuminator for that. There is a spot/flood lens that focuses down far enough to check a perimter at 100 yards. Not ideal compared to a dedicated illuminator but it makes quite a bit of difference. |
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If you plan on buying before the end of the year call GG&G. All I will say is noone can beat their price. I can't order until right after the 1st of the year. I am not terribly concerned with saving money on this project. I am more concerned with getting the best and most reliable NVD. |
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I just posted in the night vision forum. I am planning on buying a PVS 14. I have to decide on either the Larue kit or buying one from the folks at TNVC. Does anyone know the differences? The Larue unit has a built in IR illuminator. I don't want to use that much or at all because it makes you easy to spot with other night vision. I can pick that up from a long way off with my cheap 1st gen scope. I really want to buy quality no matter what. I believe that for farm security this is one of my most important prep items and I will have the cash to buy it on the first of the year. Assuming we are talking about ITT Night Enforcers, which are "real" PVS-14's, you can get them from any ITT dealer. ITT doesn't provide "mo' Bettah" PVS14's to any one or dealer, they are all the same. Find a dealer selling factory ITT PVS-14 Night Enforcers for a price you are willing to pay and you'll get a top of the line unit, period. ITT makes a "commercial" version of their PVS14 that has a lower spec tube (or at least one they won't certify) and no manual gain, this is not the NVD you want if you want a real PVS14. You only run into " trouble" when you start looking at NON ITT 14's, and competing products made with PVS14 tubes that the manufacturers call PVS14's. These units will likely have tubes that won't pass mil-spec (Which is all you get in a premium unit, that it meets bare minimum performance levels) and are sold by ITT to other companies in order to make lower end products like ITT does with their "commercial" tube. I've been in the game long enough to buy one of these units without fear as long as there is an inspection return policy. If you have to have "the best", get a ITT Night Enforcer Hope This Helps.
Dave It does help and thank you. I do think I am just going to spend the big bucks. Not only to get the best NVD I can, but also to deal with a company that seems to have a great reputation. For me, this isn't about the cheapest price, but getting a great unit backed up by a good company. |
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You're choosing well in going straight to a top class unit. I bought a Gen 2 for $1500ish thinking a PVS was too expensive...and 6 months later was buying a PVS14. Could have saved myself a lot of money by just going for the best straight off. But I have a spare now, anyway.
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Quoted: Quoted: If you plan on buying before the end of the year call GG&G. All I will say is noone can beat their price. I can't order until right after the 1st of the year. I am not terribly concerned with saving money on this project. I am more concerned with getting the best and most reliable NVD. A Night Enforcer is a Night Enforcer and the warranty is backed up by ITT not the retailer. The savings is QUITE substantial if you can swing it before the end of the year. Just trying to save you some cash.
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My job in the army is to repair Night Vision including the PVS-14. Just like was said earlier, you need a genuine PVS-14 from ITT. The tube in it will be a gen 3, the lastest one. If you get anything else your tube will either have non fixable problems or be some gen II crap. I have never seen gen II stuff for PVS-14s but I am in the Army. |
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A real PVS14 is going to be mil spec- pinnacle autogated tube, submersible to 66 feet, able to be dropped off the back of a truck, etc. It's also going to look like a PVS14. Their is a lot of cobbled together some Russian components, some American parts type deals with SIMILAR sounding names but not called specifically a PVS14.
You should get a 5 year warranty with it. Easiest way to see if it's the new pinnacle autogated is the ONE AA battery versus the old ones that took TWO. ITT tubes are obviously a major plus. Base model units should run you less than 3K new with upgraded units (better specs, no blems) not much more. If you want the best of the best buy the upgraded units- commonly seen listed as PVS14+ |
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If you plan on buying before the end of the year call GG&G. All I will say is noone can beat their price. I can't order until right after the 1st of the year. I am not terribly concerned with saving money on this project. I am more concerned with getting the best and most reliable NVD. A Night Enforcer is a Night Enforcer and the warranty is backed up by ITT not the retailer. The savings is QUITE substantial if you can swing it before the end of the year. Just trying to save you some cash. I'm pretty sure they run the same deal all the time, actually. I bought mine in May, after hearing from someone else who got the killer deal last November and was talking about it expiring at the end of December. Got it for the same price he did. |
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I would have to buy 5 of the aimpoint twist mounts. That is a no go money wise. I only need one larue or GG&G mount. That was my problem as well. I wanted to be able to mount it on any number of rifles. I originally purchased the GG&G mount and while its a great mount, you have to have several "bases" in order to not have to remove the base from one rifle to another. The same problem with the aimpoint twist mounts.... I ended up running the Larue mount even though it leaves more mounted to the PVS-14 full time, it can quickly be mounted to anything with a rail. As for where to buy, I went with TNVC and have NO regrets!!!
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I can answer any of your questions.. if you want to do it here or via IM. All PVS-14's have a built in illuminator, but you don't have to use it. You DO still want to have the option though, so it is available if you are somewhere with extremely low ambient light. So the Night Enforcer has an illuminator that I can turn off? It doesn't mention it at all on their website. I believe this is the one that I will end up going with. Mostly this NOD will be for non mounted observation, but I like being able to put it on many different rifles. All my aimpoints are nv compatible as well as my eotech. I don' tknow what a night enforcer is, but all PVS 14s should have the built in IR - but it really is for map reading close in, or similar "inside" work. not going to be of any significance in my experience. You are going to have to invest in a IR illuminator at some point. for me that was the tough decision. |
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If you plan on buying before the end of the year call GG&G. All I will say is noone can beat their price. I can't order until right after the 1st of the year. I am not terribly concerned with saving money on this project. I am more concerned with getting the best and most reliable NVD. A Night Enforcer is a Night Enforcer and the warranty is backed up by ITT not the retailer. The savings is QUITE substantial if you can swing it before the end of the year. Just trying to save you some cash. I really wish I could. My bonus will arrive in my account on the first of the year. The day after the sale is over. Maybe they would be willing to let me have the sale price the day after, or I could order it online that evening so it doesn't go through until the next day. |
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If you plan on buying before the end of the year call GG&G. All I will say is noone can beat their price. I can't order until right after the 1st of the year. I am not terribly concerned with saving money on this project. I am more concerned with getting the best and most reliable NVD. A Night Enforcer is a Night Enforcer and the warranty is backed up by ITT not the retailer. The savings is QUITE substantial if you can swing it before the end of the year. Just trying to save you some cash. Price, where? |
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If you plan on buying before the end of the year call GG&G. All I will say is noone can beat their price. I can't order until right after the 1st of the year. I am not terribly concerned with saving money on this project. I am more concerned with getting the best and most reliable NVD. A Night Enforcer is a Night Enforcer and the warranty is backed up by ITT not the retailer. The savings is QUITE substantial if you can swing it before the end of the year. Just trying to save you some cash. I talked to Vic from TNVC on the phone. He quoted me a very competitive price for the night enforcer. Not as cheap as the GG&G deal, but not bad at all. I really don't want the GG&G mount anyway so I would have to buy another one, so that is not a sweetener for me. Saving money is one thing, but dealing with a company that can diagnose and fix problems after the 5 year warranty is up is a totally different thing. ITT will stand behind their product for 5 years. Its worth a hell of a lot to be able to call a company for help once that period is up. Paying for repairs is a given after the warranty is expired, but that is a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a new one for minor issues. I see this as a huge plus in favor of TNVC. The money spent up front is really inconsequential to having back up if it has problems. I hope this makes sense. I am leaning very heavily toward TNVC. |
FWIW, even after your warranty with ITT is up, they will repair a broken product. They might charge you something to do so, but they'll fix it. But going with TNVC isn't a bad choice at all, either way. They are a great dealer. Be sure you come back and give your impressions after you get it! 
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They don't get them from TNVC. They have a pretty good deal on the kit...comes with the mount, a hard case, and all the normal stuff at a good price, last I checked. It is a good deal and the mount is pretty nice. |
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I had a bunch of questions that I needed to have answered before I dropped over $3,000 on a piece of equipment that has a very limited use. At the end of the day TNVC was much better at giving me no BS answers to all my questions, and I will always pay a little more if it means I get better CS.
I also went with the Larue LT-114 so I could run the unit behind my Aimpoints and I could still use my helmut mount. |
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Damn it, you fuckers!! I looked at the web page, and then had to call. So, now I'm tipping back and forth on whether or not to damage the credit card for over $3K. You people are poison. You can build one a lot cheaper... FreefallE7 did a how-to, it's hidden in the archives. |
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Damn it, you fuckers!! I looked at the web page, and then had to call. So, now I'm tipping back and forth on whether or not to damage the credit card for over $3K. You people are poison. You can build one a lot cheaper... FreefallE7 did a how-to, it's hidden in the archives. You might could cobble something together. You'd get exactly what you paid for in most cases. Also you'd have no warranty. We aren't talking about putting together an AR though.... PLANS to someday build something or NV to make a quiet nighttime bugout TONIGHT? For most people that's what it would come down to. I can't tell you how many people I know have receiver blanks and parts kits for this that and the other, that they have had for years, some over a decade. It's the old "bird in the hand, one in the bush" type of deal. |
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Damn it, you fuckers!! I looked at the web page, and then had to call. So, now I'm tipping back and forth on whether or not to damage the credit card for over $3K. You people are poison. You can build one a lot cheaper... FreefallE7 did a how-to, it's hidden in the archives. Thats a high risk proposition for someone whos never even held a NVD unit. Certainly not rocket science but we're talking about a %1500 piece of electronics that one slight mishap and its ruined. |
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Damn it, you fuckers!! I looked at the web page, and then had to call. So, now I'm tipping back and forth on whether or not to damage the credit card for over $3K. You people are poison. You can build one a lot cheaper... FreefallE7 did a how-to, it's hidden in the archives. Thats a high risk proposition for someone whos never even held a NVD unit. Certainly not rocket science but we're talking about a %1500 piece of electronics that one slight mishap and its ruined. I have a 1st gen monocular!  Its a slight bit better than night adjusted eyes.......maybe.
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You can build one a lot cheaper... FreefallE7 did a how-to, it's hidden in the archives. http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=6&f=18&t=242215 |
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This is a tag. The next big ticket item on my list is an NVD. I too want the best available, not too worried about the $$. If I can't afford the best right now I'll just wait a little longer. Ideally I'd have a helmet mount + helmet with a unit that could quickly be removed and attached to a rail behind a T-1 or M4. I'm nearly a complete NOOB when it comes to NV, all I know is I want the best available. The whole cry once, buy the best is how I like to do things.
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