Night Vision AN/PVS-22 Alignment

Phylodog

Hidin since '06
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 9, 2006
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Arcadia, IN
Just received an AN/PVS-22 last week. I sent my rifle off to AJ Brown to have a Badger EFR installed (which he completed in record time BTW, can't recommend him highly enough). I got the rifle back yesterday and took it out last night to see how things looked.

As you can see from the pics, the PVS-22 sits higher than the scope. I know these units do not require perfect alignment but I was worried that it wasn't going to be good enough. To my surprise it seemed to function very well as is but I did not get an opportunity to shoot the rifle with the PVS mounted.

For those of you who have run these, can anyone provide an educated guess as to whether I'll see a POI shift with the optics lining up like they are? I'm hoping that I won't have to go with higher rings to get better alignment but obviously I will if necessary. There were some other rifles/NV setups out last night and mine seemed to "see" just as well as the others so I'm cautiously optimistic at this point. I'm not sure when I'll get an opportunity to shoot the setup but if it is likely that I'll need new rings I'd like to go ahead and get them ordered.

TIA

P1040356.jpg

P1040355.jpg

P1040357.jpg
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

no worries, it will be fine. i went through the same thing. i bought taller rings and there was no difference bewteen the talls and shorts looking through. go shoot it!!!
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fastford</div><div class="ubbcode-body">no worries, it will be fine. i went through the same thing. i bought taller rings and there was no difference bewteen the talls and shorts looking through. go shoot it!!! </div></div>

What he said.
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

It's hard to believe that you would be OK with that much offset, but I believe you will. At least in my experience which is only out to 750 meters in dark conditions.

We shot a 300 mag AIAW, USO SN-3 TPAL 3.2-17X44, my OSTI PVS-22 with similar offset to your setup, and, to our surprise, it maintained it's POI within 1/4 MOA at multiple ranges. Granted, the max engagement range was 750 meters (with a fair bit of ambient light), the minimum was 200. Magnifications from 3.2 to 12X were used.
The AI's owner was so impressed, he bought a PVS-27 himself!
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

While there may be (maybe) slight image degradation with 1/2" offsets with some vignetting, there will be no POA/POI issues. This is what separates these high end clip-on's vs. the copy name units such as the PS-22 etc.

Vic
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Phylodog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just received an AN/PVS-22 last week. I sent my rifle off to AJ Brown to have a Badger EFR installed (which he completed in record time BTW, can't recommend him highly enough). I got the rifle back yesterday and took it out last night to see how things looked.

As you can see from the pics, the PVS-22 sits higher than the scope. I know these units do not require perfect alignment but I was worried that it wasn't going to be good enough. To my surprise it seemed to function very well as is but I did not get an opportunity to shoot the rifle with the PVS mounted.

For those of you who have run these, can anyone provide an educated guess as to whether I'll see a POI shift with the optics lining up like they are? I'm hoping that I won't have to go with higher rings to get better alignment but obviously I will if necessary. There were some other rifles/NV setups out last night and mine seemed to "see" just as well as the others so I'm cautiously optimistic at this point. I'm not sure when I'll get an opportunity to shoot the setup but if it is likely that I'll need new rings I'd like to go ahead and get them ordered.

TIA

P1040356.jpg

P1040355.jpg

P1040357.jpg

</div></div>

OP: Did you shoot it yet?
Was there a shift?
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

I run Badger 1.275” high rings (in 34mm this is P/N 306-27) to get the best true up between UNS and scope.
I also run my unit much closer to the objective.
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tigerbikes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I run Badger 1.275” high rings (in 34mm this is P/N 306-27) to get the best true up between UNS and scope.
I also run my unit much closer to the objective. </div></div>


Did you get a POA shift before using the 1.275 rings?
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wes1</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tigerbikes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I run Badger 1.275” high rings (in 34mm this is P/N 306-27) to get the best true up between UNS and scope.
I also run my unit much closer to the objective. </div></div>

Did you get a POA shift before using the 1.275 rings? </div></div>

Never tried with my current PVS-24.
I had a PVS-26 prior and I didn't get an 100% FOV on the highest power.
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: g3ninfinite</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Are these badboys rated for .338LM? Hello TB! </div></div>

NO issues at all with 338's with the 22's or the 27's. The shock mitigation system works that well with all high blaster shootin' sticks.
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

Not to hijack but Victor that is good to hear I have a 27 and have read that its safe but i've been a little nervous about pulling the trigger on the 50.
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

The 50 is safer on an optic than a 338lm...<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: utahm35a2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not to hijack but Victor that is good to hear I have a 27 and have read that its safe but i've been a little nervous about pulling the trigger on the 50. </div></div>
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

You will be fine.

I had a significant offset with the KAC AI UNS mount and the Vortex Low rings I was using on the AE MkII. I could still observe and engage just fine with it.

IMG_6887.jpg


And before anyone mentions it, yes I am aware that the PVS-22 is too close to the objective in this image. It's for illustration purposes only. There should be about a scope caps distance if you are not running a sunshade.

Glad to hear you guys got one. If I could afford one of my own it would be in my safe.
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ASM1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 50 is safer on an optic than a 338lm...<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: utahm35a2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not to hijack but Victor that is good to hear I have a 27 and have read that its safe but i've been a little nervous about pulling the trigger on the 50. </div></div> </div></div>


Had to Re-read, what you said...AGREED! (Edited as I first thought you had it the other way around.)
wink.gif
The peak recoil is much faster on the 338's, these are the real optic killers. The 50 bmg's have a somewhat slow recoil vs. a fast/sharp peak of energy on the 338's. Good to see someone talk about this.

We met with Leupy several years ago with testing of our Scope Accessory Ring and during on-site shock testing at Leupy we witnessed how hard the 338's really were on optics compared to the rest.
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: g3ninfinite</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Also Im curious as to how these work without a suppressor. Do you cut out after a shot? </div></div>

With the current ITT Pinnacle tubes, it takes a pretty big flash to shut these down. (22's/26's and 27's.) One might have a fogging effect with rapid fire that dissipates quickly, but not too many auto shut downs to speak of.
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

I was finally able to do a bit of shooting with the setup last night. I've put my barreled action into an XLR chassis which aligns the USO & PVS a little better than the A5 stock did but not much. There wasn't much ambient light out and we were barely able to make out a 4'x4' piece of plywood set up at 100 yards with the naked eye.

I got the rifle zeroed then shut off the lights and began shooting steel out to 700 yards. I was only able to hit the 700 yard gong one time as I could barely make it out. The 600 yard was a snap and here is a pic of 8 rounds, fired by two different shooters, at the 600 yard gong with the PVS-22. I was very impressed with it's capabilities.
2011-08-30_21-57-46_233.jpg


Someone asked about my tripod, it is a DCLW which you can find at Phoenix Tactical.
 
Re: AN/PVS-22 Alignment

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Phylodog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've got a Surefire 6P with an IR filter but that's it for now. </div></div>

Time to get a IR laser illuminator to really extended your range.
Nice shooting BTW