Night Vision Best IR illuminators

[znztivguy]

Re: Best IR illuminators

Currently using my Mantis...

 

[SABuzzard]

Re: Best IR illuminators

Is the Luna a true IR laser? I'm looking for a point of reference... can anybody compare it to an ATN-450? I've had good luck with the 450 at to about 125 yards using high quality ITT Pinnacle 3rd Gen tubes. After that it fades out or lights up background objects/trees.

Can you realistically expect 300-500 yard performance with the Luna?

 

[SABuzzard]

Re: Best IR illuminators

As far as a hand held goes I've had good luck with Magnalight's Infrared LED handheld spotlight

http://www.magnalight.com/pc-48406-186-i...on--3-watt.aspx

It's not intended to be mounted on a weapon, but works great when used with goggles or NVS-14 devices.

Throws usable light out to about 125 yrds on dark nights. Roughly the same as the ATN 450. The ATN has more of a focused beam where the Magnalight is more of a flood.

It's rechargeable and runs for 12+ hours. Handle is threaded. We've used it on a tripod when hunting from a stationary position to give the IR light a little more elevation. Helps when you're in high grass and makes follow up shots on hogs quicker rather than waiting for the reflection of the light off the muzzle blast (smoke) to clear.

I'm still looking for that true long range illuminator that will get me out to the 300-500 yard range on a dark night. Just built up a Remington .308 Mil-Spec 5R 20". Added a Badger Ordnance embedded front rail to hold a clip on my 3rd gen NV sight and want a illuminator to let me go long.

 

[wes1]

Re: Best IR illuminators

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SABuzzard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is the Luna a true IR laser? I'm looking for a point of reference... can anybody compare it to an ATN-450? I've had good luck with the 450 at to about 125 yards using high quality ITT Pinnacle 3rd Gen tubes. After that it fades out or lights up background objects/trees.

Can you realistically expect 300-500 yard performance with the Luna? </div></div>

The Luna blows away the LED based ATN450. The Luna is laser and works beyond 500 yards(depending on conditions)

 

[wes1]

Re: Best IR illuminators

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Salmonaxe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So recently I went shooting with my D-760 (Gen3 litton). It was super cloudy(full coverage), drizzle rain, fog, and very tall forest all around. Moon was supposed to be 1/2 moon, but I guess according to the moon calender calculation it wasn't even close to rising yet. I sure as heck didn't see any sign of it. I couldn't see more than a few feet around me and had to use a flashlight for navigation.

Still, I was able to make hits on a 6" piece of steel at 120yds(paced off). It was very hard to make out. Anyway, my buddy had a 6v millenium light and an IR filter which made a HUGE difference.

First, I was wondering if this performance is to be expected?

Second, after looking at other IR lights and reading about them in this thread, I was thinking that the use of 2 separate lights might be the best. It seems that for short distances something like the surefire vampire or m1 would be perfect for seeing in a wide field of view for shorter distances. Then use something like the Luna or Da Torch for longer distances. Would this be a good idea?

Another reason I was thinking of using Something like an M1 or vampire is for battery life. Not sure on the battery life on the Luna or Da Torch, but it seems like they must be shorter than the M1 an Vampire.

Also, What's the performance of something like an old 6v millenium light with the IR cover in comparison to the Vampire? </div></div>

I would recommend a M1 for navigation use and inside 75 yards. As for longer ranges the torch works well, but it's LED based, and looses steam inside 300 yards. If you feel the need to go further, I would recommend a high powered laser such as the Luna.

 

[SABuzzard]

Re: Best IR illuminators

<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: SABuzzard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is the Luna a true IR laser? I'm looking for a point of reference... can anybody compare it to an ATN-450? I've had good luck with the 450 at to about 125 yards using high quality ITT Pinnacle 3rd Gen tubes. After that it fades out or lights up background objects/trees.

Can you realistically expect 300-500 yard performance with the Luna? </div></div>

The Luna blows away the LED based ATN450. The Luna is laser and works beyond 500 yards(depending on conditions) </div></div>

Thanks! That's what I needed to hear. Just ordered a Luna ELIR-3. Will report back.

 

[shooter6.5]

Re: Best IR illuminators

if you do not mind

where did you order it and what did it run you ?

 

[***Ronin***]

Re: Best IR illuminators

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wildcats</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pwc001</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you can find one, the B.E. Meyers Izlid provides plenty of illumination, and can be focused to a lazer pointer. These are very powerful units, I don't have a picture, but you can Google it. </div></div> +1 B.E Meyers ROCK! </div></div>

B.E Meyers is something special... you can't really argue with that.

Here is some pictures where u can see how powerful it is.

Its taken from the 5th floor apartment and i used a PVS-14.

The first 4 pictures is the PEQ-15 then you can better understand what Meyers is like.

Aiming laser:

Illuminator Focused:

Illuminator Middle:

Illuminator Wide:

Here comes the beast... B.E Meyers

Focused:

Wide short distance:

Wide Long distance:

Check this cool video of the Izlid 200p: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3AQ5uBgeOM


I Also had some pictures of the SF M952v... If u wanted to get an idea of good it is.

Again used a PVS-14 at a 20 meters distance looking at my sons Dino ride.

WITHOUT m952v:

WITH M952v:

Stay frosty...

 

[SABuzzard]

Re: Best IR illuminators

if you do not mind

where did you order it and what did it run you ? [/quote

I picked up the Luna LN-ELIR3 at Knesk Guns (http://www.knesekguns.com/commercial/) Total cost including 2nd day Saturday delivery was $386.00

Haven't fully tested it yet, but what I have seen is impressive. Blows the doors off any LED illuminator I've tried. I'm clearly identifying targets out past 300 yards and that's the longest open area I have nearby. Headed out next weekend to try it in the country on hogs. I don't know how I ever owned a NV devise without a laser illuminator. The variable power and focus allowed me to direct light between obstacles to see what was behind. With my LED, light would have reflected off the obstacles and made it impossible to see beyond.

 

[shooter6.5]

Re: Best IR illuminators

thx for the info. Sounds like what I am looking for. Have used the B.E. Meyers and it is great but way more than what I need it for in the states. 300 yards is great. I have a Luna waiting when I get back.

Thx

 

[yellowcarbon]

Re: Best IR illuminators

I picked up a GCP-2A 100mw pointer/illuminator because of this post. It is an excellent unit. I wish it was a tad smaller, mainly because it blocks the bottom 20% of my daytime optics when mounted in the 12 o'clock position. But I willing to overlook that because of how bright and flexible the unit is. It can be used at 12 o'clock with a dedicated NV scope (mine is a PVS-4). You can adjust the bright by both a hi/lo switch as well as a brightness dial on the side. It can also be adjusted from a flood illuminator to a pointer. It easily triples the range of my PVS-4. It has a push botton adtivation on the top with a sheild to block it. It also have a pressure switch that plugs into the back.

It uses an ARMS #17 style mount. I put it on a ADM 17S mount, which was too short. So I drilled out a new hole to the second mounting screw. I do like the quick detach feature as there is no need to take a $1K IR illuminator to the range during the day.

 

[SABuzzard]

Re: Best IR illuminators

Got the Luna into the field this past weekend. There was nearly a full moon so the NV gear was working great anyhow, but the Luna performed well. Able to clearly light up targets (with detail) out to a known 500 yards. Luna blew the doors off my LED based illuminators. Greatly minimized reflective washout in dense cover by adjusting the laser width. The LED units are staying in the truck as backups from now on.

Very interested in how the unit will perform on a moonless night. I'm anticipating an easy 300 yrds vs. barely 100 with the LED.

 

[NoveSPR]

Re: Best IR illuminators

Though I have not used that particular unit, my experience is that the performance is actually mitigated by the moonlight and that they perform much better without it. But this is based on 50mW to 200mW units.

 

[SABuzzard]

Re: Best IR illuminators

That's encouraging to hear. I'm not always able to sync up my hunting opportunities and work schedule with a lunar table

 

[hoosierswat]

Re: Best IR illuminators

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SABuzzard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Got the Luna into the field this past weekend. There was nearly a full moon so the NV gear was working great anyhow, but the Luna performed well. Able to clearly light up targets (with detail) out to a known 500 yards. Luna blew the doors off my LED based illuminators. Greatly minimized reflective washout in dense cover by adjusting the laser width. The LED units are staying in the truck as backups from now on.

Very interested in how the unit will perform on a moonless night. I'm anticipating an easy 300 yrds vs. barely 100 with the LED. </div></div>

Any update on the Luna?

 

[SABuzzard]

Re: Best IR illuminators

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hoosierswat</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SABuzzard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Got the Luna into the field this past weekend. There was nearly a full moon so the NV gear was working great anyhow, but the Luna performed well. Able to clearly light up targets (with detail) out to a known 500 yards. Luna blew the doors off my LED based illuminators. Greatly minimized reflective washout in dense cover by adjusting the laser width. The LED units are staying in the truck as backups from now on.

Very interested in how the unit will perform on a moonless night. I'm anticipating an easy 300 yrds vs. barely 100 with the LED. </div></div>

Any update on the Luna? </div></div>


With my 3rd gen equipment on moonless/low ambient light nights the Luna is easily taking me out to 300 yards in relatively open terrain. In many cases it gives me enough light at 500 yards to claim that distance as well. The field of view gets very narrow as you have to focus the laser down to a tighter beam, but this really shouldn't be a problem as you increase the magnification of the scope (at least in the case of a clip-on NV devise).

I'm very glad I got the Luna. I can only imagine what a military grade laser illuminator is capable of, but for the money and for my night hog and varmint hunting needs the Luna is great.

 

[sf88]

Re: Best IR illuminators

I bought a Luna off ebay a while back and it stopped working for unknown reasons, does anyone know if the website linked earlier in the post will service them? I'm going to be giving them a call on monday.

 

[SABuzzard]

Re: Best IR illuminators

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NF1986</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I bought a Luna off ebay a while back and it stopped working for unknown reasons, does anyone know if the website linked earlier in the post will service them? I'm going to be giving them a call on monday. </div></div>

I would go straight to the manufacturer... http://www.lunaoptics.com/contactus.html

 

[knc1105]

Re: Best IR illuminators

Well the best IR Illuminator I ever used that would get you to 400-500 yards Gen 1 and 700-800 yards with Gen 2 plus I just found out is no longer available. Mine has been flawless and battery lasts for a long time. I guess there were not enough long range nightvision shooters to buy them. My link did not work anymore. I need to take really good care of it now.

 

[wowak1]

Re: Best IR illuminators

Hey guys sorry if you went over this, i'm new to the NV stuff...if i would go with a surefire scout light with an upgrade IR Vampire head for illumination and then run a DBAL I2 class 1 laser for my IR laser would that be adequate for mainly CQB and ranges out to 150 yards max?

Also would a weaponlight with a IR Head act the same as running a an/peq or dbal unit illuminator

thanks

 

[hognuts]

Re: Best IR illuminators

I was curious if any of you have any experience with the "go light" spotlights, they make an IR filter for the spotlights that is supposed to work in conjunction with your NV device, I have two of the units one is a magnetic mount remote control unit that is vehicle mounted and one hand held spotlight, I bought the IR filters for both with the thoughts of using them down the road when I get my NV set up on my rifle. I tried testing, but it was just with a gen 1 binoccular that a buddy of mine had and the test was poor, but the quality of the binos was poor at best, I think they are night owls or something like that and you can barely see across the room with them. Just wondering if anyone had tried these "IR filters" for spotlights and what kind of results they had. As a regular spotlight they are great, just hoping that the IR works as well.

 

[springer01]

Re: Best IR illuminators

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hognuts</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was curious if any of you have any experience with the "go light" spotlights, they make an IR filter for the spotlights that is supposed to work in conjunction with your NV device, I have two of the units one is a magnetic mount remote control unit that is vehicle mounted and one hand held spotlight, I bought the IR filters for both with the thoughts of using them down the road when I get my NV set up on my rifle. I tried testing, but it was just with a gen 1 binoccular that a buddy of mine had and the test was poor, but the quality of the binos was poor at best, I think they are night owls or something like that and you can barely see across the room with them. Just wondering if anyone had tried these "IR filters" for spotlights and what kind of results they had. As a regular spotlight they are great, just hoping that the IR works as well. </div></div>

Very curious about this as well I have the Pulsar Digisight with the Luna illumitator. I would like to use it in combination with my go light. Just not sure I want to spend the cash on the IR lens for the go light until I hear if it's worth it. Want to send me one to try with my Pulsar and we can see how they work? I'll pay shipping back if you want to send it to me? PM me if interested...
Tanner

 

[icedragonmx]

Re: Best IR illuminators

For a Elcan digital day/night scope and a Gen 2+ clip on how would the Pulsar 940 compare to the ATN 450. Any improvement going to a Pulsar over the ATN? Would it just be better to forget the Pulsar and go up to a Luna LN-ELIR3?

 

[HPLLC]

Re: Best IR illuminators





I was in a firefight in December 2004 in Samarra Iraq, taking fire from a graveyard at night, and we were having trouble seeing the enemy (other than muzzle flashes) because it was very dark and overcast that night. My LT whipped out a little tool and pushed the button and the entire graveyard was illuminated- like someone flipped a light switch.

That was my first experience with the GCP-2 ground commander's IR laser target designator, which features rail mount-ability, zero adjusters and a spot to flood beam.

I later owned one but in the early days of business had to sell it to pay bills. Too bad- I really loved that tool.

If there is a better IR illuminator on the market, all I could say is wow, because this one is the FREAKING CAT'S MEOW!!!!

I don't know the MW rating of the one I owned but it was like the sun powdered by two AA batteries.

 

[SABuzzard]

Re: Best IR illuminators

FYI...

Luna has released an improved version of their LN-ELIR-3 Illuminator.

http://www.lunaoptics.com/elir12.html

 

[Srussede]

Re: Best IR illuminators

night pics with iR lights
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3280289&#Post3280289

 

[Remensongalli]

Re: Best IR illuminators

Hi,
I am new to this forum. You people have a nice information for sharing with us. Thanks for giving useful information.

 

[jwp6114]

have made 3" groups at 600 yards with a peq-15 pvs-22 NF 5.5-22x56 on my .308 bolt gun. but the PEQ 15 is hard to come by on the civi market.