Night Vision Day/Night Scope for AR

[MuleDogie]

I have a $2K max budget for a day/night scope to fit onto my .223 AR-15. I want to keep to a single scope for both applications of hunting/shooting. I've read enough to know when to ask the experts so if anyone can share some insight or suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[RyanScott]

Decent scope and a really bright flashlight. Done.

 

[sgtsmmiii]

Might try one of the Pulsar DigiSight's with a good IR illuminator. That will be a reasonable setup within your budget.

 

[Cheyenne Bodie]

I have the newest Pulsar Digex N455 ~850nm lamp. It is a fantastic night scope, I paid around 900$ through a rep and it's fucking mind blowing for that price. Factory IR lamp will push to spot about 500 max on deer, 350ish max for coyotes— full moon and ideal visibility conditions. Absolutely dominates the sub 1.5$k market in my opinion for night vision.

That said, daylight use is unremarkable. If it's a really sunny day forget about anything past 100 yards. Cloudy days I'd give it 200 max. Simply put, it's a NV scope first and a daytime scope distant second. I wouldn't fuck around with the Digisight models at all in comparison, they are on their way out and the new form factor is the Digex/Thermions.

 

[Choid]

If you have any NV already, just get a red dot and one of those little TNVC lasers.

 

[diggler1833]

With a $2K budget I'd suggest a $1K day scope and $1K spent on digital night vision... then put both in decent QD mounts.

You might have to take 1-2 shots when switching back and forth to verify zero, but it will allow for a better DNV and day optics...in my non-expert opinion.

 

[hlee]

I have the newest Pulsar Digex N455 ~850nm lamp. It is a fantastic night scope, I paid around 900$ through a rep and it's fucking mind blowing for that price. Factory IR lamp will push to spot about 500 max on deer, 350ish max for coyotes— full moon and ideal visibility conditions. Absolutely dominates the sub 1.5$k market in my opinion for night vision.

That said, daylight use is unremarkable. If it's a really sunny day forget about anything past 100 yards. Cloudy days I'd give it 200 max. Simply put, it's a NV scope first and a daytime scope distant second. I wouldn't fuck around with the Digisight models at all in comparison, they are on their way out and the new form factor is the Digex/Thermions.

View attachment 7432157

I cannot see how the front of the scope is set up, however, you might be able to get a bit better day performance from your optic by reducing the aperture size. A relatively cheap and easy way to do that is to drill a 3/8 to 1/2 inch hole (maybe smaller) in the center of an objective scope cap. Maybe your scope is already set up similar...

 

[Strykervet]

You'd be much better off taking that $2k and getting a decent scope in the PX on here, and saving up for a used PVS30.

If you're deadset on NOW and $2k period, then you've only got one "decent" option and that's the PVS4. Military shit, they're oldies but goodies and the catadiotropic lens has covers for use in the day (although I'm sure it'll burn a spot over time if you do this enough).

 

[Cheyenne Bodie]

I cannot see how the front of the scope is set up, however, you might be able to get a bit better day performance from your optic by reducing the aperture size. A relatively cheap and easy way to do that is to drill a 3/8 to 1/2 inch hole (maybe smaller) in the center of an objective scope cap. Maybe your scope is already set up similar...

It has a factory daylight filter cap w/ a reduced objective on it for daytime use.