I've shot handguns and carbines in low light / no light conditions before, but never had a chance to really reach out with a scoped rifle in the dark before. This took place right on the WV/OH/Marietta area in the middle of no where, and it was completely dark, cloudy, no stars, no moon, absolutely no street lights. I could maybe see the outline of my rifle and that was it.
There were 2 of us with MK12s complete with suppressors. Were were on the top of a mountain, shooting to the other side of a valley at a 12" plate 340yds away. The targets arent in a very visible location during the day, when the field is trimmed.
We hung a small blue glow stick from a branch 6" above the plate so we could at least start with an idea of the target location. We have no NVG of any kind. With the naked eye neither of us could see the glow stick through the vegetation, but we could both see it with our scopes. Being the first time I ever "needed to use" a variable power scope in the dark, I was amazed at what I could see with the 36mm objective of the MR/T.
The first thing I learned is the illuminated reticle has a purpose. I always ASSumed the illumination was a waste of money, thinking if I can see the target, I'll be able to see the cross hairs on top. That was a wrong assumption. My friend had the non illuminated (an original TS-30) and it was impossible to pick up the cross hairs.
Once I found the glow stick through the scope, I took my shot and got a direct hit on the glow stick with the first shot. That was neat until we realized all we had now was some scattered blue splotches.
What I learned:
Illuminated reticle is a must
The OPS 12th model suppressor COMPLETELY eliminates muzzle flash
MK262 makes really cool sparks at night when it impacts steel.
For me personally, I cant keep my eyes open for more than a second and keep a sight picture in the dark. I'd look through the scope and find the blue speckles, and as soon as I saw them they would completely disappear. If I held the sight picture, closed my eyes for a second when I opened them I could see the target just long enough to take the shot. Is that just me or a common occurrence?
Heres a pic of the range from a few years ago. It hasnt been trimmed or mowed in over a year.
The targets are in the black spot in the middle.
I havent figured out how to embed on this site, but heres a pointless video of the shooting with both of us with the camera behind us pointed at the target. I told you there was no flash. The bang is the gun, the "clank" is a hit, and the last "click" is me releasing the trigger to reset.
http://www.adcofirearms.com/junkpics/night_shoot.wmv
There were 2 of us with MK12s complete with suppressors. Were were on the top of a mountain, shooting to the other side of a valley at a 12" plate 340yds away. The targets arent in a very visible location during the day, when the field is trimmed.
We hung a small blue glow stick from a branch 6" above the plate so we could at least start with an idea of the target location. We have no NVG of any kind. With the naked eye neither of us could see the glow stick through the vegetation, but we could both see it with our scopes. Being the first time I ever "needed to use" a variable power scope in the dark, I was amazed at what I could see with the 36mm objective of the MR/T.
The first thing I learned is the illuminated reticle has a purpose. I always ASSumed the illumination was a waste of money, thinking if I can see the target, I'll be able to see the cross hairs on top. That was a wrong assumption. My friend had the non illuminated (an original TS-30) and it was impossible to pick up the cross hairs.
Once I found the glow stick through the scope, I took my shot and got a direct hit on the glow stick with the first shot. That was neat until we realized all we had now was some scattered blue splotches.
What I learned:
Illuminated reticle is a must
The OPS 12th model suppressor COMPLETELY eliminates muzzle flash
MK262 makes really cool sparks at night when it impacts steel.
For me personally, I cant keep my eyes open for more than a second and keep a sight picture in the dark. I'd look through the scope and find the blue speckles, and as soon as I saw them they would completely disappear. If I held the sight picture, closed my eyes for a second when I opened them I could see the target just long enough to take the shot. Is that just me or a common occurrence?
Heres a pic of the range from a few years ago. It hasnt been trimmed or mowed in over a year.
The targets are in the black spot in the middle.
I havent figured out how to embed on this site, but heres a pointless video of the shooting with both of us with the camera behind us pointed at the target. I told you there was no flash. The bang is the gun, the "clank" is a hit, and the last "click" is me releasing the trigger to reset.
http://www.adcofirearms.com/junkpics/night_shoot.wmv
