Rifle Scopes Help me pick my NV setup

savage110

Gunny Sergeant
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Sep 21, 2009
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Ok, so I have a friend with a huge cattle farm about 90 mins away from me, coyotes have been a bitch and since my friend doesn't hunt, he said go ahead and take them out. Im pretty sure I would be allowed to hunt at night since its private land, but ill check before I make a purchase. I need a decent monocular that can be mounted onto the back of a day scope, rifle will probably be a 17hmr so recoil is no prob. from what iv'e read if I get a gen1 and a really powerful infrared ill. I should be ok within 200yds.
please point me in the right direction, and keep it under 1k, I would love a pvs-14 but thats not doable.
I found one thats made in europe but I cant seem to find it anywhere in the usa.
http://www.nightvisioncentre.co.uk/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=3&products_id=123

Thanks
-Felipe

 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

Thanks, I have looked into those, but I would really like a monocular. Anyone heard of pulsar? seems like they have a solid warranty.
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

That's a pretty tall order. I was able to get a GT14 monocular from Optics HQ for $1700. It's a Gen 2+ SHP "B" grade tube. You have to call and ask for the availability of the "B" tubes. They are graded for specks in the FOV. Mine has one that's noticeable in the edge of the FOV but doesn't hinder performance.

GT14

If you have to go above $2k then I would look for a used Gen 3. It's hard to find good NV for under $1K.

Good luck.

Paul
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

Yeah it is hard, I saw some vids and pics of the Cobra and it seems awesome, too bad its only available in the UK.
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: repins2004</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hey man I know your looking for actual nv but i think for your application you'll find like others this will be a decent investment. www.lasergenetics.com/lg-cart.aspx?BuyProduct=357
I have talked to several poeple and these things are apparently well worth the money. Good Luck. </div></div>

That's pretty cool. I'm gonna check one of those out.
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

Yeah there suppose to be pretty handy you can get them for much cheaper than that website from like natchez and others. Ask around maybe even post a topic on them get some more feedback. Good Luck.
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

I would really like a monocular that can be mounted onto a dayscope, no one here has experience with a GEN1 monocular?

Since there's virtually no recoil on a 17hmr, is their a problem in using a head mounted monocular to shoot through a day scope? Anyone tried it? Would I encounter any issues with a set up like this?
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SNIPERS4DUMMIES</div><div class="ubbcode-body">go with a PVS4 dedicated weaponsight with reticle Gen 2 tube could be found from $800-1500
Good Luck </div></div>

Good call. I forgot about the PVS4. PVS4

Should be lots of parts available too.
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

With your budget and intended use I'll second the suggestion for the laser genetics light. My little brother bought one a few months back and I was very skeptical about it but it actually does work pretty well.

If you still feel you have to go with actual NV get a dedicated NV sight and maybe an IR illuminator. I was told that even with a GenIII monocular you'll loose a lot of light when using it behind a dayscope.
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

I would really like a GEN1 monocular, I know a illuminator will be needed and already found the one I would like. Now I need to pick which monocular, anyone that has one or has used a gen1 monocular please give me your opinion on it, please state which one you used(brand name, model name etc...)
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Savage110</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would really like a monocular that can be mounted onto a dayscope, no one here has experience with a GEN1 monocular?

Since there's virtually no recoil on a 17hmr, is their a problem in using a head mounted monocular to shoot through a day scope? Anyone tried it? Would I encounter any issues with a set up like this? </div></div>

That's what I have but it's a Gen 2+. The mounting system is pretty rigid. Not combat tough but hunting/night plinking tough. I haven't seen a Gen 1 mounted up that I can remember. Also, if you don't have a suppressor or very effective flash hider, then you may suffer from washout from the muzzle flash but there are folks out there with more experience than myself.

Google "Night Vision Forums". Although most are centered around a particular company, you can still get some good information. I do think you're going to be hard pressed to beat the PVS4 Gen 2 for the money.

Good luck!
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Savage110</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Anyone use one of these?
http://www.opticsplanet.net/pulsar-nightvision-scope-challenger-gs-1x20.html
They make a head mount for it too. </div></div>

You might as well just use a flashlight and illuminate the critters. A boat horn would probably be more effective.

A simple observation should be made here...in night-vision you "especially" get what you pay for.
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SNIPERS4DUMMIES</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Savage110</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Anyone use one of these?
http://www.opticsplanet.net/pulsar-nightvision-scope-challenger-gs-1x20.html
They make a head mount for it too. </div></div>

You might as well just use a flashlight and illuminate the critters. A boat horn would probably be more effective.

A simple observation should be made here...in night-vision you "especially" get what you pay for. </div></div>
Seriously, I know the you get what you pay for is true, but one of these with a IR illuminator wouldn't do any good?
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Savage110</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would really like a monocular that can be mounted onto a dayscope, no one here has experience with a GEN1 monocular?

Since there's virtually no recoil on a 17hmr, is their a problem in using a head mounted monocular to shoot through a day scope? Anyone tried it? Would I encounter any issues with a set up like this? </div></div>

I have a gen one monocular that is just a look threw scope and that thing really does suck. everything is really blurry. cant make positive IDs past maybe 15 feet so I WOULD NOT want to hunt with one. just my .02


Scott
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

I'm still in for the nd3 illuminator i here its good for 200 yds easy. Mounts to your day scope not big and cumbersome. light weight no need for extra hands. Lights up a dog no prob. 300 bucks your done. I Know its not as cool as nv. but hey if it works it works. You could go down to toys r us and get the spy kids nv for $50 take it all apart, remove the receptor components make a housing that focuses on your eye relief of your scope and buy a surefire IR Tac light and see what kind of state of the art shit you can come up with. lol
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: repins2004</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm still in for the nd3 illuminator i here its good for 200 yds easy. Mounts to your day scope not big and cumbersome. light weight no need for extra hands. Lights up a dog no prob. 300 bucks your done. I Know its not as cool as nv. but hey if it works it works. You could go down to toys r us and get the spy kids nv for $50 take it all apart, remove the receptor components make a housing that focuses on your eye relief of your scope and buy a surefire IR Tac light and see what kind of state of the art shit you can come up with. lol </div></div>

I agree. Better to spend $350 on something quality than on something marginal at best. The problem with the Gen 1 is that it's performance will be limited at best without the day optic involved. Once you couple to the rear of the day optic, then you're greatly limiting the amount of light that can get to the NV, I would guess by over 50%.

My Gen2+ SHP tube is almost Gen 3 good, 90% of Gen 3. But once I couple it through the day optic, it's a good bit darker. An IR torch brightens the area, working really well out to 50 yards but it's limited as well by the light gathering ability of the day optic. But even at that, my tube coupled through the day optic is better than a Gen 1 tube by itself. I can't imagine what a Gen 1 would look like through a day optic, but your target had better be close.

Paul
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: huntinaz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Called Game and Fish, I was told. "You can not hunt coyotes on private property at night". The game laws still apply on private property. </div></div>
What about with permits? remember the land I am allowed to shoot on is a cattle ranch, if the coyote's are doing damage, then im pretty sure that the farm owners could apply for some sort of permit....

I will check....
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Savage110</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: huntinaz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Called Game and Fish, I was told. "You can not hunt coyotes on private property at night". The game laws still apply on private property. </div></div>
What about with permits? remember the land I am allowed to shoot on is a cattle ranch, if the coyote's are doing damage, then im pretty sure that the farm owners could apply for some sort of permit....

I will check....</div></div>

If the yotes are causing damage to your friends range you might be able to get a permit from game and fish.
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

I would reach out to Victor at TNVC.com. He is the most knowledgable person anywhere on NV in general and is very generous with his time. I have purchased alot of gear from him and can vouch for him without reservation. Tom
 
Re: Help me pick my NV setup

What is the real-world performance of a PVS-4 Gen 2 system? How far can I see and identify animals in the desert with moonlight and with only starlight? I like the large aperture of the PVS-4 compared to the PVS-14, but I wonder whether the image intensifier is the limiting factor and the PVS-14 with a 3x lens is the better way to go (buy once is my motto)? I don't really want to shoot with NV, just observe.

So, PVS-4 Gen 2 or PVS-14 Gen 3 for observing animals in the desert to a few hundred yards in low and very low light conditions??? Would converting the PVS-4 to Gen 3 be the best of all worlds for this application???