Night Vision Illuminator recommendations?

[Jamesf553]

Hi! I just purchased an atn xsight ii and am looking to get an illuminator to help extend the range over the factory one. Price isn't a problem. I've been looking at the armasight extended range illuminator, the ATN 850pro, and the Luna optics ELIR3. I was about to purchase the ELIR3 when I read some reviews saying it is incredibly weak compared to others.

if possible I'd like one that doesn't give off a faint red glow but from what I've researched, they all do that.

Any suggestion?

thanks!

 

[wigwamitus]

Read some more reviews !!!!
(on the ELILR3)

 

[Night Assassin]

Find a PEQ-15. Post a WTB in the exchange, one will come up

 

[87stang]

The elir3 is impressive. I’ve run one next to a full power peq-15 and it holds its own. Do some more research on it and watch some how to videos.

 

[Killswitch Engage]

i have both a peq-15 full power and a luna in hand right now and you are very very hard pressed to tell the difference on target between them. in fact the luna beam is much cleaner overall.

 

[Jamesf553]

Thanks for the responses guys. Amazon tricked me into thinking the ELIR3 was the EIR3. That's the one that got some criticism. I will do some more research and watch some videos.

does the ELIR3 still produce a faint red glow? I am going to be entering dangerous combat situations with hogs (lol).

 

[Killswitch Engage]

laser illumination in the 850nm spectrum still produces a tiny bit of red but its about 1/100th of what a led illuminator does. the full power peq-15, peq-2a and luna all produce a tiny bit but its not something an animal can see. the beam divergence is so tiny vs a led illum lens its basically non existent

 

[Jamesf553]

laser illumination in the 850nm spectrum still produces a tiny bit of red but its about 1/100th of what a led illuminator does. the full power peq-15, peq-2a and luna all produce a tiny bit but its not something an animal can see. the beam divergence is so tiny vs a led illum lens its basically non existent

Gotcha, thank you!

 

[lizzardking308]

Suggestion on where to get one? I was close to getting the Steiner SPIR but this looks like it might punch farther our for a chunk less?

 

[wigwamitus]

PM surgeon_shooter here on the hide !

 

[marvthehamster]

So is the Luna a restricted power unit? In product descriptions I see a 0.5mw output rating and also mention of a filter. Seems like a lot of range out of a class 1 laser based illuminator. I’m interested to know more from experienced users.

 

[Strykervet]

Find a PEQ-15. Post a WTB in the exchange, one will come up

PEQ2A's are cheaper and I think more powerful than the standard PEQ15 but IME they look about the same. Longer and no visible laser but still low profile. They also tend to be "less illegal" because they're older and many are in a "gray area" due to older rules. Still, check out the SN with FBI, CID, MPI, NCIS, local and county police. If they aren't looking for it, chances are it's off the radar. They cannot be sent in for repair, Insight will keep it. So get a good one. Standard power PEQ15's are still twice the cost of a PEQ2 if not more, and higher chance of being stolen or being looked for. Hi-power PEQ15's are out there, there are 2 models, but much rarer and much more costly and much higher chance of being fake or stolen. Anything BE Meyers will almost certainly be stolen IF you can even find it. An Atilla 200 is a great find, 0-200mW range with separate laser and illum. Oldie but certainly a goodie, I'd love to have one. Make sure it's a real Atilla 200, that's the model you want and is more powerful than you'll need (but adj. to any output).

Don't know anything about the Candian made stuff, but it looks like cheap Russian mfg. to me and I hear it's not that great and even crappy.

Best bet is to call Vic at TNVC and talk to him. He's honest and will tell you what works best for you regarding civilian stuff. He can't sell you the restricted stuff but can compare it to anything you are familiar with already. He's my go-to guy for anything NV.

 

[TheGerman]

Find a PEQ-15. Post a WTB in the exchange, one will come up

<internet forum RAAAAaAAAAAaAaaAAAaGGGGGEeeeEE>

omg so illegal! !1!11! like someone will kill your dog and kick in your door at 3am!

you'll burn your eye out and set your house on fire

THINK OF THE WARRANTY!1!11111!!!

I don't care if you used a PEQ15 in Afghanistan - real trigger puller face shooter MARSEALFORCENAVSPECDELTAGRU use civi spec units

 

[Night Assassin]

<internet forum RAAAAaAAAAAaAaaAAAaGGGGGEeeeEE>

omg so illegal! !1!11! like someone will kill your dog and kick in your door at 3am!

you'll burn your eye out and set your house on fire

THINK OF THE WARRANTY!1!11111!!!

I don't care if you used a PEQ15 in Afghanistan - real trigger puller face shooter MARSEALFORCENAVSPECDELTAGRU use civi spec units

German i think Vic has taken over your account........

 

[Rogerthatout]

Suggestion on where to get one? I was close to getting the Steiner SPIR but this looks like it might punch farther our for a chunk less?

I have the Steiner SPIR, and I love it

 

[Jamesf553]

I ended up with the elir3. Works great! Hats off to TNVG who helped me out.

 

[Rogerthatout]

I ended up with the elir3. Works great! Hats off to TNVG who helped me out.

If that's the one with the filter in it, I don't suggest it for past 100 yards. I sent it back..

 

[KillerCreed]

Read some more reviews !!!!
(on the ELILR3)

Which would u prefer out of the 2

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wigwamitus]

None of the above !!! Crappy ir-illuminators are crappy !!

Either get a real PEQ-15 (or 2)

Or get ELIR-3 with a CQBL-1 or equivalent ... ( I also have paq-4c which was half the cost and 25% lighter ... than the CQBL-1)

 

[Killswitch Engage]

If that's the one with the filter in it, I don't suggest it for past 100 yards. I sent it back..

you missed the boat on that bud. you remove the filter and youll be more than pleasantly surpised

 

[Surgeon_Shooter]

Here’s a Luna on my little rifle.

 

[Surgeon_Shooter]

you missed the boat on that bud. you remove the filter and youll be more than pleasantly surpised

Yea big time. They are trash if it’s left in.

 

[Proarc]

I just bought two of the Lunas from surgeon shooter, And yes I know what a real Peq15 looks like in the woods. They are as close as you can legally buy. Just use as much care with the beam as you do a loaded weapon.

Jay had the best pricing, and a real honest guy to deal with.

 

[Rogerthatout]

you missed the boat on that bud. you remove the filter and youll be more than pleasantly surpised

Without the filter you can burn someone's eyes and it's illegal... I'm very happy with the SPIR.

 

[deersniper]

Without the filter you can burn someone's eyes and it's illegal... I'm very happy with the SPIR.

is this sarcasm?

 

[Rogerthatout]

is this sarcasm?

I don't think so. Wasn't trying to be sarcastic. The filter keeps it eye safe right?

 

[Surgeon_Shooter]

Without the filter you can burn someone's eyes and it's illegal... I'm very happy with the SPIR.

Its not illegal sir. Not at all.

 

[Killswitch Engage]

Without the filter you can burn someone's eyes and it's illegal... I'm very happy with the SPIR.

lol! outlaws unite

 

[Rudy Gonsior]

I've been running the B.E. Meyers MAWL-C1+ for most of this last year. I had a chance to run it along side the Wilcox RAPTAR Lite, the PEQ15 and LA5 last June during a 3 week pre-mission train up. Hands down the MAWL is where I'd spend my money. I know its probably a bit more than what most people are looking to spend but the performance exceed most of the other class 1 lasers like the Wilcox and PEQ15. Using PVS30s, the RAPTAR had a useable range on average, (this being able to ID and hit steal E-types) around about 200-300m, while the PEQ15 was able to push 300-400m. The LA5 clearly over matched the power of the MAWL, given it wasn't restricted but even then the MAWL seemed to give a much clearer flood and I feel the controls are superior. We were able push both the LA5 and MAWL to 600ish.

Again I know the MAWL is probably outside the price envelop that the OP was looking at but I think the ELRI3 is going to underwhelming. If you can't swing the MAWL then give serious consideration to saving your pennies for a PEQ15.

v/r Rudy

 

[Killswitch Engage]

so you ran a class 1 mawl against a full power peq15 and could only engage E silhouettes at 300-400m and a 165mw la-5 at 600m? I have all 3 in hand right now and zero issue taking any of them including the luna elir-3 to 600m with the la-5 easily doing 1k. good to know the mawl c1 can do 600m. that's the first report on long range ive heard from anyone. thanks

 

[Rudy Gonsior]

so you ran a class 1 mawl against a full power peq15 and could only engage E silhouettes at 300-400m and a 165mw la-5 at 600m? I have all 3 in hand right now and zero issue taking any of them including the luna elir-3 to 600m with the la-5 easily doing 1k. good to know the mawl c1 can do 600m. that's the first report on long range ive heard from anyone. thanks

I suppose what is considered effective naturally a very subjective topic. I think one of the big issues is atmospheric conditions and other being target size/shape/color/contrast. There have been times where I've taken the LA5 out to 1556m but the l conditions were very clear and the steal E-types where painted a reflective white that real "pop" against the grass. That said this last June the condition were less ideal with low overcast, on E-types painted black/gray but I used that as an example because thats the only situation in which I've had all of them mounted up and could jump from one gun to the next.

Based off my experience, the LA5 certainly projects more energy then the MAWL C1+ (obviously) but I find that the LA5 (and PEQ15) exhibit that wavy flood which limits its usefulness when targets are not in contrast and you need to see the details. This is were I feel the MAWL comes in, while having less power it was able to provide a better useable flood. I think if the conditions where better and the targets more reflective then you'd have a situation where the LA5 would edge out the lower power MAWL C1+ much easier.

v/r Rudy

 

[Killswitch Engage]

gotcha rudy and I agree. conditions many times dictate performance of all this gear. thanks for sharing your experience.