This is my first set of NVG’s and now I would like to find an optic I can use during the day and also use with NVG at night. I have a few acogs, but looking for something with a smaller footprint for a sbr 5.56. I tried looking through an MRO and I had problems picking up the dot quickly. This could be a result of needing to put more time in with the unit. I would be interested to know what most are using. I’m looking for small footprint to keep the weight as low as possible. Thanks!
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Night Vision Just bought NVG, What to use for optics?
- Thread starter CajunReebox
- Start date
Aimpoint T2 and Eotech EXPS3-0 are basically the gold standards.
Do you have a riser on the MRO? I have the high mounts on MROs on some Krinks and they work fine with Katanas or PVS14s running passive.
Check your body structure also, try having your head more erect if your currently bending your neck over to the stock.
Check your body structure also, try having your head more erect if your currently bending your neck over to the stock.
^^ This 100%
I don’t do as much shooting with my PVS14 as I’d like but when I first got I spent a lot of time playing with my setup until I was happy. I prefer the Eotech but the Aimpoint T1 or T2 work well too.
As others have said the mount height is important. I’m using a Unity riser for the Eotech and Unity mounts for my Aimpoints. There are a lot of good 2.25” RDS mounting solutions now.
I have no issues running a 1/3rd cowitness with an aimpoint or EOTech. I love the cleanliness of the exps when magnified but hate the battery life and auto off.
I have mostly switched to aimpoint micros to run with passive but have also run RMR on sub guns like an APC9.
I have mostly switched to aimpoint micros to run with passive but have also run RMR on sub guns like an APC9.
Eotech EXPS (1.7) or Holosun 510c with its own riser (1.63) + Wilcox 0.410 rail riser to me is just about perfect for me.
EXPS has a nifty NV button that instantly puts the reticle into NV mode. The T2 you have to pfutz with the dial. Also, the EXPS is MUCH easier to find under NODs than the 2-MOA dot of the Aimpoint.
Personally, I think the EXPS is MUCH better for NOD use, while I prefer the Aimpoint for daylight classes and bedside/HD, since I don’t need to worry about turning it on.
Personally, I think the EXPS is MUCH better for NOD use, while I prefer the Aimpoint for daylight classes and bedside/HD, since I don’t need to worry about turning it on.
Everyone who can afford to play the NVG game can afford a dedicated night gun (eotech + nongay laser ) and day gun (aimpoint/lpvo/acog+rmr)
The Aimpoint T2 is great.
The Romeo 4Tpro is supposedly just as good for significantly less, and has an NV button and reticle.
The Holosun AEMS is just about as good as the T2,
but I do strongly prefer the dial on the T2 vs the buttons on the AEMS for manipulating in the dark.
Since you can afford NV you shouldn't need to go any cheaper than the above. It is CRUCIAL you use a mount height of at least 1.9", personally I really like the Unity which is about a 2.25" height.
All of the above are good enough that I have no interest whatsoever in Eotechs. To me theres no way a slight increase in clarity could be worth the battery life, not to mention bulkiness. If your building a dedicated night gun the Eotech is probably the way to go, but personally I like having maximally versatile weapons.
The Romeo 4Tpro is supposedly just as good for significantly less, and has an NV button and reticle.
The Holosun AEMS is just about as good as the T2,
but I do strongly prefer the dial on the T2 vs the buttons on the AEMS for manipulating in the dark.
Since you can afford NV you shouldn't need to go any cheaper than the above. It is CRUCIAL you use a mount height of at least 1.9", personally I really like the Unity which is about a 2.25" height.
All of the above are good enough that I have no interest whatsoever in Eotechs. To me theres no way a slight increase in clarity could be worth the battery life, not to mention bulkiness. If your building a dedicated night gun the Eotech is probably the way to go, but personally I like having maximally versatile weapons.
Eotechs will never have amazing battery life due to the way they project the reticle but when was their last design update ? 10 years ago ?
Maybe they could come with an updated housing with some kind of auto live/solar and run on some 3.7V Lit battery (16650).
Maybe they could come with an updated housing with some kind of auto live/solar and run on some 3.7V Lit battery (16650).
This is the method I use. EXPS3 with a FTS 3x. Works with NV, RH25 in clip on mode with the 3x, and daytime use. Or I just fire up the NGAL if passive aiming isn't needed.
This is the best way I've found so far. Haven't attached the switch yet because still working on F/R placement. Unfortunately if you want battery access this is the only way to setup the mount/ramp, which kills magnifier access, might be ok with the shorter G43, will give that a shot. This is the .875 height which gives you 2.5" optical center with EXPS. GBRS was too high for my tastes and Unity too low.
As already stated, EXPS 3 and T2 are going to be your gold standard. Like the poster above, I use an EXPS for purposeful use (NVG, CQB, etc) and keep a T2 on the bedside/home defense rig due to battery life and such.
I'm sure you're aware already, but you'll want to get a riser with the height that works best for you. Unity, Irregular Defense, and GBRS are the most popular and will have different heights. 2.25, 2.5, and 2.91 respectively. That is going to help you immensely with passive nvg aiming. You'll likely also want to grab a printed cheek riser or one of the handful of stocks that have adjustable cheek. In a perfect world, you'll want a very upright/heads up stance that mirrors your pistol stance. And having a cheek weld makes it easier to accomplish. This is especially true with passive aiming as you need to find your dot/reticle asap.
And lastly, unless you're for some reason worried about counter-nvg seeing your active nvg aiming (and even then, you'll just utilize more discipline like you would with a white light), you're definitely going to want to pick up a good illuminator/laser. Active aiming is much better/easier than passive.
I'm sure you're aware already, but you'll want to get a riser with the height that works best for you. Unity, Irregular Defense, and GBRS are the most popular and will have different heights. 2.25, 2.5, and 2.91 respectively. That is going to help you immensely with passive nvg aiming. You'll likely also want to grab a printed cheek riser or one of the handful of stocks that have adjustable cheek. In a perfect world, you'll want a very upright/heads up stance that mirrors your pistol stance. And having a cheek weld makes it easier to accomplish. This is especially true with passive aiming as you need to find your dot/reticle asap.
And lastly, unless you're for some reason worried about counter-nvg seeing your active nvg aiming (and even then, you'll just utilize more discipline like you would with a white light), you're definitely going to want to pick up a good illuminator/laser. Active aiming is much better/easier than passive.
+1 on EXPS3 and T2 being the best for NV passive aiming. I have two "go-to" NV guns one with a EXPS3.0 and the other with a T2 both on Unity risers/FAST mounts for a 2.26" height. If weight and size are a big concern the T2 is the clear winner. EXPS3 is better at passive aiming, but is a lot heavier, bulkier, and with worse battery life.
And, if you have the money for NV why not give more than one of your rifles the option to be used for NV shooting. After my two "dedicated" NV guns were done I made many of my guns partially capable of being used for NV by putting 12 O'Clock red dots on the LPVO and MPVO scopes.
And, if you have the money for NV why not give more than one of your rifles the option to be used for NV shooting. After my two "dedicated" NV guns were done I made many of my guns partially capable of being used for NV by putting 12 O'Clock red dots on the LPVO and MPVO scopes.
Man I respect everyone’s opinion, but I respectfully disagree. Some of us poor folk didn’t invest in NV to hog hunt. It took me two years to save up and sell things I would have rather kept. I bought NV because I felt it was a necessity to have a leg up in case something bad happens. Now that I have invested in NV, I have to figure out a way to practically employ this advantage without breaking the bank. I spent most of my budget buying a great set of nods, but that has caused me to have to be selective with what I buy to complete the package. Given my situation, I would like to find common ground with an optic that I can use during the day as well as deploy with nods at night. I know if money were not an option I could have a day rig and a separate night rig, but unfortunately I am in a situation where I need to stretch the budget as much as I can. Thank you all for your feedback. I am researching everyone’s recommendations.
Thank you Rio for the info. As it stands now, I am looking at trying to buy a second hand T2 and a SLR Rifle Works T1 IB 1.93“ mount. Is there any advantage going up in height other that the ease of locating the reticle? Is there and advantage with accuracy staying lower to the bore? I have ordered a Perst 4, but no idea when it will make it stateside. I would like to make sure I have the option and skills for passive shooting. I appreciate your feedback.
If I had a dollar for every M17 I ruined changing the jaw filters, I could buy whatever I wanted. Understood the idea of internal filters, but the double eye glass was the worse idea!
Accuracy is unaffected regardless of sight height. What a higher height over bore will do is give you a nice wide maximum point blank range zero for a working rifle. Not that you asked me.
