Night Vision Need advice, buying a gen 2/2+ clip-on NV

[HenrikOlsen]

Background: I live in Norway and as this is outside the US, US manufactured gen 3 is off limits.

I have two rifles I'm planning on using a clip-on NV for, a Tikka T3 Tactical and a Remington 700 LA. The Tikka will soon hopefully reside in a PSE E-Tac 3 stock with a front rail similar to what the M40A5 uses. For the 700 I'm hoping to get a MIRS rail or similar style of rail for attaching NV. The purpose is mainly to hunt wild boar (90%) in semi dense forests (stationary) and some target shooting (10%) when I get the opportunity.

I've been looking into the Armasight Co-X sets but from what I can gather they have a bad reputation and are not recommended? So what are my real options? I'd prefer to not have a set that sits on top of the scope.

Any and all advice are appreciated

 

[wigwamitus]

I'm no expert on gen2 ... but back in the day ... the hey day of armasight ... 4-5 years ago ? The CO-x were pretty popular ... small, light and not too expensive ... I remember the "SD" gen2s were said to be NO NO ... so the QS and the HD were preferred.
You will need a powerful illuminator.
I'm also not sure what the current support path is for the older armasights.

What about thermals ? Can you get thermals ? Like Pulsars ??

 

[HenrikOlsen]

Sorry for the late reply, we've had a bit of snowfall the last few days...

What I've been looking at so far have been "ARMASIGHT CO-X Gen 2+ SDi MG" and "ARMASIGHT CO-Mini Gen 2+ IDi MG Day/night vision". It sounds like the first falls under the "NO NO" category you mentioned. I can ask the dealer if they can get other versions of it.

As far as illuminators go, it's a legal gray area. In Norway the law dictates that you are not allowed to use artificial light for hunting, the only exception is when fox hunting with bait. Then you are allowed to have wall mounted lights. Thermals are, for some reason, "more legal" then pure NV.

Thermals are available but they are very expensive, even for Norway. The easiest to get a hold of are PULSAR CORE FXQ38 and FXQ50. The later is about 4,325 USD over here. Are there other brands of thermals/NV worth checking out?

 

[wigwamitus]

The pulsars are the bargin basement thermals.

The Apex 38mm being the most "barganist" hunting usable flavor. Those sell ,street price, for around $2,250 new, over here.

==

... Sorry for the late reply, we've had a bit of snowfall the last few days... [/quote[

Wait ... that was MY line !!

 

[HenrikOlsen]

Due to my day scope (Vortex Viper PST Gen1 4-16x50) I guess the FXQ50 is the only option from Pulsar. Do you have any experience with mounting these on a rail in front of the scope?

 

[wigwamitus]

I don't but there is another thread active here right now discussing that. I have mounted many clipons on rails .. and I have mounted two clipons to the objective. Objective mounting works fine in my experience for 5.56 (.223) and below ... but for .308 (7.62) and the objective mounted clipons would come loose. Objective mounting does allow you do use any height rings and to mount on a bolt gun with no NV mount, so it has its advantages. Mounting on the rail requires aligning the height of the clipon and the scope as much as possible, which usually means replacing the rings and messing with your cheek (or chin) stock weld. So rail mounting solves a possible recoil issue, but generates a group of issues around optical height alignment including the shooters eyeballs. Pick your pain

If you can make a custom mount for the FXQ50, then you can mitigate some of the alignment issues.

 

[tony2772]

I'm no expert on gen2 ... but back in the day ... the hey day of armasight ... 4-5 years ago ? The CO-x were pretty popular ... small, light and not too expensive ... I remember the "SD" gen2s were said to be NO NO ... so the QS and the HD were preferred.
You will need a powerful illuminator.
I'm also not sure what the current support path is for the older armasights.

What about thermals ? Can you get thermals ? Like Pulsars ??

I have the CO-x gen 2+HD and it works very well. Withe the IR it comes with I was able to shoot steel at 500 yards with no moon and a 4x Vortex with no problem.

 

[The King]

Some Gen3 units have come available over there. They are just restricted in FOM (Figure of Merit). Also know as “Export Grade”.

That said, you may be able to source a Simrad unit over there. They were made in Sweden if I remember right.

And finally Photonis GenII tubes are available and work pretty good. I believe that the Armasight HD are Photonis tubes.

I have the CO-X, but as a Gen 3 Pinnacle unit. air works quite well.

 

[HenrikOlsen]

Sorry for the late reply, I've been drowning in work the past few weeks.

@tony2772 Thanks for the info. By law I'm not allowed to have an external light source such as an IR lamp, so it looks like I'm going for a thermal solution.

@The King Last time I checked it was mostly low quality stuff from Eastern Europe that was labeled Gen 3 here, but I'll check again

 

[The King]

Look at the Photonis INTENS. They have specs very close to mid grade gen 3.

Well regarded, and made in France if I remember right.