Night Vision Perst 4?
- Thread starter Foxtrot2November
- Start date
I have one of the red laser gen 2 models but no other real experience beyond that and a Streamlight TLR VIR II.
There is a fairly decent thread on the Perst models on arfcom. Consensus is they are powerful (outrageously so) and built like tanks. I’m very new to NV and being in Canada have dipped my toes in with the digital SiOnyx Aurora.
If your questions are about physical features etc I can help but can’t help you with comparisons with other lasers.
There is a fairly decent thread on the Perst models on arfcom. Consensus is they are powerful (outrageously so) and built like tanks. I’m very new to NV and being in Canada have dipped my toes in with the digital SiOnyx Aurora.
If your questions are about physical features etc I can help but can’t help you with comparisons with other lasers.
Yes. And a few others I know followed me into it. Even made my own manual (not on this computer, so remind me!) with some hints about how it works since they are vague, wrong, or badly translated in the manual it comes with.
It is legit mil gear, Perst 3 seen on Russians (and Little Green Men) in Syria, Crimea, etc. Talked with the sales rep, and it's so poorly marketed, has the weird features to us westerners because he's barely supported. Zenit makes mil stuff, but doesn't mind if some of their guys sell some on eBay. They just won't make a version for the US market, so it's what he gets off the line.
Not Steiner quality, but competently made. Good laser optics, decent tracking for zero, decent switches. Legit off (leave batteries in it), tactile main controls (confidence / verifiability in off, or mode selected). Remote is a bit odd, but is included and usefully has things like power level dial. Whole unit appears indestructible. I have had mine rained on, snowed on, iced up, heated up, covered in mud and banged around, and shot the gun it's attached to plenty. No change in zero, always works. Looks new still really so even the anodizing and markings are good quality.
Biggest upside is power for price.
Biggest downside is power. NO eyesafe lockout, so know what you are doing and that you need high power before getting/using one. Easy to suffer eye injuries from high power lasers. I made a cover/diffuser/protector for the laser side (then, keep it closed when not lasing... for safety) but it's not designed for that so is sketchy to get it to stay on.
Get the green viz side. More usable at dusk, etc. I mean, if you will need a pointer. If just for aiming: who cares?
If you need illum, get the Perst 3 as stated. Same unit, with illum strapped to the side. The 4 is very small and offset a bit right, so ignore how the 3 looks bulky. Mounted, it evens up with illum left, laser right.
If you see an "old model" skip it. Get the screw cap battery port one. Lube the battery o-ring, etc.
Other oddities like weird mount (not RTZ, not even captured nut!) and the shipping. Oh, the shipping! They have no packaging. Zero. None. Comes in bubble wrap, maybe. The factory is convinced that it is so bombproof it doesn't need a box, but it looks so unprofessional.
It is legit mil gear, Perst 3 seen on Russians (and Little Green Men) in Syria, Crimea, etc. Talked with the sales rep, and it's so poorly marketed, has the weird features to us westerners because he's barely supported. Zenit makes mil stuff, but doesn't mind if some of their guys sell some on eBay. They just won't make a version for the US market, so it's what he gets off the line.
Not Steiner quality, but competently made. Good laser optics, decent tracking for zero, decent switches. Legit off (leave batteries in it), tactile main controls (confidence / verifiability in off, or mode selected). Remote is a bit odd, but is included and usefully has things like power level dial. Whole unit appears indestructible. I have had mine rained on, snowed on, iced up, heated up, covered in mud and banged around, and shot the gun it's attached to plenty. No change in zero, always works. Looks new still really so even the anodizing and markings are good quality.
Biggest upside is power for price.
Biggest downside is power. NO eyesafe lockout, so know what you are doing and that you need high power before getting/using one. Easy to suffer eye injuries from high power lasers. I made a cover/diffuser/protector for the laser side (then, keep it closed when not lasing... for safety) but it's not designed for that so is sketchy to get it to stay on.
Get the green viz side. More usable at dusk, etc. I mean, if you will need a pointer. If just for aiming: who cares?
If you need illum, get the Perst 3 as stated. Same unit, with illum strapped to the side. The 4 is very small and offset a bit right, so ignore how the 3 looks bulky. Mounted, it evens up with illum left, laser right.
If you see an "old model" skip it. Get the screw cap battery port one. Lube the battery o-ring, etc.
Other oddities like weird mount (not RTZ, not even captured nut!) and the shipping. Oh, the shipping! They have no packaging. Zero. None. Comes in bubble wrap, maybe. The factory is convinced that it is so bombproof it doesn't need a box, but it looks so unprofessional.
Got mine from Oleg here in the US. He seems to be the main supplier of Russian imoported optics although I dont have his contact info Im sure someone does. Honestly no idea about battery life. Uses C123s and never had one die. Its not the kind of thing I have it on for more than seconds to a minute at at time. Change them every so often before a hunt.
Agree about battery life. Infinite? Dunno. Never run out. And I use the laser kind of a lot.
We got all ours via eBay, but it's not not-legit. It comes from Zenit (looked up the shipping address, customs paperwork, and yup it's an office building on their little campus in Moscow), it's just not imported on a mass scale, and that's why we get high power. A "fully-legit" distributor would get noticed by the FDA then we couldn't buy them.
This is the Zenit Co eBay account: https://www.ebay.com/sch/zenitco/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
A handful of russia-centric deailers carry them as well. These say they are in stock and have a hell of a sale price now! https://ivantactical.com/shop/weapo...tco-perst-4-dual-visible-ir-laser-designator/ When I was buying, all these were out of stock, had long lead times (meaning: they also just call up the Zenit guy), and/or were much more money than direct ordering.
We got all ours via eBay, but it's not not-legit. It comes from Zenit (looked up the shipping address, customs paperwork, and yup it's an office building on their little campus in Moscow), it's just not imported on a mass scale, and that's why we get high power. A "fully-legit" distributor would get noticed by the FDA then we couldn't buy them.
This is the Zenit Co eBay account: https://www.ebay.com/sch/zenitco/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
A handful of russia-centric deailers carry them as well. These say they are in stock and have a hell of a sale price now! https://ivantactical.com/shop/weapo...tco-perst-4-dual-visible-ir-laser-designator/ When I was buying, all these were out of stock, had long lead times (meaning: they also just call up the Zenit guy), and/or were much more money than direct ordering.
My manual for your enjoyment.
One thing I cannot get from them is the power level at each setting. Would help with understanding eye safety, etc. if we had that. If anyone knows that, or anything else — or has a meter! — do tell and I'll add to the manual.
If anything else seems missing, you are right. I didn't do instructions on e.g. mounting as even when I asked it's essentially just "screw it on, duh." No suggested driver, no torque specs, etc.
One thing I cannot get from them is the power level at each setting. Would help with understanding eye safety, etc. if we had that. If anyone knows that, or anything else — or has a meter! — do tell and I'll add to the manual.
If anything else seems missing, you are right. I didn't do instructions on e.g. mounting as even when I asked it's essentially just "screw it on, duh." No suggested driver, no torque specs, etc.
You gave a good review. I have a couple of the Perst-3 models and like them a lot so far.
Would like more info on how you made cover diffuser. The pointer is almost too powerful, a diffuser would certainly help refine/focus the point. I had kinda wondered if it was something we could get https://mkmachining.com/ to make. Would love to see a pic of what you came up with.
Thanks.
“Legit” enough for me haha. Perhaps I used the term too loosely...
I’ll use the source you mentioned once I get around to picking one up. Hadn’t really considered buying one until I saw your review.
Kickass stuff with the manual too. ?
I can get photos sometime. Just got a cheap chicom 1" flip up Butler-creek style cap. Yup, the tube the lasers come out of is perfectly 1" in diameter Wire tied it on tediously so it won't come off, but there's enough surface area a clamp on would hold well.
I drilled a couple holes in the front, and glued some diffuser material on. Then, it's serviceable as a close range (indoor range) illuminator if needed. But also, did diffuser vs cover so if I leave it on I can immediately see "oh, cover is on" vs wondering why no laser comes out at all, start checking switches, battery position, etc.
I would totally buy a purpose-made cap. And be happy to share more on my thoughts/use of this. Make it happen!
I drilled a couple holes in the front, and glued some diffuser material on. Then, it's serviceable as a close range (indoor range) illuminator if needed. But also, did diffuser vs cover so if I leave it on I can immediately see "oh, cover is on" vs wondering why no laser comes out at all, start checking switches, battery position, etc.
I would totally buy a purpose-made cap. And be happy to share more on my thoughts/use of this. Make it happen!
Enh, tired of talking to people after business hours. A few photos:
Korsak, OTAL, MARS, PERST4, PEQ2
With cover. Wire tied the cap to the spare retention spot. POORLY. Cap is a bit rubber, nothing I had would make a clean hole. I do not think this wire retainer trick would be needed for a made-to-order cover, but it is nice it's there, might be worth using as well if clamping (plus tape, rubber?) doesn't seem solid enough. You can also see the holes in the cap, barely.
With the remote visible. Since like zero sales sites tell you about that. Remote attaches to pic rails which I do not run ont he side so I did velcro, wire ties, bike tube, etc. It works well enough for me. Wire goes back out of sight to keep strain down. I added a foam tube around it as a strain relief as it has none, is sorta in midair vs the rest of the forearm.
If you need another view, unmodified (pre-cap) from the other side:
Post-getting-dirty one day. I hosed off all my stuff on the deck after this
And then I made the cap for the optics because man does that seem risky now.
Korsak, OTAL, MARS, PERST4, PEQ2
With cover. Wire tied the cap to the spare retention spot. POORLY. Cap is a bit rubber, nothing I had would make a clean hole. I do not think this wire retainer trick would be needed for a made-to-order cover, but it is nice it's there, might be worth using as well if clamping (plus tape, rubber?) doesn't seem solid enough. You can also see the holes in the cap, barely.
With the remote visible. Since like zero sales sites tell you about that. Remote attaches to pic rails which I do not run ont he side so I did velcro, wire ties, bike tube, etc. It works well enough for me. Wire goes back out of sight to keep strain down. I added a foam tube around it as a strain relief as it has none, is sorta in midair vs the rest of the forearm.
If you need another view, unmodified (pre-cap) from the other side:
Post-getting-dirty one day. I hosed off all my stuff on the deck after this
And then I made the cap for the optics because man does that seem risky now.
Um... milk bottle. Like the 1 gal jugs. Sorta embarassing as I have SO much specialized plastic, lens materials, etc, but tested a bunch (even some official white light diffusers) and that worked best.
It's PE so... it fell off. I need to go re-attach it sometime. Thinking I'll stop trying to glue it, just silicone trap it on the edges.
It's PE so... it fell off. I need to go re-attach it sometime. Thinking I'll stop trying to glue it, just silicone trap it on the edges.
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Anyone know of a source for a perst 4 that's stateside? Dont really want to wait a month and hope there are no issues with shipping on one coming from Russia.
There is —last I checked — no official importer. The most legit way is to order off eBay from the Zenitco guys, believe it or not.
A few web retailers let your order also, but it's never been clear if they have them in stock, or just order for you, or even where they are based.
If there WAS an official importer, FDA would likely notice and we couldn't buy them anymore as they are too powerful for non-professional use.
A few web retailers let your order also, but it's never been clear if they have them in stock, or just order for you, or even where they are based.
If there WAS an official importer, FDA would likely notice and we couldn't buy them anymore as they are too powerful for non-professional use.
Check with Black Phase Tactical. My last Perst-3 he had in stock and I had it in my hands 3 days later. Send him an email and see what he has in stock and/or when the next shipment is due.
https://blackphasetactical.com/products/perst-4-green-ir-laser
Hope that helps.
I ordered one from black phase 2 weeks ago with an ETA of 2-3 weeks, hopefully I'll have my hands on it soon.
Ive been using the Gen 1 for years. Like others said its tough as nails. Having to open a compartment to change the battery isnt that big a deal but glad they changed it. Other grip was the pressure switch which they updated too. Best feature is being able to adjust brightness so I dont get bloom. I have other more expensive units that lack this, and even using filters over the laser, dont get them where I want. They collect dust or get use just for their illuminator. The Perst absolutely rocks for this. I couldnt imagine owning a unit without a slaved vis laser either- not just for sight in but for practice on a cloudy day without having to wear nods.
Good to see info from someone with the gen 1 unit! I've only seen in photos. Especially good to hear the old not-upgraded one is still solid. That's a good sign.
No leakage issues with the side battery door, or do you not abuse yours like I abuse mine?
No leakage issues with the side battery door, or do you not abuse yours like I abuse mine?
I dont abuse it but I havent babied it either. It doesnt rain much where I live though. Casual rain and a night out in sleet once and it was fine but its never been dunked in a river. I have always been a bit leery of the connector for the pressure pad, but its been fine so far.
New member here. I have a gen 1 PERST-4 and I was able to do a side by side comparison with a friend's full power DBAL-i2. His is a legit full power too, not the civilian "high power". The PERST-4 IR laser on the highest power is just as strong as the high power setting on his DBAL. I am saving up for the PERST-3. Should have the funds soon.
You know the funny thing is I use it more than the full PEQ as I can dial the power way down. I hate bloom and for night hunting I like to get about 60 -75 yards before I start hammering pigs. I like the full power illum on other units to use with a full NV scope but for just the laser I probably run it lower than most to squeeze a tiny bit of precision out of it. Nice to have options.
Mine literally came packed in between crushed 1gallon water jugs. It is one hell of a unit though.
I was being nice to them with the packaging. Mine came in an /envelope/, with the unit in a ludicriously un-protective box, itself inside to sorta nested but then subsequently destroyed styrofoam hamburger clamshells. Of all things.
Luckily it IS bombproof, but seriously Zenit, up the price $2-3 and buy boxes, some styrofoam sheet, and a big knife already.
Luckily it IS bombproof, but seriously Zenit, up the price $2-3 and buy boxes, some styrofoam sheet, and a big knife already.
Yea, I should've added that they have definitely upgraded their packaging since I got mine, so kudos to them.
First one I got wasn’t all that great (in a box) but had to return for a blooming issue and the second came in a nice aluminum can. Honestly was shocked as how nice it was. Tracking good luck though. I think both of mine showed up as being at LaGuardia after they were delivered.
Be safe though. Thing is a beast. God help you Guys running 3 and 2s. Illuminator is nuts.
Be safe though. Thing is a beast. God help you Guys running 3 and 2s. Illuminator is nuts.
Ordered a Perst 4 green+ back on July 13th. Received it about Sept 20th.
From Russian Thunder website
From Russian Thunder website
Lucky! I ordered a Perst 3+ from Black Phase Tactical in March and it still hasn't shown up. Very frustrating.
My Perst4 arrived in a few days over a month. Ordered from IvanTactical and used their regular shipping.
I currently have one of their IR lights and dual switch on order and used their faster(?) shipping but it doesn't look like it will make a difference. Might actually be slower.
I currently have one of their IR lights and dual switch on order and used their faster(?) shipping but it doesn't look like it will make a difference. Might actually be slower.
They problem is that he has to wait for Zenitco to ship him product and I think they are more concerned with shipping to customers direct for the bigger profit than selling to him at dealer cost.
I have A Perst 4 (red) on My Sig 556 SWAT. I love this thing. I ordered from Ivan Tactical and took about a month to arrive. I'm pretty sure the guys at Customs were playing around with it in that time because when I got the box it was all cut open and hastily taped back up with clear tape. A few things I like are the controls, very tactile and positive, the overall build quality is good and is very durable.
Things I DONT like: there isnt enough tracking to zero the laser from it being mounted from the left or right side of the rifle.
The mounting screw isnt really strong enough for rifles that have a lot of mass being thrown around ( SCAR's, ACR's, AK's, FAL's, SG550's, etc) I had to throw some locktite on the screw because it walked out on me after about 500 rounds. (YMMV)
I just wish the vis laser was a bit brighter. Even at Dusk/Dawn Its really hard to see even on a "reflective" target (white spray painted Steel)
other than those small things. I am very Impressed with this module. I put this attachment through its paces while on a 10 day hiking/camping trip in the mountains. I smacked it into trees, rocks, and other foliage (on accident of course) held zero just fine.
I give the Perst 4 a 8/10 well worth the buy and wait.
Things I DONT like: there isnt enough tracking to zero the laser from it being mounted from the left or right side of the rifle.
The mounting screw isnt really strong enough for rifles that have a lot of mass being thrown around ( SCAR's, ACR's, AK's, FAL's, SG550's, etc) I had to throw some locktite on the screw because it walked out on me after about 500 rounds. (YMMV)
I just wish the vis laser was a bit brighter. Even at Dusk/Dawn Its really hard to see even on a "reflective" target (white spray painted Steel)
other than those small things. I am very Impressed with this module. I put this attachment through its paces while on a 10 day hiking/camping trip in the mountains. I smacked it into trees, rocks, and other foliage (on accident of course) held zero just fine.
I give the Perst 4 a 8/10 well worth the buy and wait.
its a square aluminum box now, looks pretty cool, but wonder how much money they are wasting with that
You mean the red viz laser is not that visible at dawn and dusk? If so, that's why you get green
They work better for no reason I have ever looked into. Can use to point out things to the team at anything but full daylight (even normal tree cover shadows at noon) to help orient everyone where to look, etc. (as long as you don't mind pointing a gun at it).I guess it depends on what you are trying to do, but conventional wisdom is you do not zero to intersect the bullet impact precisely at ANY range. Instead you do a "parallel zero." That means if the laser beam is emitted 1/4" below and 1" left of your red dot sight, then it should be 1/4" below and 1" left at all ranges.
Laser aiming is not /that/ precise in real life, so this is generally not even noticable, and you don't hold over, but just aim dead on and are within the point blank circle, will hit the target just fine.
Lack of vibration prevention isn't "strength," and shouldn't have anything to do with recoil force, but vibration... but true. I didn't notice mine loosen because I lube and/or loctite simply everything I buy. Very few items come from the factory set up right IMO. This was no better or worse than even high end western electro optics in that regard.
The mount is workable but IS one weak spot to me. No retention but torque, and no torque specs! So, I loctited and used my best guess, but I am not happy about it. Esp because if you over-torque and break it, good luck getting parts.
Do your lasers drop at the same rate as a bullet..
" That means if the laser beam is emitted 1/4" below and 1" left of your red dot sight, then it should be 1/4" below and 1" left at all ranges.
" That means if the laser beam is emitted 1/4" below and 1" left of your red dot sight, then it should be 1/4" below and 1" left at all ranges.
LASER in relation to your sight (RDS, scope, etc.) zero...not POI. That's why he mentions 'point blank'.
I suspect it'll be a while before we can get curved ballistic arc LASERs.
I think in this case the green laser is also more powerful. I need to look again but pretty sure the green visible is something like 18-20mw and the red is just low power like any cheap laser.
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