Night Vision

[riflemanread]

Hi lads do any of you use night vision gear.

If so which ones NV scopes or NV binos.

It seems to me even the best scopes can only see to 200 ish yards and a centre fire bullet can easily travel a couple of miles.

Maybe i am been a bit negative here but do you think NV will ever beat the tried and tested lamp and rifle.

Thanks guys Andy

[20ppc]

Andy I use the latest mil spec Kite sight at work, these cost about £6000 and are at the top range of what is available today. They are very good and you can with IR illumination pick up a fox at 400yards. Having said that it is very hard to judge distance through any night vision equipment, it is very heavy and for generral fox control I don't think you can beat a good quality lamp. Night vision has its place in certain circumstances but I certainly would not pay that sort of money.

 

Nick

[craigyboy]

I used a ATN one a few years back gen 1+, it was ok I would say good for about 100 yards I used it mostly for rabbits with the rimmy and rats with the air rifle, didnt like it for foxing just not good enough. I sold it but do miss it a bit as it was quite handy for lamp shy rabbits and the fun I had shooting rats with the air rifle, I used to be the RAT MAN round our way and shot loads of the little buggers but sitting in those big hen sheds in the dark with rats everywhere is hard on the nerves so I stopped doing it, some nights I took over 60 rats.Memories.

[Wsm]

Andy

 

I use a Longbow which can be used as a day & night scope but to be honest the night vision set up`s left on it full time.

 

We usually have the conventional lamping team out but the NV`s handy when you`re on your own and particularly when you`ve got a lamp shy fox

 

You get a clear picture over 250 yards with the Longbow and a decent IR Illuminator which is more than adequet at night

 

WSM

[Guest 308Panther]

Some of the people I talked to had a lot of mixed feedback about NVG,

Some of the earlier russian stuff to hit the market several years ago is

as they commented...Pure Junk.

I also was interested in NVG for the idea of eliminating some coyotes

and was recomended to use Gen 2 or better...for some of the shots

I felt I would be taking would be out to 200-250 yrds....w/my 308

and on my 17 HMR only out to 40 or 50 yards...

Gen1 would fill the bill for the 40-50 yrd stuff...

but I dont like the reticles offered w/Gen1 stuff.

seems like most are simple crosshairs or a chevron...I prefer mil-dot.

and to get those it requires stepping up a grade or two.

 

308Panther

[Guest Smeagle]

They do have a place, used to use one for knocking porkers of a catchment, also used them in the forces. You need gen 2 or better the ATN ones aren't bad for the money but still have a lot of weight in them and they are a very green sight picture.

 

Your original question a scope or goggles, if you intend to hunt with it, it has to be a scope very simple goggles are useless to you, no point being able to see it if you can't hit it and you cant hit it without it being on your rifle or without a reticule. Unless you intend to spot it through the device, turn the lamp on white out your NV and use a conventional scope to shoot with. Which comes to the next point the use of your scope on your rifle as a spotter, which is a fopa at the best of times and at night, well you decide.

 

They are a specialist bit of kit that is used for a specific application, basically sitting and ambushing a specific animal which is proving elusive, or as was said in a chicken shed with a air rifle or rimmy on rats etc, most people don't have a use for them and the ordinary lamp is more flexible. As for the ranges most civiy modals are out to 200 meters some will go to twice that but you are paying four times the money or more. You really don't need much more than that, because without a lamp your night vision is kicking in and unless it is really really dark or in a wood you can see the background and where you are going, so you only need it to locate and shoot the quarry.

 

As for distances you can see a lot further with NV gear and your own night vision then you ever will with a lamp, so as for a CF fee fall the same rules apply.

[Elwood]

I currently use a Maxi Kite and on a full moon could spot large objects moving ie: deer/people up to about 1000 yards, I have even spotted spotted a badger at approx 900 yards verified the next day with a Lecia 1200, but movement at these distances is the key and I'm talking about nights that are so bright you have a shadow.

 

On a normal night 400-500 yards is the norm, but a 200 yard shot at a small object is difficult with the inverted chevron reticule, but then again you can normally walk to within 100 yards of most foxes or call them into stupidly close ranges.

 

They aren't cheap as 20ppc says and I shoot more foxes with a lamp than the NV, however NV prices are coming down especially with the introduction of digital night vision.

 

The GB sight is worth having a look at I personally haven't looked through one but hope to do so in the near future http://www.gbsights.co.uk/ . I have looked through the digital Yukon Ranger monocular and thought it superb for the money ( review in the old UKvarmitting site) There is also a review on the pro's and cons of NV on the old site.

 

This is a typical viewing from my unit with a bit of ambient light

 

Ian

[charly hunter]

I was out the range a few weeks ago and a guy out there said he uses NV he sent me the web site and he said he can see a rabbit easily at 150 - 170 yds I have thought about getting one but I am not sure, has any one heard of these? Go to this address and look up add-on tactical systems.

http://www.nightvisionsupplies.co.uk/

[6mmBR]

I use a mix of night vision and lamping for my foxing.

Night vision plays its main role in shooting foxes over a bait. It gives you the control of taking the shot when you are totally ready, with the animal unaware of your presence.

This in my eyes is the most efficeint method of removing problem foxes from an area, letting them come to you instead of the more hit and miss method of lamping.

I count this method as a pure control technique and for first choice and sporting challenge far prefer a good nights lampiing/

The kit I use is a Kite Mk4 mounted on my AR15, the ability of this sight has to be seen to be believed and your run of the mill gen1 1= and some gen 2 units are left out in the cold in comparison to what this sight is capable of.

Cheers

Dave

[Elwood]

Dave I would say that's an under statement the kite or maxi kite sets the standard, as far as I'm aware it surpasses all gen 1 and gen 2 but of course there is a price to pay, and that is the price. I have yet to look through anything better. I think it's fair to say there is better but I doubt we will ever see the likes of it in this country, the US will not send gen 3 NV outside the US, and it took about 20 years for to get gen2.

 

Charlie hunter, the add on systems do have their draw backs, the main one being the length it comes back down the stock, a rifle with an extend able stock would be preferred and/or reach forward mounts. The second thing is you must have a scope with side parallax otherwise you will not be able to focus, the AGS Swat is a very compatible scope for these units. The 90mw IR will really make the unit perform, the on-board IR is a waste of time. Add on systems cannot compete with dedicated units but at least you will not have to buy another rifle, I have looked through several of these and found their performance to be adequate for the money.

Try before you buy is the golden rule with night vision, ask for a demonstration, it's a lot of money for something that might not be as good as you were expecting. From what I hear the digital GB sights system is a very good unit and is comparable to a gen 2 for gen 1 money, have a look into it.

 

When I win the lottery I think I will buy a Longbow and keep the kite as a spotting scope, I think that's about as good as it could get.

 

Ian

[charly hunter]

Cheers Ian, I will give them a look. When I win the lottery I will have a dedicated unit as Dave's AR 15 set up but until then I guess I will have to just read about them and drool over your pic's

[Elwood]

Nigel don't be put off, but please don't rush and in and buy a unit without looking through one, I believe that the model you are interested in will be coming into the second market more and more, they do come up on the BBS sales section from time to time. If you like I could try and see if there's anyone down your way that would give you a demo?

 

Ian

[v-max]

Hello iv been looking at the Archer NV monocular that clip's to your scope like the longbow but not there scope any scope with parrllex will do.I would like it for foxing & sitting out.Think they start at £1100/£13** & £17** & i beleave you can see 200/400yrd's but you can get ir fillter's for lamp's to help for light to see further.

[winston243]

Hi

I am currently using a D126 scope and i am very impressed with it. i dont think i will ever buy something else. i was never keen on the idea but now i have got one i have changed my mind.

 

regards

[riflemanread]

Thanks for the replies guys it made interesting reading.

What me and my shooting partner do at the moment is use my yukon monocular to spot bunnys then get closer before putting the NV away and shooting by lamp light.

The only problem i have with this is loads of times we have scanned the field with NV and seen nothing,but go over the same field with the lamp and rabbits are sat out.

The yukon will pick up eyes at 100 yards but if the bunnys are not looking in our direction you cant see em.

My mate is on about going fully NV and has seen a scope for £500 its still gen 1 same as my monocular and i think it will have the same problem .

Also i have read the gen 1 will not turn off of there is a light overload ie farm security light or car head lights but gen 2 will turn off to prevent damage to the unit.

I dont know,for 500 quid i dont think we would be gaining much.

Might be worth while saving up and going for one of the better units you guys have mentioned.

Thanks once again lads

Andy

[charly hunter]

Hi Ian,

Sorry I have not replied to you sooner been a little busy. If you know of anyone in this neck of the woods I'd be very grateful if they would let me have a look at one. I'm in Truro, Cornwall. Cheers pard I'm very gratefull for any help I can get.

[varminter]

Hi Ian,

Sorry I have not replied to you sooner been a little busy. If you know of anyone in this neck of the woods I'd be very grateful if they would let me have a look at one. I'm in Truro, Cornwall. Cheers pard I'm very gratefull for any help I can get.

Quite agree nigel- would be really nice to have a look throught one to see what performance you are getting!!

All the best.............

RAY............ :lol:

[Elwood]

Nigel I have sent you a PM, please let me know if you have received it ?

 

Ian

[charly hunter]

Got it and replied to it pard, many thanks.

[Guest 308Panther]

6mm,

Is there a web site for the kite system??

 

308Panther

[6mmBR]

Hi Panther 308 this should give you some usefull info.

Kite Mk4 ( Starlite Products)

Cheers

Dave

[Wsm]

Finally got chance to photo the set up

 

Sako .223 with Longbow 2.5-10x56

 

WSM

[6mmBR]

Looks good, is it comfy to shoot with the shortened eye relief with the unit fitted?

Cheers

Dave

[Wsm]

It`s very comfortable to shoot and the eye relief`s not far off the same length anyway

 

WSM

[6mmBR]

The photo looks a bit deceptive with the bolt back. Have you managed to christen it yet?

It looks to be an exceptionally versitile set up.

Cheers

Dave