Best Night Vision Rifle Scope

[JerryBOb]

Hello, everyone. I want to know if anyone has any idea on the best night vision rifle scopes? I am a newbie when it comes to shooting at night or if i may say - using a night vision rifle scope. someone gave me the some information based on the link I attached here. But i need more information. Help a Newbie Folks!

[Mervo]

Price is going to be your limiting factor, (you can spend 10k on NV if you want the best).

What do want to spend, use it for, etc.? There are many options out there but the vid you posted is (xsightII) is very much an entry level scope.

[Vigilant]

Mount a PVS-14 with an Aimpoint 3x magnifier if you have to have a "scope" and it'll do most of what you need at night. ATN is one of the low end of NV systems.

[choirboy]

You need to come to terms with spending 2x-5x more for optics than many of the guns they will be used on. If you are stationary hunting a PVS-14 on a rifle with another optic is good.--IT MUST BE NV RATED !! If you have to move around and need to use the rifle mounted unit as your eyes you will be sweeping everyone and everything in your path. Even a nighttime "nature call" can become a challenge if your eyes are on the rifle. A helmet or even a webgear headmount PVS-14 with an Aimpoint on the rifle and the NV on your head is more practical.

I have a couple of cheap NVs that I can use to shoot vermin in the chicken yard from the house shots 75-125 yards. I am in the house or on the deck where I can see well enough to move around. Most any varmint I get a sight on is fairgame if after chickens.

The PVS on a helmet mount with a laser on the rifle combo is good enough for rats with about a 50% hit rates on the little rodents. Possum and coon are near 100% hits. A cheap NV scope on a .22 yields similar varmint hits, but I would not want to go afield with one and that is especially true if you may use this for self defense.

Choirboy

[Rspires]

I have been using the thermal imaging scope and they certainly work if you spend the bucks. I will stick to my light.

[moses1moses11]

I have never met an NV scope I enjoyed, even the super expensive ones. Head mounted PVS-14 and IR laser on a rifle is great. If you can poke something with a stick, you can shoot it very accurately. Also with predators, a red dot and white light for close up is really nice. Medium to low light a magnifier and holographic is easy, especially with an NV/NOD to spot.

[EDELWEISS]

BEST is a big word and it comes at a cost. As others have said, it depends what you want the optic to do for you. Today NV is not the only option, Thermal is also available. NV amplifies available light and can be supplemented with a IR (inferred light) source. Thermal "sees" heat, a decent thermal scope can give you pretty good views of whats in the dark. They aren't the same but they complement each other.

NV is rated in Generation(s). It stared at the end of WW2, with very primitive (by todays standards) that relied on a large IR spotlight (and even larger battery). Gen 1 stuff had limited range and wasn't "clear" but it did let you "see" Gen 2 was VietNam era stuff and stayed in service as late as Desert Storm; but by that time it was rapidly being replaced by Gen 3 stuff. Todays NV is cheap (OK cheaper) and frankly amazing compared to what was top of the line only 20 years ago.

You may be satisfied with Gen 2 gear especially when you compare prices BUT youll feel like youre driving a tricycle compared to todays military/police standards. There are some cheaper options; but as with every "bargain" it comes with a potentially big price of quality and future customer service. I still have some Gen 2 stuff around here, that I wouldn't hesitate to press into service; but its a 22LR in a 44magnum world. Ultimately there are very few real bargains in life. Decide what you really expect from your purchase, then buy accordingly.

[PastorM]

The ATN you posted (in the few hundred dollar range) is fine if all your use for it is occasional night time hunting of hogs or predators ... I have one - it's fine for that purpose. But you used the word "best" ... ATN and best don't belong in the same sentence.