Gen 1 night vision question

Status
Not open for further replies.
H

HogHunter1203

Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Messages
17
I'm in the market for a Gen 1 scope for a very specific task, shooting racoons and other pests at 15-35 yards. I'm aware of the limitations of gen 1 products, but for the price and close range, I believe these should be sufficient. It will be mounted on a suppressed savage mark ii fv-sr 22lr. I'm looking for opinions from folks who have actually used these products or who sell them and know the differences. Trying to keep the total purchase under $500. Here are a few I'm considering, but I'm definitely open to suggestions:

Armasight WWZ or Orion (what are the differences aside from $100??)
Sightmark Nightraider
Yukon varmint hunter
ATN Paladin or Spartan


All comments/suggestions welcome (but please keep the "Gen 1 scopes are junk, save your money for gen 2 or 3" comments to a minimum.)

Thanks
 
I had an atn spartan. You wont let me express my opinion of it though. Needless to say i dont have it anymore. It probably would get you by for 35 yard shooting though. But your going to be looking more at grean blobs then you are animals.
 
Please don't waste your hard earned money on any gen-1. Gen-2+ is about the lowest I would consider. I have an ATN Arrow 2 that is pretty good. No problem distinguishing animals out to 100+ yards.
 
I have a gen 1 NVD that a friend gave me, a pen light is better.

I had an ATN 390 that had a decent image up close but it would not hold a zero.

If you buy a cheap NVD get it from optics planet, they accept returns.

A spotlight always seems to locate coons eyes at night quite well.
 
I've gone through various NV units over the years, starting with a PVS-2a,PVS-5,and now a PVS-14 gen3+.........if your heart is set on a lower priced 1st gen unit ,you would do well to find a separate IR spotlight as high power as you can to provide ambient IR and light up the area you plan on shooting towards....
On the down side ,a decent IR illuminator will probably cost you more than the NV unit you plan to buy..................
 
Nothing is wrong with Gen 1, especially now that prices are so low. The key is to have a decent illuminator. Without the illuminator, then yeah, a pen light is better. Gen 1 has always depended on illuminators.

The ATN Paladin comes with an okay illuminator that will get you out to 100 yards well enough for hogs and maybe for coons. That will certainly do for the coon problem inside 35 yards, but you may not want that much magnification for animals that close, but that is your call.

Gen II is definitely better, but more often than not, you will find you want to use an illuminator with it is as well. So chances are, you are going to be anchored by using an illuminator, so spending the extra bucks may not really garner you a better value for your money for the task you have in mine.

I have owned a Paladin and took several hogs with it out to 160 yards, but with a supplemental illuminator. I gave it to a buddy who is now using it with a Streamlight Tacpro IR illuminator (~$80 plus mount) that allows him to see deer and such out to 150 yards.

Good, but pricey illuminators such as the UNV20IR from Ultimatenightvision.com (my current unit of choice) ($175) is somewhat better than the Tacpro in features, but for the Paladin, not a great value. Its features compliment higher generation NV better. Then there is the TorchPro from TNVC.com. It runs about $240, IIRC and is less powerful than the UNV20IR or the Tacpro IR, but is better than the 450 model illuminator that comes with the Paladin. Beyond that, your choice is a $400 laser illuminator from Luna Optics that will let you reach out well beyond 150 yards, but at that price, you are now close to or able the price of a new Paladin.

I own all of the above except the Tacpro IR, but have worked with the Tacpro and am familiar with it. It is a power illuminator that is a good match for Gen 1 optics if you want to supplement what comes with the scope.

------------------

Not based on experience, but in reading reviews, many of the Gen 1 rifle scopes will get you to 50 yards, maybe 75, with what comes stock. Some will get you further, but I think most will certainly take you well beyond your stated 35 yard range.
 
Don't go lower than gen II. Getting a night vision scope is not something you want to do if you don't want to spend a little money.

You'd be better of just taping a spotlight to your rifle and using a regular optic if that was the case.
 
I've had gen 1, gen 2, and gen 3 NV devices. The gen 2 allows you to see in the dark, somewhat. The gen 3 is really good stuff. Both are very expensive. The gen 1 is helpless w/o (and sometimes even with) an IR light.

The problem with a LOT of gen 1 equipment is the horrible optical distortion in the crappy imported photomultiplier tubes. A decent gen 1 scope with a good light should do what you're looking for. Just don't get one w/o looking through the unit you're buying, first. Decent gen 1 is rare.
 
Thanks to eveyone who responded. I've looked through a couple of the scopes and fully anticipated needing an IR illuminator. I just need the unit to be able to see a coon at close range and hold 0 on a 22lr; surely they can do that...?

Lloyd Smale, express away man. I'm looking for opinions from people who have actually used them; don't have to be positive opinions.

NorthGeorgiaHunter, i've considered getting one of the ATN arrows or the armasight equivalent. Do you need the illuminator to distinguish critters with that scope?
 
The ATN Aries MK 258 I have, would probably do what you are wanting. As said, later gen models are much, ,better......But, for the $150 I paid at a pawn shop, I'm happy with it. The Pelican case it came in cost's $88 (new) by it self. If I ever decide to take the plunge and buy a better unit, it will be one that is integral with my existing rifle scopes.
(when the price comes down a bit)
STW
 
Unless the laws in your State forbid the use of artificial light to hunt varmints, then I would suggest you simply buy a decent a scope (you might already have one) and one of the many red or green LED lights available now days.

I own inexpensive lights ($100.00-$125.00) that easily illuminate critters out to 75 yds. (or more).

Raccoons in particular.... pay little or no attention to being 'lit up' (especially red light). Fox and Coyote (red light) pretty much the same thing. I can see them very well through my scope and 35-40 yds. would be a 'chip shot'.

IF you just have a burning desire for NV (or State laws force you to), then I would have to chime in with the others in suggesting at least Gen II.

Or, save your money up and go digital.

Best of luck with the coons, they can be real pests at times.

Flint.
 
I'd suggest mounting flood lights and leaving them on. The critters get used to them and show up in the light, fire away!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

E
  • Locked
AR Night vision scope
Replies
21
Views
1K
Double Naught Spy
Double Naught Spy
F
  • Locked
Suggestions on A Night Vision Monocular?
Replies
10
Views
1K
strambo
S
B
  • Locked
Zeiss Orion 80 Night Vision Scope
Replies
0
Views
567
BruiseLee
B
N
  • Locked
Solution for night hunting optic
Replies
5
Views
649
hoghunting
H
hps1
  • Locked
Anyone hunt coyotes using night vision devices?
Replies
6
Views
1K
hps1
hps1
Back
Top