Need night vision advice

[c.latrans]

Specifically for shooting coyotes and like sized animals out to 150 yards or so, does anyone have experience with some of the middle priced units? I had the opportunity to try an ATN Night Arrow unit. With the IR unit installed we had no trouble breaking clay pigeons at 100 yards with a plain Jane Rem. 700 in .223. If anyone has experience with like priced units, (1200 or so USD) I would love your input before I make Discovers day. Thanks in advance!

 

[skoro]

Having owned several NVDs over the years, I have kept two and gotten rid of all the others. My advice: don't bother with anything 1st gen. The two I still use are a 2nd gen (good) and a 3rd gen (almost like daylight).

Expensive, but they'll let you see in the dark. 1st gen is about as useful as a flashlight. Better than nothing, but helpless w/o an IR illuminator.

 

[HRnightmare]

I own a cheap 1st Gen pair and it is fine. I havent actually hunted with them but I have gone at night and shot tragets using a green laser on my SBR and was nailing "simulated pig targets at about 75+/- yds.

I acutally bought them online through Wal Mart. I think I paid around 4400.

If you are going to make this a routine thing and can afford to go to 2nd and 3rd gen it would def/ serve you better.

Mine were bought more as a toy than anything else.

 

[Stony]

I've had real good luck with a SightMark 5x unit. I use it mainly to shoot hogs and most at around 100 yds. Easy to use and easy to sight in the unit in the daytime.

 

[c.latrans]

Thank you guys. Good info, have not made a decision yet but I expect I will end up spending more than I need to. Seems to happen a lot when I play with guns...