Question for combat veterans or those still serving about NV...

[technique]

A little help for dominating night time combat

PVS-7's or PVS-14's?

I have a 14 now. I guess its a good package, it came with rhino and weapon mount so its pretty versatile as I can mount it to my weapon or helmet...I'm just not all that sure how to use it. I have no training in that department. Since I have moved to a free state (and its much darker here too) I plan on doing some practice fire during the night.

Can I get a few pointers on how to use these in conjunction with my RDS?
I see most people wear them on their left eye even when their right side dominant...please explain.

Also, I was thinking that I may try to swap for some PVS-7 goggles instead because well it looks simpler. That is probly because I am confused on the use of the 14s as I stated above and it just looks easier to shoot with while mounted on a helmet. I also don't really know how useful mounting a 14 on a weapon is....seems pretty much like walking around in the dark until you look through your NV mounted on your weapon, seem like it would be better for if you're posted up somewhere.


So what would you rather have and why. My primary use will be runnin and gunnin at night...so if you can please tell me what system would work best for that?

Thanks you!

[armygunsmith]

Keep the PVS-14 and mounted on the helmet. PVS-7's cover both eyes and may hinder use in a potentially mixed dark/light environment. The way I was trained, the NV is mounted to the non-dominant eye so that you could get a semi normal firing position while using NV compatible lasers. Also it allows for a faster transitions to irons or optics should a bright light flash out the night vision optic. The only time we mounted the PVS-14 direcly to the rifle was when we were in a static position, that way the weight of the night vision wasn't carried on your head for hours on end. Besides, if you were looking at it you were probably supposed to be shooting at it anyway. Hope that covered it for you.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by armygunsmith

Keep the PVS-14 and mounted on the helmet. PVS-7's cover both eyes and may hinder use in a potentially mixed dark/light environment. The way I was trained, the NV is mounted to the non-dominant eye so that you could get a semi normal firing position while using NV compatible lasers. Also it allows for a faster transitions to irons or optics should a bright light flash out the night vision optic. The only time we mounted the PVS-14 direcly to the rifle was when we were in a static position, that way the weight of the night vision wasn't carried on your head for hours on end. Besides, if you were looking at it you were probably supposed to be shooting at it anyway. Hope that covered it for you.

This. Even if you end up mounting it on the weapon, it's a great tool because you still have depth perception for walking around at night (trust me, I know... lol). Just remember to use your left eye (or non-shooting eye) if you're searching hard for an object since your right eye's (or whichever your shooting eye is) true night vision (meaning without the optic) will be shot.

[technique]

Thanks for the responses.

I'm looking around at info and there isn't much out there. So far, I have found that most people are saying the same as you. They say 7s kinda suck with depth perception and are limited when it comes to target ID..20-25 meters is what most say.

So I guess I will stick with the 14s and see if I can get used to using them. Some people say that a very small percentage just can't use them...their brain just can't compute.

So I guess when helmet mounted on your support or non dominate eye you can't use it in conjunction with your RDS? Its best to use an IR laser?
If thats the case...I better save up some pennies for a PEQ

Now that I'm looking into it a bit more I have read a few things that make sense...Driving with 14s, using the left eye to see where you are driving rolling blacked out and using your right eye without NV to see gauges and what not inside the vehicle.

The only time I use my 14s was driving, flipped off the headlights going down the freeway at 2am. My buddy and I had both got a 14 and we were impressed with the clarity. I have mounted it behind my RDS and even mounted it in front of my ACOG but never fired using it.

I think I will stick with the 14s.

[steelrain82]

i never used or saw 14's i used the 7's and i was point for our platoon and ate crap twice both down litle hills i couldnt see. so id definitley feep the 14's

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by technique

The only time I use my 14s was driving, flipped off the headlights going down the freeway at 2am. My buddy and I had both got a 14 and we were impressed with the clarity.

Um... please don't get too offended when I say this, but that's probably not the smartest thing you've ever done...

[technique]

Originally Posted by Requiem

Um... please don't get too offended when I say this, but that's probably not the smartest thing you've ever done...

Not offended at all..... I have done worse.

[dwa]

the 14 is the newer device and has largely superseded the 7D. when using it helmet mounted one would place it over the non firing eye, this allows you to keep one eye in case something whites you out. when aiming you would use a ir fire control device such as the peq 2. the 14 also allows for the device to be mounted on the rifle itself but this capability is seldom used as the pas 13 a thermal sight is often used in that role.

[steelrain82]

Yeah the pas 13 was pretty cool so was the pec 2. We used to us the ir flashlight at night and pretend we were cops shining it on civilians when haji's would walk the streets.

[4thSBCT]

there nothing stupid about driving with some nods on. Pilots fly choppers with them on and its no diff than driving a stryker buttoned up using the little monitor to see where your going.