Looking for Night Vision recommendations

[Munny$hot]

Weight is always a concern regardless of the gear.

Money wise, I already own one PVS14. So that makes it considerably cheaper since I spent almost half the money already. I don't think I would want to sell it even if I got some binos. Makes for a good backup/loaner optic. But given the cost of these things I would probably have to in order to justify the expense. The other concern is that everything that will be remotely within my budget any time soon is either pretty close to the same weight or on the fragile side. 2 PVS14s is about the same weight as PVS15s, and almost half the cost (both used). A set of ANVIS-9s used is about the same price. $4K. That said, the weight and price of used ANVIS-9s is appealing despite not being articulating and having a plastic bridge. I am told that bridge is repairable but it would suck to go and use it and find it broken. Perhaps the fragility is overblown? I also like the USAF connection with the AVNIS-9s being former USAF myself. My worry is more them getting damaged while stored in a pouch or case more than them getting damaged while I am wearing them. LARPing and casual training, not likely to happen since I can store them in a hard case when not in use. SHTF...you can't wear them 24-7. They have to go into a pouch at some point and could get banged up pretty good by your other gear, taking off a pack, etc. I don't think the later is a realistic concern. But we own this stuff partly as preparation for worst case scenario...not just because it is fun/cool. Still...they are calling to me, man! Can't afford 'em. Probably shouldn't get 'em. Still want 'em.

In the end you'll end up with multiples of ea anyway. You're good with just your 14 anyway and I wouldn't feel left behind if everyone else is running binos. A 14 will do just fine for most situations for most people and since 40 degrees of FOV is the same 40 degrees FOV as you get on binos anyway.

[Nrai2020]

What do you guys think of bridging a PVS 14 with a thermal like a MH 25.?

[CouchOperator]

Look up my thread

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1316905

[tacticalcity]

What do you guys think of bridging a PVS 14 with a thermal like a MH 25.?

Have considered it.
If already running dual pvs14s then it would be an even more interesting of an idea because you could get a modular bridge that lets you easily swap them out. But the complaints mentioned by others above about running a monocular binos have merit. Ideally I would pick up a set of PVS15 binos and keep the pvs14 as a backup.

My gripe with digital night vision also applies to thermal devices. Battery life is extremely short. The smaller devices only get you a couple hours of straight run time. That's kind of useless. The cost to run it begins to skyrocket and now you are stopping and changing batteries all the time. For a hunting trip it’s fine. If there is ever an actual need to use them for survival forget about it. Thermal becomes more of.a tool you stow in your pocket and use sparingly at that point.

[tacticalcity]

I think my post above was a little scatterbrained. My point is I like the idea of thermal but until they figure out how to stretch out that battery to years rather than hours digital devices are not really ready for prime time defensive use. If you can afford to burn through batteries I do see how they are awesome for things like hog hunting, and how they make for a defensive/law enforcement/military tool when used sporadically. But rather than keep it on my helmet all night and deal with the added neck strain I would want to be able to take it on and off at will. At which point I fear I would rarely use it helmet mounted side by side with a pvs-14. It might be more practical to have its own harm connected, store it in a pocket, and run binos most the time (if you can afford them) and switch them out for the thermal if you needed it helmet mounted. If you can’t afford the binos yet, like me, then occasionally running thermal and the pvs14 makes sense. Because why not? The space is open. But I would remove the thermal when not in use. Which with the current run time on these things will be most of the time. Hopefully that explains my thinking better.

[Nrai2020]

What do you guys think of the JERRY 31? Jerry 31 + coti?

And what about the c5 Coti?

[Nrai2020]

What are some good vendors or sites that are gtg?

I ve bought from JRH and it was great.

[tacticalcity]

With regards to the Jerry 31, I can only comment on what I have read and heard in the video on Youtube about them. My take aways are that they are Gen2+, but likely blem free. Which is considerably better than other Gen2+ devices anywhere near that price point. The housing is polymer but looks to be very rugged and incredibly feature packed. They make a compatible but proprietary battery pack. The COTI clip-on thermal device puts it out of my price range so I have not done much homework on it. It is very tempting. I just wish it had Gen 3 autogated tubes. But if it did I would not be able to afford it. Odds are a set ot these will end up in my collection. If so I would get them from Cold Harbor Freight so I could get their upgraded dovetail mount with it.

[missiontrails]

I went down the rabbit hole. Grabbed a Armasight PVS14 Gen 3 with the Alpha tube for $2000 and a Argus helmet mount. IR units are what I wanted to do right. I ended up with a US made 3EIR DIR-one V (VSCEL full power, NO visible laser) for $800 to put on the AR, and a Laserspeed M6TR-V (VSCEL full power) Cold Harbor edition for $1000 to put on the AUG. I’ll only be doing IR offhand shooting with the AUG. The 3EIR weighs NOTHING, and puts out the same or more than a DBAL D2. The Laserspeed is also just as powerful as a D2 at a smaller and lighter form factor. The AR has an EXPS3 sitting on a ELEV8 I-beam riser to get it up to 2.26” for passive aiming through the PVS14. The Laserspeed has a visible laser so i’ll be able to line it up during the daytime, the 3EIR does not so i’ll zero it at night to my Eotech reticle. Add in a Ops-Core bump helmet with a counterweight pack on the back. Nightime desert shooting season is almost here lol.

[tacticalcity]

RIX now has three levels of Binos. All three are using Gen2+ equivalent Chinese tubes like Jerry. My research stopped with the first two price points as those were the most I would consider spending on anything Gen2+, if I were to go there. Really wish they were Gen3. The entry level version uses proprietary lenses. The midlevel uses PVS14 lenses so those who want to add PVS14 magnifiers and accessories can do so. I can't really see going there. But perhaps there is something out there I have not hear about yet I would want someday. These are still a little pricey for me at the moment.

RIX also makes PVS14s, again using Gen2+ equivalent Chinese tubes for those who needed something more affordable.

[tacticalcity]

Here is my current helmet setup. Made some changes and additions recently.

- Team Wendy EXFIL LTP Bump Helmet in FDE
- Team Wendy EXFIL Peltor Quick Release Adapters in Black
- Walker's Slim Razor Electronic Hearing Protection in FDE
- KRYDEX Helmet Counterweight Pouch in FDE
- Counter Weights and Batteries.
- INFORCE WML White/IR 450 Lumen Light in FDE
- ECHO Arms Fast Attach M-LOK Plate in FDE
- Princeton Tec Switch RGB MPLS Light in FDE
- Manta Infrared Signal Light in FDE
- Kinetic Consulting NERD (Night Vision Elastic Retention Device) in FDE
- ARGUS A4 LWNVM Mount
- Code 4 Defense NVA-14 Articulating J-Arm
- OPMOD PVS14 Gen3 in Green Phosphor

Laser Illuminators as well as pistol and rifle lights are a whole other discussion.

[tacticalcity]

What lasers and lights are you running?

I went with the Holosun IR laser and Modlite IR illuminator for rifle, and Modlite IR illuminator on my primary pistol with a RMR. I didn?t find a laser on the pistol to be very helpful.

So far pretty happy with the Holosun laser. I will one day upgrade to a MAWL, but I?ve splurged too much already on the whole Nightvision setup, as well as plate carrier and battle belt. The rabbit hole never ends lol

I think I may have upgraded a few things since I last responded to this question.


Pistols:
- Lights: Surefire X300V which has White Light, Off and IR Settings.
- Red or Green Dots. Everything from Aimpoint ACRO P2, Trijicon RMR HD, and Viridian RFX35.

Rifles & AR Pistols:
- IR Laser and Illuminator: L3 PEQ-15 Full Power, In the past ran I Steiner I2 9007 and Steiner D2. They were alright but I wanted a full power unit. I do want to try the Holosun IRIS-3, but they are sold out everywhere. From the review videos I have seen it is what you expect from a MAWL performance wise at a fraction of the price. It has a VCEL illuminator with an adjustment know on top of the unit. Runs between $800-$1000 if you can find one.
- Lights: Surefire M600V and M300V which has White Light, Off and IR Settings.
- Red Dots: Aimpoint T2 in Unity Mount with built-in backup iron sights.

I have other setups, such as rifles with LPvOS and long-range scopes but the above are my setups for my night vision guns.

[missiontrails]

Here is my current helmet setup. Made some changes and additions recently.

- Team Wendy EXFIL LTP Bump Helmet in FDE
- Team Wendy EXFIL Peltor Quick Release Adapters in Black
- Walker's Slim Razor Electronic Hearing Protection in FDE
- KRYDEX Helmet Counterweight Pouch in FDE
- Counter Weights and Batteries.
- INFORCE WML White/IR 450 Lumen Light in FDE
- ECHO Arms Fast Attach M-LOK Plate in FDE
- Princeton Tec Switch RGB MPLS Light in FDE
- Manta Infrared Signal Light in FDE
- Kinetic Consulting NERD (Night Vision Elastic Retention Device) in FDE
- ARGUS A4 LWNVM Mount
- Code 4 Defense NVA-14 Articulating J-Arm
- OPMOD PVS14 Gen3 in Green Phosphor

Laser Illuminators as well as pistol and rifle lights are a whole other discussion.

I was between that one and the Ops-Core bump…. I preferred the ARC rails… went Argus for sure for the mount…. Walkers Razor adaptors…. and rear counter weight pack…. 8oz for balancing PVS14.

[tacticalcity]

I was between that one and the Ops-Core bump…. I preferred the ARC rails… went Argus for sure for the mount…. Walkers Razor adaptors…. and rear counter weight pack…. 8oz for balancing PVS14.

I have not tried OPS-CORE helmets, but I did try the Hardhead Veterans Ballistic Helmet. I have a big head and big chin. One that would make Bruce Campbell proud. The chin straps were a tad too short even extended all the way out. Team Wendy fits me like a glove. So, I think they have a customer for life. That said, they sell the BOA internal system separately if you ever wanted to use it another company's helmet. I happen to like the looks and functionality of the Team Wendy helmets, and it was cheaper to get a complete helmet from them than build up someone else's.

[9mmContagion]

I think I may have upgraded a few things since I last responded to this question.


Pistols:
- Lights: Surefire X300V which has White Light, Off and IR Settings.
- Red or Green Dots. Everything from Aimpoint ACRO P2, Trijicon RMR HD, and Viridian RFX35.

Rifles & AR Pistols:
- IR Laser and Illuminator: L3 PEQ-15 Full Power, In the past ran I Steiner I2 9007 and Steiner D2. They were alright but I wanted a full power unit. I do want to try the Holosun IRIS-3, but they are sold out everywhere. From the review videos I have seen it is what you expect from a MAWL performance wise at a fraction of the price. It has a VCEL illuminator with an adjustment know on top of the unit. Runs between $800-$1000 if you can find one.
- Lights: Surefire M600V and M300V which has White Light, Off and IR Settings.
- Red Dots: Aimpoint T2 in Unity Mount with built-in backup iron sights.

I have other setups, such as rifles with LPvOS and long-range scopes but the above are my setups for my night vision guns.

I’ve also changed mine up a bit. Picked up some Katana Binos with WP tubes. Now running US Nightvision 3EIR Designate IR laser with a BE Meyers 3° Kiji. Moved the Surefire Vampire to the helmet mount. Really loving the Kiji/3EIR combo!