Night Vision Shoot: Pre-Planning

[Jedediah Munroe]

Got PVS-15's + LA-5/PEQ and stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. When's this going down?

Is that you Dorner?

[StraightShooter]

Sounds cool. I have put on something similar before with my own equipment and some other participants. With that said I would have one static firing line where gear doesn't leave the tables and one active line set up in a shooting bay (in my case this meant access to a private range.) where only one shooter at a time is run through. Static line we put all the weapon mounted and single tube head mount stuff. Shooting bay I either loaned out binos and a laser equipped rifle or let others run theirs (if they had it). Dual tube setup was mandatory because depth perception is necessary under movement for the inexperienced. White balloons with mini ir glowsticks inside make great targets. Marking targets with cheap 9v beacons works great to get people to acquire targets with out swinging muzzles. Most importantly pick a night where the moon is overhead and at least half full

If I still lived in CA I would join you. Good luck.

[CouchOperator]

Is that you Dorner?

Go away

[CouchOperator]

I wish there was a way to set up a group chat. Ive never set up a shoot with multiple people before, and help and input would be extremely beneficial.

[Spyder]

Ive never set up a shoot with multiple people before, and help and input would be extremely beneficial.

Then why do you keep rudely turning people away who offer suggestions and experience?

I think it's rad, the idea you're trying to put together, but the way you're going about it is very off putting. I've got more experience than most organizing this sort of thing...but it's not very appealing to show up to a shindig with the way you present yourself.

I wish you the best of luck and no injuries when and if you organize the event. It'll be VERY fun for all involved. But telling people not to give advice or experience, and then asking for it, is...off.

[Kwikvette]

Then why do you keep rudely turning people away who offer suggestions and experience?

I think it's rad, the idea you're trying to put together, but the way you're going about it is very off putting. I've got more experience than most organizing this sort of thing...but it's not very appealing to show up to a shindig with the way you present yourself.

I wish you the best of luck and no injuries when and if you organize the event. It'll be VERY fun for all involved. But telling people not to give advice or experience, and then asking for it, is...off.

I have people tell me the same thing in person, and it seems that it only bothers those that are too sensitive and take things the wrong way.

Cut, dry, to the point is what I like and I think that's CO's approach with this as well.

Safety is a big factor here; wit that being said it will be much safer involving people with current and/or previous experience shooting at night with NODS.

Everything else stated earlier is taken into consideration, and can be incorporated so everyone has a good time while taking proper precaution. The rules and details can be hashed out prior to any such meeting, we all know that. It's the lack of experience with this type of shooting that you can't just make up for and we're trying to avoid that in this scenario.

[HooYah]

Sounds cool. I have put on something similar before with my own equipment and some other participants. With that said I would have one static firing line where gear doesn't leave the tables and one active line set up in a shooting bay (in my case this meant access to a private range.) where only one shooter at a time is run through. Static line we put all the weapon mounted and single tube head mount stuff. Shooting bay I either loaned out binos and a laser equipped rifle or let others run theirs (if they had it). Dual tube setup was mandatory because depth perception is necessary under movement for the inexperienced. White balloons with mini ir glowsticks inside make great targets. Marking targets with cheap 9v beacons works great to get people to acquire targets with out swinging muzzles. Most importantly pick a night where the moon is overhead and at least half full

If I still lived in CA I would join you. Good luck.

Hardware doesn't make up for a lack of software. Besides, there's plenty of dudes with PVS-14 monoculars out there running n gunning. Binos are nice, but not the end all be all.

The litmus test should be, if you can't perform basic tasks like loading/unloading, malfunction clearing, etc with your NODs on and no white light then you should probably get more familiar with your gear before coming out to a NVG shoot. Also, if you need Phoenix JR beacons to spot/mark your targets, your IR illuminator probably sucks and you should get a better MFAL.

When we shoot with NVG's, we shoot at steel targets at varying distances. They're not marked with chem lights or beacons. Everyone wears full PPE (plate carrier with plates and ballistic helmet) and has a chem light front and back. If you have an IR strobe like a MS-2000/Helstar/etc on your helmet, turn that on. Also, everyone shows up to the shoot with their IR lasers already zeroed and that way we don't need to waste time getting **** dialed in.

I get what CouchOperator is saying because if you're getting a bunch of people together, it should be expected that everyone is proficient and safe with their setups. I'd rather have some vetting of individuals attending rather than seeing the NVG shoot turn into a surprise TCCC course because you let some random lowest common denominator show up.

[CouchOperator]

Dual tubes doesnt give you true depth perception. Period. While i love my duals, anyone with more experience/training with a 14 will clearly outperform me. Duals isnt a magical device. I agree with hooyahs assessment, and he is accurate in why i want to vet people.

[StraightShooter]

You guys are misunderstanding my post I think. I'm talking about setting up a NV shoot with potentially very unexperienced people wearing NVG's. If you know with certainty that everyone you invite is as experienced as the people you described in your post then great, but I don't see how you can guarantee that, even with a daylight meet and greet. Good luck gents, interested to see if you actually work it out and make it happen.

[mikenewgun87]

Red lense flash lights for clearing out weapons,
Different color Chem lights for marking left and right lateral limits,
Designated casualties area, (also marked in a different color chem light)

Safety brief covering all that, make sure you fact check each person on if they know what is what.

Specially at night, getting shot in the dark and fumbling around because everything is disoriented is no fun.