Seeking "night optic" information

[CWLONGSHOT]

First off we cannot hunt at night here. I'm more looking for an entry level optic that can be used at night how to 100 or 2 yards but is able to video my hearts I don't need sound and I don't need a lot of the fancy features.

i'm looking at Sight Mark and ATN Scopes.

I wanting to stay five to $700.

i'm largely just kicking tires but like to keep my options open. It's something I've wanted I know I'll have the opportunity to use it as a night scope in other states. But largely easier to video shootin.

right now I'm liking this site mark for its size and shape inability to use as a standalone for events and such. The ATN has Wi-Fi/Bluetooth so the ability to watch what is seen through the scope on your phone is a very nice feature. But is it worth 200+ dollars more.

anxious to hear if any of you guys have use these and what your opinions might be about them.

cW

 

[Glaciers]

CW move to Alaska you won't need night optic's in the summer.

 

[popper]

Find an old Cannon camcorder, switch to night mode. The sensor does see some IR, they use an IR filter on it for daylight. Take an old cell phone apart and remove the filter would work too. IR goes through quartz and many plastics but not window glass. These will be like the old starlight optics. Newer uncooled sensors like ATN and FLIR (no longer in riflescope business) are not cheap. My Ring camera does pretty well at night in the city. Need to get to kid's new country property with the camcorder and phone to see how well they do. Nite hog hunting.

 

[Ian]

What Popper said. Many cheap digital camcorders (palm sized) have a night vision mode and will be as good or better than the cheap NV scopes.

You won't see well past 40-50 yards by star light alone. Half moon will get maybe 75. You need an IR illuminator for clarity.

I have a digital camera NV scope by Sight Mark (Photon) with built-in 3-stage illuminator and for $450 it works very well out to 125 yards or so in the open. It will illuminate and view much farther but it gets tough to tell a dog from a pig at a certain point due to low resolution.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I have decided on one of these Sightmark HD 2x16x32 units.

Reviews from owners are high. Problems are low unlike the ATN line. These are more appealing in features offered. But I prefer the size/shape of the SightMark. My only "issue" is the few optics I have seen from this coMpany are barely "airsoft use" hardy... One dot I bought would not even funtion properly. The battery would t stay in contact to allow the unit to reliably function. I was pleased to see comments by reviewers who own and use very high end units proclaim how well this unit works.
We shall see... I should have it next week.

CW

 

[popper]

Hope it works good for you, my reflex wouldn't hold zero on BO pistol. It is several yrs old and in the junk box.

 

[Ian]

I would classify my sightmark 4x NV scope as a toy, but a useful one. Only problem I had with it was Energizer batteries. NEVER put energizer alkaline in anything important. One popped after just a week (was lazy unpacking and pulling batteries after a varmint hunting trip) and ruined a terminal. I highly recommend the energizer lithium high-current batteries.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Ill start lookin!!!

 

[Ian]

"Ultimate Lithium" is what they're called. The only battery that can survive baking in the sun in my gate keypads all summer. Two years now including summers and recently near zero for a few days and they still work flawlessly.

 

[Dimner]

I have decided on one of these Sightmark HD 2x16x32 units.

Reviews from owners are high. Problems are low unlike the ATN line. These are more appealing in features offered. But I prefer the size/shape of the SightMark. My only "issue" is the few optics I have seen from this coMpany are barely "airsoft use" hardy... One dot I bought would not even funtion properly. The battery would t stay in contact to allow the unit to reliably function. I was pleased to see comments by reviewers who own and use very high end units proclaim how well this unit works.
We shall see... I should have it next week.

CW

Would you mind giving us a report and some pics after using it?

Your requirements for a night time optic are exactly the same as mine.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

ABSOLUTELY!!


Well she arrived today!!

I have spent a few days deciding on a host. I have three choices.

1) Savage 17WSM pencil bbl.

2) Howa MINI 6.5 Grendel

3) 18" 223 Wilde AR upper. (I need a BCG for it.

I ordered the "bolt base" just in case it was needed for the bolt guns. Looks like I can use the scope as is with just a bit of creeping towards the scope. As long as it's not a recoil and caliber I should be fine. Having shot it today the next chance I get I'm going to put the bolt base on and try it. Should I use it on an MSR I'll just mail it a little farther forward that'll put the scope were supposed to be and everything will be fine.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

 

[Ian]

First impression...that thing is HUGE!

My 4x Photon mounts like a regular scope in 30mm medium rings and doesn't weigh a lot.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Haha... Bigger n heavier then your normal avg "regular scope" yes. But its really a nice size. Remember it is designed for a MSR so its a but its tall.
But Wrubber eye cup under 9" long & 33 oz IIRC. So yes heavier!
PART of the readon its on this Bmag. This bugger is under 5# actually just over 4# W/O a scope.

Overall I am liking it.
I am Gonna re mount in bolt base.
CW

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I mounted it on the "bolt base" Today.
I should have done this first. Not sure what I was thinking...

This rifle is small in stature its a light rifle under 5#. The optic is 33 oz. Its hard to give it context but it does look larger then it is. Visited a buddie who is interested today a d he said exactly that. "Wow this is alot smaller the. The pics made it appear. But it aint light! " He is gonna be ordering one pretty much 100%!




Then I needed to add a mount for the Illuminator. So beingbuts a cheap plastic stock I added a weaver base to the bottom. Epoxied and screwed. The Illuminator is mounted i to a Spherical mount so "amiable"

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Shot this again yesterday. We had a pistol match and the weather was good so the wife and I went to the range early. She ran to 100 for me so we had 50 & 100 yard targets.
This optic is able to provide all the accuracy that the 4-12 Bushnell did.

It likes the 25g best halfi g the groups of the 20 & 15g lead frees.

Super pleased with how well its working.

Here is 100y with the 25g.


Here is 20g and 15g


The lead free 15g being worst but still aprox 1.5" so 3" @ 200 adequate for its purposes. I dont know how fragile these are. But the 20g are varmint bullets to there core!! If ya line up three eggs, the third almsot always is untouched. The squirrels I have shot do not show exits. While The 25g shoots a 30 cal pencil like hole. The 25 is my preferred both for accuracy and for there constRuction.


Momma didnt like the hard to close bolt. (This is a cock on closing gun)


But she does like the new shooting rest!

CW

 

[Missionary]

I appreciate all the fine photos !! And the reports. An affordable night rifle scope opens up a bunch more options to clear out some nocturnal pests.

 

[Dimner]

if possible sometime, could you show a pic of a critter at late dusk through it? No biggie if it's too much trouble. I'm thinking about getting something like this technology in monocular form factor. On the property that I hunt, I need to walk quite a while in an open field to get to my spot(s). Usually I do fine in the mornings, but in the evenings after legal hunting hours, I despise spooking deer on my way out. Having something like this could help me pick a better route to keep the deer happy.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Your most welcome. I enjoy it!!

These are Not my videos. But a few from uTube Utilizing the same products.

CW

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I received a 950 mn light Friday.

Last night I tried it and it does work but dosent provide the "light" the 850mn does.

So Its useable but dosent "reach" as far.



But I very much like the remote cord and its ability to momentary on option.
CW