Where do NVG's fit into your Preps?

[MiamiARFan]

I've been wanting to get some NVG's for quite some time. The only problem is their expense. Who here has nvg's? Did you go with a monocular, scope, binocular? Type I's are obviously the most affordable, but there are some significant drawbacks. II's aren't much better. The difference in quality comes in on the III's and IV's.

At our last tactical rifle class the instructor brought his IV's and what can I say but WOW! Throw in an IR Ilumninator and you're ready to rock, but at a price.....5k or so.

So what do you have or are planning on getting?

[chicom]

I have a cheapo commercial monocular. It has an attached IR emiter. It is better than nothing. I use it to spot wolves and coyotes when the beam reflects off their eyes.

[Gunfixr]

I don't have anything yet but plan on it. Same problem you have, I want something that works good but don't have the bucks.

[karlsgunbunker]

Harbour freight has some reletively inexpensive night vision gear.
I've been looking at it for a while but it is low on my priority list right now.

[DocOutlands]

good swift kick in the BUMP

I'm privileged to have a friend who has a Gen1 and a Gen3 monocular. The difference between the two is absolutely incredible - the image in the Gen3 is better than that of the Gen1 with the illuminator on. Between that and some night-time airsoft exercises here, I'm convinced I need to invest in some NVGs and IR illuminators for farm defense. I'm interested in hearing from people who own them as to what brands seem to work well/worst and how easy they are to employ tactically.

[PAian]

Question: Do the latest generations of NVG have the achielies heel of infrared light ?
I picked up a pair of what seem to be ancient (assuming they are 1st Gen.) Russian made goggles for $40 with infered illuminator. Good deal or did I waste money?

[ZombieHunter_EKY]

I used PVS-7B's, 7D's, and PVS-14's while in the army. They have there uses but they also have their drawbacks. When in use your depth perception is shot all to hell, water looks like a low spot in the terrain, holes look like water, and after about one hour my eyes bother me. Unless you have a PAC-4 or PEQ-2 for you weapon they really don't help firing your weapon at night. Movement and observation is a good point about them. For the money they cost,other preps are a better way to spend your money. I understand that stealth is an issue and a reason for using NVG's but once you start firing your weapon they know where you are. With Airsoft you don't have that issue. If worried about target acquisition's at night then invest in some aerial flares. 37mm type should do the job. You can legally get the launcher that mounts on a multitude of weapons or on it's own. This is just MHO. Now if I had money to blow, hell yeah I would have a set of the best money could buy. But unless involved in a major war just get a cheap set of gen 1 Russian's to use for movement.

[Christian for Israel]

NVG's are fun to play with but, imho, shouldn't be relied on for SHTF. anything as delicate as an electronic device will probably crap out when you really need it. if you want one, get it. but train as if you don't have it available (kinda like rifle scopes...use them but practice with the iron sights as well).

[DirtPirate]

I have [url=http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-25x42-nvd.html:75ff8]this one[/url:75ff8]...but only because it was part of my old job's annual reward program. It boiled down to a choice between this monocular (more fun than day to day practical) and another chainsaw (have two and access to others)...so I went with the NVG...

It's fun...and given certain circumstances could come in handy....

[jimmy_stikx]

Ain't got the money, and unless it's total blackout conditions, once accustomed to the darkness I can see well enough.

[ZombieHunter_EKY]

Agreed Jimmy. Unless a cloudy night, moonless or in heavy bush, once my eyes are adjusted I am good.

[DocOutlands]

once you start firing your weapon they know where you are. With Airsoft you don't have that issue. If worried about target acquisition's at night then invest in some aerial flares. /snip/ But unless involved in a major war just get a cheap set of gen 1 Russian's to use for movement.

Well, given the overhead cover of trees, I'm not too sure I want to try flares - that and the neighbors might freak. (it won't take much for most of them...)

We run airsoft exercises as that - tactical exercises. I have just about zero night-vision, whereas my wife and middle daughter could navigate Mammoth Cave without a light. :crybaby: Given that I am more worried about *animals* at night than humans, NVGs would help *me* (specifically) figure out what is causing the commotion down at the (insert animal here) pen. I wasn't exactly figuring on mounting NV scopes on the airsoft guns...

[ZombieHunter_EKY]

Don't get me wrong they would be nice and I meant nothing by the airsoft comment if taken that way. Just my self I prefer not to use them even when I was a groundpounder unless I had too. Also one more draw back is the use of the eye cup fogs the lens up so quick. We never used them, just pop'ed it insideout. But this also presents a problem cause the green light from the image tube is visible at an angle and from the side.

[site59]

Picked this up the other day

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=226132

Works great and possibly a short amount of protection untill the batterys wear out during SHTF.

[DesertDawg]

A couple of years ago, I bought a "Weaver" digital NV monocular. It has a "white" IR instead of the usual red, and the IR almost vanishes at more than about 25'. The picture is in black & white, instead of the green tones, and the viewer gives the picture in a square instead of a circle. Oh, and it also has a "zoom" feature. It's a 1.5x, but push a button and it zooms to 4x. It works better than most of the "usual" Gen-1 stuff that I've seen. About $200

I also have a Gen-3 rifle scope. It's an AMT, and was on sale through Cabella's....$1,600. NICE! Fairly good clarity out to about 200 yards!

I'm looking for a Gen-1+ goggle with a 1x magnification. The "+" units are slightly better than the standard. I want it for walking at night.

[DocOutlands]

Don't get me wrong they would be nice and I meant nothing by the airsoft comment if taken that way.

I've taken a few derogatory comments from people over using airsoft and scenario-based paintball as tactical training, so I reckon I'm a tad tetchy. :) Sure, they have their drawbacks, but so does using MILES gear, so .....

[ZombieHunter_EKY]

I agree with using the airsoft and paintball for tactical training. The Urban Warfare Center in Utah ran by OpsGear does the same thing. The only difference between miles gear and airsoft is distance and the gun goes bang. I would never come down on anyone for using airsoft or paintball to run tac exercises and such. I wish people around my area would take up airsoft it is a good training tool.

[DocOutlands]

Move to Louisiana, then! :lol:

Our team looks like this:

former Marine anti-tank infantry
ANG blackhawk mechanic
USAFR TAC-P
AFROTC Cadet
college student
college student
high-school student

Those are the current shooters who will be on the field this fall (Sept). We do have two more logistics/support non-shooters who are non-military and will be handling off-field activities, like ammo/air supplies, food/drink, medical charting, etc. We'll be adding at least one more player around the first of the year when he PCS's stateside from Okinawa, assuming he's assigned somewhere close. (active USAF Vehicle Ops) Once that happens, I *hope* to have one of our non-shooters able to move up and onto the field, as well. Eventually, I want to have at least a 12-man crew training together. Right now, tho, only 3 shooters and the two non-shooters are able to train together. (non-shooter implies only for airsoft/paintball activities, as they both shoot! Under a Zombie Invasion, they'll be shooters.)