Night vision recommendations

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Indiana

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • rooster

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Mar 4, 2010
    3,306
    113
    Indianapolis
    I’m diving into the world of night vision, plan on doing some hog/coyote hunting with it in.

    anyone have any recommendations? Looking at all options, digital scopes, thermal, and even PVS14 with an IR laser( thats the cool guy option but I doubt it’s the most effective )
     

    foszoe

    Grandmaster
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    24   0   0
    Jun 2, 2011
    16,052
    113
    @Rookie

    He works with AA Optics and seems to know stuff....or maybe he is must more vocal! But guys do seem to like the results of his recommendations.
     

    42769vette

    Grandmaster
    Industry Partner
    Rating - 100%
    52   0   0
    Oct 6, 2008
    15,222
    113
    south of richmond in
    Skip NV, and go thermal for yotes. I ran NV for a few months, then tried thermal, and never looked back.

    We carry Bering Optics. In my experience no one can match the return on investment Bering offers. The downside of Bering is they are a ton more popular than most brands, so around hunting season there is typically a few month wait. Here is our current inventory.
     

    Rookie

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    14   0   0
    Sep 22, 2008
    18,155
    113
    Kokomo
    You have a few options...

    Red light. Least effective. As coyotes get pressured, they get smarter. Lights are very old school. My first year of hunting was with lights, and it was frustrating. Can it be done? Yes, but it's very difficult.

    Digital night vision. This is entry level and can be done for around $500. The problem is, you're limited to the ability of your infrared Light, and you're still looking for eye shine from a coyote. I've hunted a few times with my digital night vision. It now sits on top of my gun safe.

    Night vision. Marginally better than digital. Once again, you're limited to your infrared. Another problem is that most night vision devices are recoil sensitive. I hunted with a PVS-14 as a scanner and I was less than impressed. I ended up selling it.

    Thermal. For hunting at night, there isn't anything better. With a good thermal, you can see a coyote long before you can shoot one. You can get into thermal for around $1,500, but I wouldn't recommend that price point unless you're certain that you won't be hunting past 100 yards. Personally, I think it would be best for woods. As far as brands go, I've tried Pulsar, Trijicon, and Bering Optics. Trijicon is built like a tank, but I feel they have relied on their name too long and have let most companies pass them by. When I bought mine, Trijicon was king of the hill and very expensive. I paid $9,000, and it sits in my safe on my back up/loaner gun. Pulsar used to be pretty good, but they have switched to throwing on bells and whistles and charging extra. Pulsar used to sell the Apex which was a no frills scope at a reasonable price point. They stopped selling them and there's no model that I would recommend, especially considering the proprietary batteries. Last is Bering Optics. For the price point, there's nothing better. I own three. The Super Hogster is better than my Trijicon in some ways. I hunt with my Bering Optics scope and scanner.

    The biggest issue is dropping a good chunk of money on something you've never seen. I can help. Feel free to message me, and we can figure out a time for you to look through my scopes and get a better idea of what you want.

    Alan is right. In a few weeks, thermal scopes are going to get hard to find...
     

    sheepdog697

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    25   0   0
    Sep 2, 2015
    1,275
    83
    Cedar Lake
    What’s your budget?

    Also if your only use is hunting thermal is really the only way to go.

    If you give us your budget we can help you much better.
     

    sheepdog697

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    25   0   0
    Sep 2, 2015
    1,275
    83
    Cedar Lake
    You have a few options...

    Red light. Least effective. As coyotes get pressured, they get smarter. Lights are very old school. My first year of hunting was with lights, and it was frustrating. Can it be done? Yes, but it's very difficult.

    Digital night vision. This is entry level and can be done for around $500. The problem is, you're limited to the ability of your infrared Light, and you're still looking for eye shine from a coyote. I've hunted a few times with my digital night vision. It now sits on top of my gun safe.

    Night vision. Marginally better than digital. Once again, you're limited to your infrared. Another problem is that most night vision devices are recoil sensitive. I hunted with a PVS-14 as a scanner and I was less than impressed. I ended up selling it.

    Thermal. For hunting at night, there isn't anything better. With a good thermal, you can see a coyote long before you can shoot one. You can get into thermal for around $1,500, but I wouldn't recommend that price point unless you're certain that you won't be hunting past 100 yards. Personally, I think it would be best for woods. As far as brands go, I've tried Pulsar, Trijicon, and Bering Optics. Trijicon is built like a tank, but I feel they have relied on their name too long and have let most companies pass them by. When I bought mine, Trijicon was king of the hill and very expensive. I paid $9,000, and it sits in my safe on my back up/loaner gun. Pulsar used to be pretty good, but they have switched to throwing on bells and whistles and charging extra. Pulsar used to sell the Apex which was a no frills scope at a reasonable price point. They stopped selling them and there's no model that I would recommend, especially considering the proprietary batteries. Last is Bering Optics. For the price point, there's nothing better. I own three. The Super Hogster is better than my Trijicon in some ways. I hunt with my Bering Optics scope and scanner.

    The biggest issue is dropping a good chunk of money on something you've never seen. I can help. Feel free to message me, and we can figure out a time for you to look through my scopes and get a better idea of what you want.

    Alan is right. In a few weeks, thermal scopes are going to get hard to find...
    Don’t forget iRay. Their sensors are gorgeous and they have a few options in the price range of the Bering optics as well.

    Personally use iray mh25 dual mounted with the kvc bridge on my helmet and it’s amazing once you get used to it. The new Rico bravo is pretty nice being a 384 sensor.

    My buddy has the trijicon snipe-ir and I actually think the iRay has a much better picture than the trijicon. (As does he).
     

    Rookie

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    14   0   0
    Sep 22, 2008
    18,155
    113
    Kokomo
    I haven't been behind iRay, so I can't make an informed recommendation. Same with Nvision. That's why I only recommended the brands I've used...
     
    Last edited:

    sheepdog697

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    25   0   0
    Sep 2, 2015
    1,275
    83
    Cedar Lake
    I haven't been behind iRay, so I can't make an informed recommendation. Same with Nvision. That's why I only recommended the brands I've used...
    Right on. That nox from nvision looks amazing. Id really like to compare it to the mh25s. I havent been behind any of their stuff either.
     

    A-Aron88

    Plinker
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    May 9, 2018
    110
    28
    Fort Wayne
    I'm looking into NVGs as well. From the research I've done, Steele Industries is the best bet for making a purchase.
    I'm thinking as soon as I free up some $$ I'll get their night fighter package. PVS-14 Elbit thin filmed WP.

    From what I've seen, that's the lowest recommended purchase. You can typically find them about 3k for the monocular, 4100 for the night fighter package. (Helmet, mount, monocular, IR strobe.)
     

    sheepdog697

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    25   0   0
    Sep 2, 2015
    1,275
    83
    Cedar Lake
    I'm looking into NVGs as well. From the research I've done, Steele Industries is the best bet for making a purchase.
    I'm thinking as soon as I free up some $$ I'll get their night fighter package. PVS-14 Elbit thin filmed WP.

    From what I've seen, that's the lowest recommended purchase. You can typically find them about 3k for the monocular, 4100 for the night fighter package. (Helmet, mount, monocular, IR strobe.)
    Steele Industries is one of many good vendors. Others i would recommend in no particular order:

    TNVC
    JRH
    Nocturnality
    HEAT INC
     
    Top Bottom