Night Vision Scope

[USMC87]

I have a varmint problem and need a night vision scope for a 223/308 cal rifle, I would like some guidance and reviews on scopes for 200 yard use and under. Your help and recommendations are appreciated.

[cwtebay]

I personally love my I-Ray for everything. I have had less expensive options and you definitely get what you pay for.
(Not night vision - thermal imaging)

[popper]

Night vision for 200 yds will be difficult, needs some light. IR doesn't need light. At 200 yds and small varmits, 4x mag is probably needed. I can pick POI on a small hog @ 100 with 2x mag. (IR rattler 25-384).

[USMC87]

I appreciate you guys helping me out.

[ofitg]

This video shows side-by-side views through a variety of different NV devices -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyr6BxfJfEQ

[firefly1957]

I have not gone to a night scope yet I am using one of those green "game lights" sometimes called a laser designator in the past . It has a good 200 yard range in a fairly open area but cats and coyotes run like heck when shined with it!
I am looking at the electronic night scopes ones that see temperature might be best for my use but will not go on my early 180 series Ruger Mini 14 as I have a scout mount on it with a 2-7X pistol scope now. I also have a laser (red) I really am liking for closer (70 yards and under) night shots on running critters.
If I do get a night scope I will probably buy a new rifle just for it however putting it on my 30-30 Marlin could work...

[USMC87]

I appreciate you guys comments and help.

[farmbif]

im looking into these also. is thermal better than electro-optic? budget is an issue and I'm looking at the least expensive offerings from ATN. reading lots of reviews.

seems like some of the scopes include everything including the kitchen sink. photos, video, gps, compass. some probably get real complicated real quick. all I want to do is shoot the gosh darn predators at night.

[jsizemore]

ATN has online offers that are pretty good if you sign up for notifications.

[popper]

I have a therm monocular from ATN and an AGM rattler scope. I choose the AGM for shooting!!! Night vision is like the camcorder with the IR filter removed. Needs light. IR is basically the same but use a IR only sensor array so no extra light needed. Just add 1k$ min for the IR.
Edit: biggest difference is IR needs no illumination AND has much better resolution than IR. Typical IR has 1 million pixels, NV easily is 4M. NV has faster scan rate as is converts light to current. IR (uncooled), pixel elements actually got hot so response is much slower. And the detector is much more expensive, as is germanium glass used. Can't use cheap plastic lenses. The OLED you look at is quite common and cheap now. Interestingly, guy who invented OLED couldn't find anybody to buy the patent. Basically gave it away.

[Three44s]

Thermal is THE way!

I have an older ATN Thor thermal weapon sight (2015) that was sold dirt cheap to me when it was about 4 or 5 years old. It is nearly 3 lbs and it makes an ordinary rifle into a moose! But it really reaches out.

That said I would very cautious about buying the newer ATNs. Their QC has left a lot of folks flat footed..

I hope they have corrected their ways though.

As another member has mentioned I-Ray, they seem very good!

There are other good ones though.

Also, I would put it on a bolt gun or an AR15, even if you have to buy one first. A bargin 223 bolt gun will out shoot the yardage you will typically hunt at.

Three44s

[Frosty Boolit]

I just got the wraith 4k IR scope with IR illuminator and although I have not fired a shot yet, I am amazed at how crisp the picture is both day and night. I can really see myself smacking down some hogs with it.

[cwtebay]

The first is of 2 jackrabbits at 990 yards (small white dots), second is of a little whitetail buck at 325. Love my I-RAY!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20231112/a35cc0f7ae3d532ff6565aa9d22fb145.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20231112/d49f23e8f53b06fa086605461b33cf74.jpg

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[USMC87]

Great information, thanks for sharing your experiences.

[fordwannabe]

I bought one of each and man does that work well. I bought an infiray T2 pro thermal that uses the screen from your cell phone its pretty cheap/ $350 ish. It is handheld and smallish so I use this for scanning the area. I also bought a sightmark Wraith weapon mounted NV scope. It has multiple settings for 5 guns or setups. I have it sighted in for a AR in 458 socom one setting with the suppressor mounted and one without, and a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 one with the can and one without. The two items work together to let me have lots of flexability. Not super expensive yet seems to work pretty well for me.

[popper]

Does the cell phone screen give you night blindness or expose you to prey?

[Outer Rondacker]

Watching....

[firefly1957]

A guy brought a AR our to sight in days at my club with a ATN scope and let me see through it . The scope does have a troubling bit of a strobe effect if not held still on target .
I had saw some complaints of this and now have seen the real thing in person .

[fordwannabe]

I have no problem with the night blindness because the screen is blacked out and the images are grey. Also you can adjust brightness like any cell phone.

[cwtebay]

True thermal imaging will night blind you in your chosen eye.

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[M-Tecs]

A friend of mine raves about his IRay RICO HYBRID 640 3X 50mm Multi-function Thermal Weapon Sight. I have not seen it yet. For the price it better be impressive.

https://irayusa.com/hyh50w

[cwtebay]

A friend of mine raves about his IRay RICO HYBRID 640 3X 50mm Multi-function Thermal Weapon Sight. I have not seen it yet. For the price it better be impressive.

https://irayusa.com/hyh50wI have that mounted on a side charging 6.5 Grendel AR. Acceptable, but is rather dull compared to I-Ray's upper end. It seems sepia toned and muted.

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[M-Tecs]

I have that mounted on a side charging 6.5 Grendel AR. Acceptable, but is rather dull compared to I-Ray's upper end. It seems sepia toned and muted.

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Which I-Ray do you recommend?

[cwtebay]

Which I-Ray do you recommend?I truly appreciate my THC 50C. There are FAR better, but I have killed well over a hundred coyotes in the 16 months I've owned mine. The clarity is amazing! My first one was an ATN and I didn't realize that you shouldn't have to wait for the refresh rate to catch up, and that a coyote shouldn't look like a steer over 200 yards.
I have been accurate out to 275, and watched my family's crew in Nebraska good to 390 with the same scope. Yep, I dropped some Benjamin's on it, but I enjoy it more than I can speak to. The problem with the Rico is that it was after the THC, I had steak expectations and got a great burger.

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[M-Tecs]

5K to 7K will be doable next year but it's not something I can do every time something new or better comes out. I am just starting to do my research. Any recommendations for sites for reliable accurate info on what out there?

[cwtebay]

5K to 7K will be doable next year but it's not something I can do every time something new or better comes out. I am just starting to do my research. Any recommendations for sites for reliable accurate info on what out there?I'll keep you posted! My BIL just became a dealer. The tech advances and the prices drop. I have an extremely limited amount of recreation time, so I am willing to trade my pieces of green paper for moments of that time that I and my family are able to enjoy together. Whether the sun is up or not!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20231122/16fa7c0f6c115be0491b4cbffbaa1817.jpg

[popper]

Night Vision is basically a visible/near IR system that uses basic cell phone camera sensors. Uncooled IR sensors (real heat seeking) are expensive and only made by a few companies. And usually Mil suppliers so our cost is higher. The technology has gotten down to 7uM size sensors, 12 is common. Sensor has to get hot, then cool as the 'scene' changes. To speed up response, they auto 'reset' the scene. Like cell phones, the TV screen is cheap OLED. Sensitivity (how cold a target can be seen) depends on sensor (pixel) size. With 7uM, a true HD (1024) sensor has to be much larger. There is an HD one for ~10k$. One thing to remember - digital magnification actually takes a smaller portion of the sensor and displays it on the OLED. So pic can get grainy. As sales (volume) from hunters increases, price will eventually decrease.

[elmacgyver0]

For around $600 the ATN scopes are great and will do the job.
Of course, if money is no object, you can always do better.

[popper]

I use white hot in mine to combat the night blindness. I'm wishing for a phone app to set up (menu is OK but not used when hunting) no real need for movies and other stuff. Reduce scope mounted controls to on/off and mag. Even in the field everything else can be handled by phone app. Seems like all use the same software with tweaks/mods. My ATN monocle is 17uM sensor, 160x120 pixel, OK for scanning only, ID is far from perfect over 100 yds.

[hunter49]

https://www.arkenopticsusa.com/zulus-hd-5-20-day-night-digital Just purchased one a few days ago, there is a 6–8-week lead time, unfortunately. Two coupon codes SAVE25% and REX for 25% off. The previous optics I have purchased from Arken I'm completely satisfied. Good luck in your search!