Night Vision illumination

[Shurshot]

I have a 3rd gen night vision scope mounted on my Bushmaster Varminter. It works great if I have a clear sky and some moon light. what type of light do I need to get to add to the rifle to light it up in those pitch black nights? I need something the yotes can't see. I took this picture at a target at 75 yards with a flashlight shining on the target. I will leave the flashlight off the next time and get some better pictures. I want to fine tune the scope anyway. Just want some illumination to add to it for those dark nights.

 

[Sky]

I have the ATN 350 gen 1 and out to 125 I don't need any illumination unless the target is black. But my eyes are normally adjusted to the night before the hunt begins. I do have the IR illuminator and have turned it on a few times playing with it but I honestly never use it because most of my hunting at night is less than 125 yards. There has been some discussion once upon a time on certain varmints being able to see the IR so I just never used it or needed it.

How far out are you planning on shooting at night and what size and type target?

If this is a new scope for you I think you will be very surprised how well you will see with out illumination out to 125 or more with your scope after you get your eye ball night vision.

Night scopes are a blast if you can hunt at night in your area.

If you are an old hand with night scopes forget everything I said!! It is just what works for me.

 

[Shurshot]

I will be coyote hunting and could have a shot out to 250 yards if I could see that far. I have had this for about 5 years but haven't used it that much. I finally decided to dedicate the Bushmaster to it so I wouldn't have to keep zeroing it because it is a real pain to do when you take it on and off the rifle. What type of illuminator do you have?

 

[steven58]

I wanted an economical low tech IR illuminator that I could swap on and off of my AR and also use hand held while moving to my stand in the dark.

I use one of these (although I bought mine on closeout from a local PD supply store for $40.00)

http://www.opticsplanet.net/surefire-handheld-flashlight-m1.html

Attached to my AR with a standard flashlight mount. I just swap out the white light flashlight for this IR version.

Don't let the compact size fool you. Through my PVS-14 it looks like a spot light out to at least 100 yds. On moonless overcast nights its perfect!

 

[Sky]

My ATN came with the IR part number 807198; it is top mounted on the scope itself (I usually just leave it off) and is 4.5" when telescoped out. The ATN was purchased from Optics planet a while back for hunting Jack Rabbits and Pigs but again most of my shots are taken short of or out to 125 yards.

http://tracker.opticsplanet.com/ban...=241&sid=1&pos=3&keywords=atn+350+night+scope

They are not showing the IR attached in this photo now?? They used to sorry.

I agree to remove and make sure it is zeroed on a night scope is a pain if you are concerned with very accurate shots even with good mounts! Re-zero at night...not fun...

I just mounted mine on a 14.5 Bushy flat top because it is lite short and does what I need it to do.

Let me know if the Gen lll will get you out that far.....or maybe don't tell me..... I might start yearning!! Kinda a Texas saying like, "I might want one".

 

[Shurshot]

steven58 - thanks for the info! I think it's worth a shot. I like the small size of it. I may have to acquire one...

Sky - I bet I have spent a couple hundred buck on ammo just sighting it in taking it on and off a couple different rifles, but it is sweet when you get it tuned in. mine is a US Nightvision scope. they don't make it anymore and it has a 2 digit serial number... not sure how many of them they made but it is amazing what you can see with it.

 

[Sky]

Shurshot +1.......... Funny I liked the scope so much I bought the rifle for the scope....... removing, re-zeroing, mosquitoes, and wasting 20 or 30 rounds of ammo not to mention having to drive someplace to do the zeroing! Now it stays on the Bushy. When the urge or a friend calls it is nice to grab the AR and a few mags and leave. Brownies are nice to!

 

[crossrhodes]

Surplus

Need to see if you have any friends that work for DRMO and snag an IR spot light of an old FAV. Rig it up to your super million power portable flood light and light up the whole damn hill side. It works!!!