Night Vision Scope for hunting; need your advice

[HiVelocity]

Folks,

I'm interested in buying a night vision scope to mount on my SKS for hog huntingn at night. Here in SC its legal to use both artifical light as well as a night vision scope to hunt feral hogs. Some weigh up to 450-500 lbs.

Has anyone had any experience using a night vision scope for night hunting? Recommendations? Oh, please don't tell me to buy a $1000.00 scope to use on a $350.00 SKS, its not in my price range. I'm just looking for something usable, very good quality, simple to use. Something in the $350-$400.00 range would be acceptable.

I appreciate all your comments, please e-mail me at [email protected].

Thanks,

HiVelocity in SC

 

[jmorris]

I have owned temporarily 3 NVD’s (monocular), all 1st gen stuff. Unless you’re hunting very close (50yd if lucky) they are all but useless (very poor image quality). Prices varied but the most expensive ran about $350, still too cheap to get anything decent. BTW rifle scopes are more expensive than monoculars. The cheapest 1st gen stuff I’ve seen costs over $450 and is probably only good at draining batteries. The cordless 12v spotlight with red filter still works, turn light on in the sky and lower just enough to sufficiently illuminate your target. If you lost your red filter you can color your lens with a red Sharpe marker. I too would be interested in knowing how much you have to spend to get decent-good results and what brand/gen of NVD’s work.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Unfortunately, you're looking at a huge cost for an NVS that can see and hit what you're aiming at. STAY AWAY from Soviet first generation stuff, as they gave off lots of radiation from the eye piece, and can damage your vision over time. In fact I avoid the Soviet or Russian, or former comunist block stuff altogether.

Probably cheaper to buy a good light gathering scope, and a big spotlight.

LD

 

[MCgunner]

I gave up on wanting the NVD stuff. I, too, have an SKS I wanted to put one on for hogs. Great minds think alike. I acquired a spot light, but it has no red lens. I need to figure something out there, maybe some of that red cellophane stuff from a flower shop or something or duct tape a tail light lens to it. So, I bought a cheap Chinese made scope at a tool sale that is amazingly good! I can't believe how clear the thing is for a 40 dollar scope. It's 40mm and is pretty bright, but the neat thing is the lighted reticule. You can see the crosshairs! I might not actually have to use a spotlight with it on a full moon night. It's a pretty rugged scope, far as I can tell, too. I wouldn't put it on a heavy recoil rifle, but it's worked well on the SKS so far. And, if it falls apart in the future, it was only forty bucks.

I'm thinkin' I might do some night hog hunting after deer season is over to extend my hunting experience this year. No season on hog here, shoot all ya want.