Night Vision DFA 75 or PVS-14

[mikeltee]

Hey guys,
I want to get into NV. I live in the burbs and unfortunately have to drive out of state to do any night hunting for hogs or yotes. I don't have a helmet or really plan on getting one, as the wife would think I totally lost it. I will just be able to sleep better knowing that I have NV capabilities in case SHTF or in that rare case I do get to do some night hunting. I got a few bucks burning a hole in my pocket and NV THE LAST item on my list of firearms goodies. I pre-ordered a DFA75 from Pulsar, and they are due to arrive any day now as they are stuck in customs right this moment. I'm loosing sleep thinking I should cancel the order and get an Omni8 pvs-14 though. It would be perfect for my lightweight 300AAC AR with eotech.

What would you guys do?

 

[Killswitch Engage]

get a pvs -14 and not look back. it will flat out smoke any pulsar stuff. not even close

 

[SkyPup]

get a pvs -14 and not look back. it will flat out smoke any pulsar stuff. not even close

+1, no comparison.

 

[Bennybone]

The DFA75 will allow you to keep your gun useable during the daytime (traditional scope) and very effective during the nighttime with supplemental IR. It is the same technology as the Digisight n750 for which I have lot of video posted in this board (do a search).

Since you mentioned SHTF capability then I agree the PVS14 is the superior choice because you don't have to use IR to be effective, with the digital technology you would be easily detected because it is heavily reliant upon IR.

With the PVS14 I am assuming that you will be putting it behind an Aimpoint or EOTECH ? Or even a daytime optic (set way forward atop the gun) If so then you are topped out around 7x magnification or much less with the reflex sights with IR again becoming your friend when using scopes in series... OR you might be thinking an IR laser for shooting, much like SKYPUP has demonstrated in his posts on the board, then you become detectable again though.

IF I WERE YOU, I would start with the PVS14 and see if it meets your needs - if you end up finding that you don't like the setup it will make an awesome headmounted unit for moving stealthy or scanning and then you can buy a thermal sight for shooting.

BUT

If you say you want it for SHTF and the reality being that the Shit doesn't hit the fan then I think for hunting you'd be best served with digital and IR flooding the area.

BB

 

[mikeltee]

Thanks for your replies gentlemen. I think I'll save that 2k for a pvs-14.

 

[varmint hunter]

Thanks for your replies gentlemen. I think I'll save that 2k for a pvs-14.

hi all yep the 14 is the way to go..a friend uses one behind a weaver tac 3-15x50 using a D.S.A to attach one. i was suprised how good it was on full mag..using the latest variable power dipol laser illuminator.. set on half power the pic was crisp and clear. on a rabbit at seventy yard's a head shot was easy . and that laser is covert on that setting dont spook. digi stuff dont work without I.R more the better.. and they soon become wise'o to it...a fox was taken at 350 2 nights back on full mag using the same set up with 40 grain vmax .223 ammo

 

[yellowcarbon]

Go with a gen 3 image intensifier. If is much more useful and flexible system. In addition to shooting in the dark, you can watch wildlife, star gaze, mountain bike, hike, etc. You can run it actively with an IR illuminator like the digital unit. Or you can run it passive without any IR illumination so others with NV can't see you as easily. IR sticks out like a bright light to NV, so digital units can be seen many hundreds if not thousands of yards away. Even gen 1 can see the IR illumination for a pretty good distance.

While you can't buy a new gen 3 unit for $2K, you can get a nice used unit. Try ASM-1 on this board. He has a blem and used units for sale time to time. You can get a pretty good unit for not much more that the $2K you have in hand.

 

[mikeltee]

Go with a gen 3 image intensifier. If is much more useful and flexible system. In addition to shooting in the dark, you can watch wildlife, star gaze, mountain bike, hike, etc. You can run it actively with an IR illuminator like the digital unit. Or you can run it passive without any IR illumination so others with NV can't see you as easily. IR sticks out like a bright light to NV, so digital units can be seen many hundreds if not thousands of yards away. Even gen 1 can see the IR illumination for a pretty good distance.

While you can't buy a new gen 3 unit for $2K, you can get a nice used unit. Try ASM-1 on this board. He has a blem and used units for sale time to time. You can get a pretty good unit for not much more that the $2K you have in hand.

I was thinking of getting the omni 8 because my primary weapon will be a 300AAC, and the ITT can't handle the recoil. I guess it wouldn't matter if it was helmet mounted. From what I read the ITT and Omnis are pretty close. Do you feel the ITT has a significant difference in clarity and detail?

I will have more than 2k when I purchase the unit. When I buy things like this I try not to skimp as I don't want to worry about upgrading.

 

[Strykervet]

I was thinking of getting the omni 8 because my primary weapon will be a 300AAC, and the ITT can't handle the recoil. I guess it wouldn't matter if it was helmet mounted. From what I read the ITT and Omnis are pretty close. Do you feel the ITT has a significant difference in clarity and detail?

I will have more than 2k when I purchase the unit. When I buy things like this I try not to skimp as I don't want to worry about upgrading.

I understand the ITT CAN handle the recoil. From 5.56 to .300AAC. 6.8SPC too? The deal is that the ITT is supposed to have a slightly better image quality than the L3. The L3 has a slightly higher recoil rating. I guess it has to do with the ITT having even thinner thin film technology than the L3? Anyway, I was told the difference between the highest end PVS 14 models is sort of negligible today. I am also under the impression Omni 7 is more stringent than Omni 8. Supposedly, mass production of Omni 7 standards was difficult. It may be why they used to cost so much more? And "hand select" was always a big option?

I don't know. I've done a lot of research, and short of just running the numbers, which I haven't done, it seems quite difficult to decide which model to get. Some companies swear by the milspec AN/PVS-14. TNVC swears their TNV/PVS-14 is superior to milspec due to in-house manufacture and QC.

It is a big investment, and you will do yourself a favor by doing your research. However, unless you can swing the PSQ-20, the PVS-14, regardless of the particular gen3 model (provided you get a good one) is THE way to go. Plan on getting one here soon myself.

 

[Strykervet]

Sorry, I take that above statement back. I thought I recalled the fellow from TNVC saying the ITT could handle the .300AAC, but I just read they recommend it for 5.56 and L3 for 5.56, .300AAC, 6.8SPC and 7.62x39. Has to do with thicker film I think.

Anyway, it is worth a call to these guys just for some of the information they have. All these folks are quite knowledgeable. Sorry again for the possible disinfo above.

 

[Bennybone]

Digital tech can handle the 300 BO recoil, there is supposed to be a product marketed later in the year by Sightmark named the Photon that is 5x fixed magnification and appears to be designed differently than the DFA75 yet based on the same technologies.

SightMark Photon Digital Night Vision Riflescope at SHOT Show 2013 - YouTube

The pricing and availability are not firm, to my knowledge, however the point being you can go for a low cost PVS14 now and still get a decent hunting scope later that employs the same tech as the DFA75. It would be a very effective combination of units.

BB

 

[Chopperguy]

Option here and will handle the recoil of the 300 Blk under their warranty.

It's the way I went and love it.

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...omni-viii-mil-spec-pvs-14s-now-available.html