Dude, I just went through all this a few months ago and I feel 'ya. You can dig through my threads if you like. I have a high standard and I narrowed it down to two. ITT factory hand select, or L3. L3 will license others to assemble the device and call it L3. If you get a factory ITT model, they made it. ITT can be clearer, L3 handles a bit more recoil. This is because the film in the ITT is thinner. Not sure about .300BLK, but if it's acceleration is less than 6.8mmSPC's then it's okay with the L3 (according to them). ITT is only good for 5.56, and I wouldn't do it then. I have a mount for it, but I've never used it. You'll want a PEQ or other IR laser once you get the 14's.
I went with TNVC because out of all the dealers I talked with on here and personally, they gave me the least bullshit, no sales tactics and could answer every question without trying to dazzle you with bullshit. They claim they can get better numbers making them themselves in-house using ITT and L3 tubes, but know they don't have an ISO clean room if that matters, nor will it come with the factory build sheet. They can't verify numbers until it's finished, but they claim they can get high signal to noise AND resolution, which would essentially make it better than what I got for less. But I wanted the factory shit.
I went with ITT factory hand select, I got all high numbers and the factory build sheet with it (which aids in resale value if that matters). Only low number was resolution and it was well within spec, just not maxxed out. I waited a month, but only because Vic spec'd high numbers. They even called when the signal to noise ratio numbers were under by a couple tenths of a percent to make sure that'd be okay with me.
Forget milspec. The hand select can and usually will have higher specifications to order. OH. One last thing. Omni8 specs are the newest specs, but Omni7 is stricter. So strict they loosened the specs because so many got rejected. The ITT hand select that TNVC sells is Omni7 spec and made in ITT's cleanroom.
There is no such thing as true gen.4, don't fall for that (wikipedia night vision). There are filmless tubes and some say they can handle .308, but the first ones were rejected because they couldn't handle field use. Now they mainly use 'em for pilots who aren't falling into trees and rocks.
Finally, I can't say enough good about TNVC's CS. Crye left me hanging when the armor shell of their helmet got damaged just from installing the shroud. TNVC took that $900 helmet back no questions asked and sent it on back to Crye. New one has no issues. I only deal with them now regarding this stuff. Professional, and most of the guys there are vets or active duty and it shows.
If Vic chimes in here and corrects anything I said, listen to him. He and Clasky really know their shit.
