I finally upgraded HELGA
At long last, I managed to set aside one Torch Pro illuminator for myself. My clients kept buying them off me before I could set my own aside. Here is the final iteration of the HELGA going into 2014. It now wears an ITT Pinnacle NE PVS 14 w/ 3X magnifier, FLIR M24, and TNVC Torch Pro. I also added visible laser pointer, so that the trigger actuates the laser, and its zeroed in the center of the FOV of the 14 and Torch Pro.
With the devices in this position, I have thermal in use at 90 degrees rotated, then flip the wrist to upright for I^2, with magnification to positively ID the animal. I can rotate the focus wheel on the bezel of the TP with the fingers of my left hand while holding the stock, and then actuate the pressure switch with the thumb of my right hand. Its all right there. NOTHING I have ever used works like this system or as fast. It is my hillbilly fusion device until I have true fusion in this size package. Special thanks to TNVC and FLIR for the help in getting these bad ass devices into action at WRR. I've been using HELGA for almost 6 years now, to guide hog hunts and it still works.
So, to lay it all out (this is all on one device) Thermal, 3 X magnified PVS 14, IR illuminator, laser pointer, and focusable beam for close in flood or long range spot applications.
Advantages:
1) Never have to sweep a weapon to spot
2) I have magnification (which greatly helps to pick out a hog versus calf), which doesn't work with a helmet, not to mention you can't get two devices on one helmet, practically speaking.
3) I have all the controls for all devices at my fingers while holding the HELGA stock in any position.
4) this gives me every available technology on one spotter device, which maximizes and magnifies the potential and specific attributes of each modality.
5) with this device, the debate over magnified night scope, versus laser on rifle and helmet mounted 14 becomes virtually moot, for us. I give my clients suppressed 6.8 SBR's with 4 X D-740's because they only need to raise the rifle and shoot when I tell them we are in range. I can paint the targets for them with either the pointer or Torch to illuminate so they don't have to fumble with switches and this way, even the uninitiated don't have to learn the idiosyncrasies of a helmet and laser, the first time they hunt at night.
"There they are"....they raise their rifles....point... paint (if necessary)....NOW!.....bang....