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Night Vision Binocular Bridge Systems

Nik H

Constantly Learning
Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
  • Jan 22, 2014
    11,164
    13,809
    Small town New England
    Would like an opinion from the gurus out there on selecting a bridge system that can be used with a NV monocular and thermal

    Looking at a WP, unfilmed PVS-14 and perhaps a NOX.

    Any opinions on a bridge and my choice for the optics is most welcome
     
    Nothing wrong with your choice of optics. KAC RQE Universal Bridge would be the ticket.

     
    • Like
    Reactions: Dvlray6
    Nothing wrong with your choice of optics. KAC RQE Universal Bridge would be the ticket.

    Seems like a marriage made in heaven...thank you
     
    i have the mod armory d14 and love it. its very well made and very tight. zero slop on any dovetail i have locked into it. i am running dual 14's and a 14/IR patrol.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: WhereNow&How
    Nothing wrong with your choice of optics. KAC RQE Universal Bridge would be the ticket.


    This is the way. With all of the different adjustable clips and mounts, it is the most flexible system on the market. And very light. And a piece of engineering mastery. And spendy.



     
    I have both, the Universal KAC Bridge and the Mod Armory D14.

    The KAC has significantly more moving parts, and while it's nice to have lots of adjustment, it's not as "tight" as I'd like. That's a Wilcox Shoe issue. None of them seem to have the exact same spec so there's variation in fitment. Good luck finding one in stock.

    The D14 is far simpler, has better tension adjustment, and overall is easier to use (by a little, not a lot). Easier to find in stock.

    If you're like me, you'll have to try both to verify my statements above. You'll be happy with either unit, I'm sure of it.

    Preston
     
    I was Born in Boston and spent summers in the bleachers at Fenway. 😁

    Fond memories and sad that the freedom-loving State of Massachusetts has now become the Socialist Peoples Republic of Massistan.

    Spitting on the graves at Lexington and Concord.
     
    I have both, the Universal KAC Bridge and the Mod Armory D14.

    The KAC has significantly more moving parts, and while it's nice to have lots of adjustment, it's not as "tight" as I'd like. That's a Wilcox Shoe issue. None of them seem to have the exact same spec so there's variation in fitment. Good luck finding one in stock.

    The D14 is far simpler, has better tension adjustment, and overall is easier to use (by a little, not a lot). Easier to find in stock.

    If you're like me, you'll have to try both to verify my statements above. You'll be happy with either unit, I'm sure of it.

    Preston
    Good input, thanks. I have the KAC bridge and am happy with it but this piques my curiosity about the Mod Armory stuff.
     
    I was Born in Boston and spent summers in the bleachers at Fenway. 😁

    Fond memories and sad that the freedom-loving State of Massachusetts has now become the Socialist Peoples Republic of Massistan.

    Spitting on the graves at Lexington and Concord.

    Dude you and I had it good. I feel for the fun and freedom my kids havent experienced.

    Perhaps as a parent Im partially at fault. I try my hardest to get them to do their thing but neither they nor their peers seem to have the desire.

    Riding the T from my home town to get a transfer to the Green Line and go to Fenway for bleacher tickets was a $10 entertainment cost and we couldnt have been much older than ten. Granted corporate BS has made Fenway unaffordable for kids but still they wouldnt do it if it was free.

    @gayguns GGGGGGGGGrandfather lived in my town and is the state hero


    I drive home from work along the Battle Road.

    Being so close to the places they sacrificed so much I shake my head and ask "How the fuck did this happen?"

    The mirror has the answer.
     
    • Sad
    Reactions: TheHorta
    Any experience with the Wilcox bridge?

    It's available.
     
    Any experience with the Wilcox bridge?

    It's available.
    Better than the IC bridge, not as good as the KAC. IMO, if you run both thermal and nv, which you shouldn't, you don't want a bridge that is going to force the thermal into a non vertical alignment. My experience with the IC bridge is that you are more likely due to the design of it to have a tilted thermal. For just nv, they all work fine.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: mako15
    Better than the IC bridge, not as good as the KAC. IMO, if you run both thermal and nv, which you shouldn't, you don't want a bridge that is going to force the thermal into a non vertical alignment. My experience with the IC bridge is that you are more likely due to the design of it to have a tilted thermal. For just nv, they all work fine.
    Can you elaborate on your "which you shouldn't" comment? I think it would work well and would like to understand your perspective.
     
    Can you elaborate on your "which you shouldn't" comment? I think it would work well and would like to understand your perspective.
    I think they work OK one at a time on a bridge, but looking at NV out of one eye and thermal out of the other does not work well, in my opinion.
     
    My experience with the IC bridge is that you are more likely due to the design of it to have a tilted thermal. For just nv, they all work fine.
    I run Flir Breach's on all 3 Versions of IC Mod Armory Bridges and have never had any issues with alignment of the thermal being tilted. Mine all align quite well with PVS 14's.

    It is very important to understand how to properly adjust the Flir Breach Arm to get your IPD distance set correctly for a particular users eyes. I also use Norotos Rhino 2 Dovetail Mounts to attach all my night vision devices to my helmets. I do have 1 Wilcox G24 mount but it collects dust because it does not perform as well as the Norotos Rhino 2 Dovetail.

    I find the Mod Armory IC Bridge's to be very simple and sturdily built such as they do not have a bunch of overengineered pivot points etc which will develop "slop and wiggle" with extended use.

    I also run COTI's as well. Both the COTI and Breach perform pretty well in the role they were designed and manufactured for.


    Left to Right. Mod Armory Quick Detach, Mod Armory Original Lightweight, Mod Armory Current Lightweight.

    1612636113383.png



    1612637181744.png
     
    Last edited:
    If positioned properly on a bridge, thermal and I2 work very well together. No headaches here at all and it is extremely usable. For me, it doesn’t magically overlay one on top of the other(like my e-coti and binos do) but my view seems to switch between whichever has the more useful information at the moment. Of course, you can consciously switch as well without rotating the other one out of the way. It makes it extremely easy to navigate and scan for living things without a bunch of useless motion. The only trick I found was getting the two eye pieces in the same plane which was a matter of adjustment in the bridge and mount. I can easily say that since I’ve added the thermal, I’ve never gone home hungry. Before the thermal, it was hit and miss with I2 alone.
     
    tag for info

    I'm torn between trying out the MH25 + PVS-14 combo, or just going with standard dual tubes

    Wish there was a way to try out a dual bridge system before dropping several grand
     
    tag for info

    I'm torn between trying out the MH25 + PVS-14 combo, or just going with standard dual tubes

    Wish there was a way to try out a dual bridge system before dropping several grand
    Post your general vicinity... if someone is close, they might offer a peek through theirs.
     
    tag for info

    I'm torn between trying out the MH25 + PVS-14 combo, or just going with standard dual tubes

    Wish there was a way to try out a dual bridge system before dropping several grand
    If your primary purpose is hunting then I recommend picking up at least the MH25. I am sporting the KVC bridge and dual MH25s. Image is pretty amazing and I can walk around and also drive the buggy no problem, especially in black hot.
     
    @WhereNow&How

    In the video Will demonstrates “loose” by showing the PVS-14 just kind of falling back into place when he flips it up but not into lock position. There is a screw that can be accessed by disassembling the bridge arms from each other. I tightened this and it fixed the issue.

    The screw where I’m pointing fixes this and can make the movement more fluid/loose if one wants.
     

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    @WhereNow&How

    In the video Will demonstrates “loose” by showing the PVS-14 just kind of falling back into place when he flips it up but not into lock position. There is a screw that can be accessed by disassembling the bridge arms from each other. I tightened this and it fixed the issue.

    The screw where I’m pointing fixes this and can make the movement more fluid/loose if one wants.
    Cool.