• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Night Vision How important is rail position for clip-on thermal use?

M

mikefraz

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 24, 2013
125
46
I have a clip-on thermal that I take on and off my day rifle as needed. I collimated the thermal to align with my day optic’s zero and everything works as it should. How important is it to make sure the thermal is mounted on the same picatinny rail position each time I remount it? Is it critical? What happens if it’s 1-2 rail spaces forward from where I zero/collimated it?

Assuming that the answer above is “it really matters a lot”, what do you guys use to make sure that you are installing your clip on on the same rail spot each time you remount your clip-on? I’m picturing having some sort of physical marker/object or something that lets me know, “bump my thermal up against this thing and then I know that it’s in the right position”.
 
Depends.

Factory collimated or manual digital collimation?

The bigger issue is having dayscope cant going into a 0moa clipon. Generally you want same height and cant. Rail spacing isn’t a huge issue, but I advocate you test it to know for sure given varying tolerances and forgiveness between devices.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Terry Cross and mikefraz
SkyScrapin said:
Depends.

Factory collimated or manual digital collimation?

The bigger issue is having dayscope cant going into a 0moa clipon. Generally you want same height and cant. Rail spacing isn’t a huge issue, but I advocate you test it to know for sure given varying tolerances and forgiveness between devices.
Click to expand...
It’s manually (as in, X and Y coordinate are changed on the screen to “zero” the thermal.

Good to know that it may not be an issue if it’s 1-2 rail spaces different. Obviously I’ll have to test it out and see.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SkyScrapin
I set mine on the 10.5 inch 300 blackout and haven’t had to mess with it sense. I don’t take forever to make sure it is in the same t slot every time. As long as it is close, I think you should be ok since that is not changing up/down position.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikefraz
I’m mainly asking just because putting it on the rail at night while it’s dark doesn’t give me a high degree of confidence that it’s always going in the same spot each time. I’m not talking about moving it 10 rails slots up the rail or anything.

Half of the draw to the StingIR (and RH25 for that matter) is the ability to scan with it handheld or helmet mounted and then be able to mount it up on the rail and switch it to clip on mode. I just didn’t know how sensitive the alignment was.
 
I haven't noticed the AN/PAS-13G or Steiner C35 to be too picky in that regard. That said, when I want to have something to index on for rails I just put a rail ladder or something comparable over the slots that I don't want it on.
 
I use rail ladders with section cut that is the footprint of my thermal. Remove that section when the thermal goes on and it can only go in the proper place.
An index clip for the front and back is another way you can do it if you don't use ladders.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wigwamitus and mikefraz
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Night Vision Viking
Night Vision Review: Pulsar Krypton 2 FXG50 Thermal Clip-On
Replies
2
Views
444
CBDR
C
M
Night Vision Day optic reticle is out of focus when paired with thermal clip-on
Replies
16
Views
424
mikefraz
M
T
Thermal vs NV Clip-On
Replies
26
Views
908
Old Man with Gun
Old Man with Gun
L
Need Thermal Guidance
Replies
10
Views
481
Dogtown
Dogtown
L
Need some scope direction in front of thermal clip on.
Replies
1
Views
301
dgheriani
D
Top Bottom
Back