Night Vision D 760 who is running one? Pros Cons? vs IR hunter Mk II 1.5

[In2b8u]

OK,
Gonna make the plunge into a dedicated night optic rig. It will be a 6.8 ar.
I already have an ITT pvs 14

Really considering one of the 2 options above

Really looking for input from guys (or gals) running either of the optic choices above.

If anyone from TNVC would like to chime in that would be great.

Thanks db

 

[Victor-TNVC]

OK,
Gonna make the plunge into a dedicated night optic rig. It will be a 6.8 ar.
I already have an ITT pvs 14

Really considering one of the 2 options above

Really looking for input from guys (or gals) running either of the optic choices above.

If anyone from TNVC would like to chime in that would be great.

Thanks db

Hello, I own both. (well owned a D-760 for 7 years) own a MK1 and have been testing the new MKII with the 12um core set to come out next month. One thing is still certain, NV is used for pure ID and thermal is great for detection. The new 12um core MKII will now enhance some PID at closer ranges but a D-760 will give you the absolute ID (with a decent Gen 3 tube) at extended ranges.

Not knowing your range you want to see and shoot at nor what your devices are being used for (pure hunting, self defense, LE, etc.), having a PVS-14 already you achieved half the battle for the ID aspect, especially if you use a Mil-Spec type glass magnifier for extended ranges on your 14. My D-760 has an incredible tube with great clarity and I have facial ID out to 125 yards (conservative). In the hunting world, that is a great asset as well, BUT having hogs and Yotes at that same distance can be invisible with standard NV due to brush, high weeds and other factors where thermal really shines in to say the least.

My best advice would be to take a look at what your real requirements are for the device knowing you already have NV on your head which I feel the NV and thermal relationship is paramount they are run together. There are many hunters who visit this forum who do a lot of filming and shooting also who will chime in I'm sure. Just be sure you isolate what your own requirements are to begin with. If home defense is your primary duty, absolute PID is paramount as you always, always, have to ID first no matter what even in the normal hunting circles. I.e. is that a bobcat or a Yote, or is that our family dog, is that a small calf or hog or is that a small deer laying in the grass, is that a family member or an unwelcomed guest etc. Hope this helps a bit more.

Vic

 

[j-huskey]

You can't shoot what you can't see. D760 is kinda big and heavy. It can see well only in clear areas with quality light.
Get into animal high weeds, and depending on the animal (deer), you can't see it at all, (pig) you may see black glimpses, (coyote), depending on color, in between deer and pig.
Add an illuminator into the foliage and you have the equivalent of bright headlights in heavy fog, you are (bloomed) washed out blind, can't see through the foliage. And 6x doesn't have a lot of field of view up close. Had a couple of people get rid of 760's for the fov issues.
The ir hunter, unless a solid wall of foliage, they can't hide. 200 and under, absolutely no problem id on the silhouette on any animal. It's light and small enough that you will never want to be without it. There is no field of view issue at 10 yards either.

There is no depth perception with thermal. There is with nv. Only after experience with thermal on known size animals can you begin to judge distance.

On people, when positive identification is required, like policing, or family members in the yard, thermal sucks.

What tnvc said about nv facial id goes,, and I'll add, the lesser nv, the less you identify. The higher quality nv, the better chance you get on id.

I've got a top of the line pvs14, a military issue 3x extender, and a couple of illuminators, depends on the strength needed depends on which illuminator. I've had no problems with required id on animals and learned the limits of the equipment on humans in the 20 odd years I looked at them......

This is the best answer I can give based on your question and limited information you provided.

I've used several much better nv units than the 760, like TaNS, pvs 22, pvs27, aduns, and better thermal units than the ir hunter, like L3 lwts, flir t70 and 75, and would give the same answer above if you substituted the better units on place of 760/ir hunter in your question. They all have the same flaws in use, no matter the quality. It's the distances that the flaw shows up that better units shine.

Best of luck.

 

[In2b8u]

Thank you both for the great responses.
The application is recreational. Hunting, at night. This is not a professional requirement. It is personal.
I think true applications would be < 250. Not a lot of open land here. But the opportunity could present itself.
Vic, I purchased the PVS from you. It is a pinnacle Gen 3 and is the berries.
I a just starting my education in the thermal element. So far I have been impressed with the IR hunter. But my budget will be stretched to acquire any type of thermal device, so I want to make sure that this is a buy once, cry once experience.

 

[RobertB]

NV and thermal can't reallynbe compared imho. I have both and love both depending on what I'm doing. I see your from WV. So if I had to only have one then I might would go with the dedicated thermal. I have good luck with a thermal mono around my neck and a NV scope on the rifle. I hate scanning with a rifle. I still would not want to be without the handheld with a thermal scope.

 

[j-huskey]

Ir hunter, mk2, then. You will never regret it.

 

[Family Man]

pvs-14 on helmet
Thermo around neck
NV scope (760) on rifle

 

[softcock]

pvs-14 on helmet
Thermo around neck
NV scope (760) on rifle

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760 is on a plateau of it's own with that huge Obj lens and sucking-in every Proton . With top tube, It can gather light like no other with best focal clarity for NV . It will gather light when your pvs14 NV unit is begging for IR supplements to bring you an image . It is a 'Precision' Aim .

Downside - real Heavy , especially the old Mil. Raptar6 and like any other NV . FOG is a image killer . You need a Lazar pointer for the fast Close Range shots under 50-yard . close is not it's strong-point .
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Hey ( Family Man ) . in the Pic ? . Why all the snouts muzzled with Zip-Ties on the Coyotes ??? . NIce Shooting also .
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