Night Vision New to NV

[DrainTheSwamp]

I need help picking out a NV setup for coyote hunting this winter. Budget is going to be around that 1k mark. I wouldn’t mind a clip on but I feel right now the only way to go is pvs 30 for a clip on and I can’t justify that cost now.

I’m looking into the photon with a t-20,
Pvs 4 from NAIT and also their mk845 mark ii. Anyone have experience with these, I’m open to other ideas as well. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

 

[wigwamitus]

Sig echo is an option .. as are the fixed focus FLIR and Pulsars, BUUUT ... all these solutions degrade significantly beyond 100yds. And that's not just for shooting but also for detecting and PIDing.
While most of the yotes I've gotten were shot inside 100yds ... most of those I picked up farther out and tracked them in.
I've always (for the last 5 years any way ) been able to see well, with thermal out several hundred yards, so it is hard for me to imagine going after yotes and not being able to see well beyond 100yds.

What sort of terrain will you be in? Treelines within 100yds ? Or open fields a mile across ??

 

[DrainTheSwamp]

Open fields and prairies

 

[wigwamitus]

Open with consistently low vegetation ? As in hayed or cut fields ? Or also some fields that did not get hayed and have waist or higher grass? The more vegetation involved, the more I lean towards thermal. Though at the under $2k price point, beyond 100yds, you're starting to see "blobs" ... the nature of the movement can still give you PID, but it takes experience to be able to interpret what you are seeing into a PID. With a LUNA ELIR-3 and a photonis you might be able to stretch it out to 300yds, especially on moon nights.

If I was doing what you are trying to do, knowing what I know, I would want to step up to the Apex 38mm thermal.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/pulsar-pl76417-apex-xq38-dig-nv-scp.html

This thermal has a focus ring and hence can help PID out beyond 300yds, based in part of seeing the movement, but also a much sharper image than the other options and the ability to see "into" higher grass or even woods/treelines.

You can get a new one for around $2,250 (street price) and might be able to find a used one for less.

 

[wigwamitus]

SIMRAD 253

 

[wigwamitus]

I'd still go with thermal for hunting critters that are alive ... but as regards that pic .. I bet you ask 1000 people on the street and 1000 of them will say "looks like a pile o junk to me!"

 

[DrainTheSwamp]

I wouldnt be against the pvs9 at all. I do have a line on a used flir rs32 any opinion on those?
and I guess I could just order the photon on optics planet and if I don’t like return it.

 

[wigwamitus]

If you want to order anything from OP, call them on the phone and say "I will buy today, if I can get an additional 10% off" ... they should give it to you (they give it to everyone else). If they say "no" ... say 'thinks' ok then, I will keep thinking about it and end the discussion. Your willingness to walk away, if you don't get the 10% should make them say "oh let me go ask my manager" ... and then you 'll get the 10%.

Remember you'll need a T-20 and a pic rail mount to go with that photon.

==
I've never had a FLIR branded device, but in the past few years, the few people I've known that had them, sold them and got either pulsars or trijicons, so if it was me, I'd pass on the FLIRs ... now if it really works and it is under $1,000 ... and I was you ... then maybe.

 

[softcock]

There’s used pvs9 kn203’s & kn253’s clip ons (gen 3 refurbs) that regularly go for 2k. Save a bit and buy one. There’s two in the hide PX for sale sections as of right now, I wouldn’t even consider the options under 1k, save and buy the gear that will work and last.

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the 253's on your links, ( to add ) are a little smaller unit and also little lighter weight than the 203's . they always seem to be a little more sought after unit .
.