Hey guys,
I have been teaching NV for a few years since I have pretty much everything to be able to teach from and some things that I borrow because they are just outside my price point at the moment. I have gotten to play with just about everything being that I am prior military and LE, so I will run down my list of things that I like, love, and learned about night vision and thermal.
Things that I personally own
PVS 14 with an ANVIS auto gated tube
ANVIS 6 with mil spec auto gated thin filmed tubes
OSTI PVS 22 I believe this is an LE version that is not filmed or gated
PEQ 15 mil spec version in tan
DBAL-I2 IR/vis laser sys, has no IR illuminator (flashlight)
Things that I have owned
FLIR handheld thermal 320 core
PEQ 2A
Things that I have borrowed or used
PVS 27
PVS 30
PAS 17A
Armasight PS 22 gen 2+
PVS 15s
PVS 31s
GPNVGs
Various thermals from handheld to crew served in the military
The PVS 14 is the best option in my opinion for getting into NV, buy the best tube you can afford, but just about any Gen III is your best option. Plus if you get two of them (try to get same mfg/ spec) you can bridge mount them at a reasonable price and you then have dual tubes with options (weapons mount, handheld etc)
Having said that dual tubes is the only option if you are going to be using NV for a job!!! Period!! Using both eyes for navigation and being able to see effectively is way better with dual tubes, and for most that use them for a job PID usually requires both eyes as one is probably weaker than the other. You don't struggle or feel wonky with both eyes working, plus reduces fatigue and all that jazz!
If order to be effective in the field or at work you need both systems thermal for detection and night vision for engagements, and yes I know that thermal is great for hunting but for mil and LE you need both, and the team concept comes in real hard for these guys, esp as a sniper or surveillance team. Plus having head mounted NV with clip on is a great benefit for sniper teams. For the LE dudes on a budget look at the FLIR/ Armasight Breach that thing is bad ass for $2500 and you really only need it to track and detect, game over!!
Ok, so now sniper teams have a unique place as usual and require more gear and equipment, no matter what kind of head mount system you go with they need to be able to stow and fold out of the way, nothing more annoying that having to remove your helmet to look through your rifle scope. Also being able to only fold one side out of the way makes it so that you can look around or look past without burning your eyeballs out on the riflescope.
Having a system like the Wilcox RAPTAR is freaking awesome, compact IR and visible with laser rangefinder that goes to 1500 plus and can clip onto your observation system to designate targets or get range is a damned near must have. And they are on SALE at Potomac River Group!! Pics below.
The system pictured below with a Leupold spotting scope, badger ordnance SLICK, the RAPTAR and a good solid tripod from Precision Rifle Solutions is indispensable!!
I have been teaching NV for a few years since I have pretty much everything to be able to teach from and some things that I borrow because they are just outside my price point at the moment. I have gotten to play with just about everything being that I am prior military and LE, so I will run down my list of things that I like, love, and learned about night vision and thermal.
Things that I personally own
PVS 14 with an ANVIS auto gated tube
ANVIS 6 with mil spec auto gated thin filmed tubes
OSTI PVS 22 I believe this is an LE version that is not filmed or gated
PEQ 15 mil spec version in tan
DBAL-I2 IR/vis laser sys, has no IR illuminator (flashlight)
Things that I have owned
FLIR handheld thermal 320 core
PEQ 2A
Things that I have borrowed or used
PVS 27
PVS 30
PAS 17A
Armasight PS 22 gen 2+
PVS 15s
PVS 31s
GPNVGs
Various thermals from handheld to crew served in the military
The PVS 14 is the best option in my opinion for getting into NV, buy the best tube you can afford, but just about any Gen III is your best option. Plus if you get two of them (try to get same mfg/ spec) you can bridge mount them at a reasonable price and you then have dual tubes with options (weapons mount, handheld etc)
Having said that dual tubes is the only option if you are going to be using NV for a job!!! Period!! Using both eyes for navigation and being able to see effectively is way better with dual tubes, and for most that use them for a job PID usually requires both eyes as one is probably weaker than the other. You don't struggle or feel wonky with both eyes working, plus reduces fatigue and all that jazz!
If order to be effective in the field or at work you need both systems thermal for detection and night vision for engagements, and yes I know that thermal is great for hunting but for mil and LE you need both, and the team concept comes in real hard for these guys, esp as a sniper or surveillance team. Plus having head mounted NV with clip on is a great benefit for sniper teams. For the LE dudes on a budget look at the FLIR/ Armasight Breach that thing is bad ass for $2500 and you really only need it to track and detect, game over!!
Ok, so now sniper teams have a unique place as usual and require more gear and equipment, no matter what kind of head mount system you go with they need to be able to stow and fold out of the way, nothing more annoying that having to remove your helmet to look through your rifle scope. Also being able to only fold one side out of the way makes it so that you can look around or look past without burning your eyeballs out on the riflescope.
Having a system like the Wilcox RAPTAR is freaking awesome, compact IR and visible with laser rangefinder that goes to 1500 plus and can clip onto your observation system to designate targets or get range is a damned near must have. And they are on SALE at Potomac River Group!! Pics below.
The system pictured below with a Leupold spotting scope, badger ordnance SLICK, the RAPTAR and a good solid tripod from Precision Rifle Solutions is indispensable!!
