YellowHammer
North Alabama
First off, I've really been enjoying your forum. I'm born & raised in Alabama but spent a few years in El Paso. I've never shot a hog (they haven't made it to my part of the state yet, but are a couple of counties South) nor hunted at night, but I enjoy getting out with gen3's and shooting via IR laser. Some farmers have offered to let me shoot their coyotes but I'm waiting for them to get motivated enough to get a proper nuisance permit first. I'm not going to take $10,000 worth of gear out to have it confiscated by the game warden due to lack of a permit.
I have a Gen3 PVS-7, slip on X3 magnifier, good helmet, good IR laser (rifle), and good IR laser (pistol), I use them a lot, and plan on keeping them. I planned to wear the PVS-7 for navigation/positive ID and scan/shoot with a thermal scope.
However, since my first thermal (640 Zeus) is getting some warranty work I've been rethinking my night shooting strategy. Would I be better off with a Gen3 NVG scope (shooting) and a 336 thermal monocular (scanning) instead of a single dedicated 640 rifle scope? Or has the advent of semi-affordable thermal scopes eliminated the point of having a top shelf gen3 weapon scope?
Pro's (for the 3rd gen NVG scope):
-Generally cheaper
-More mature technology (more likely to retain value over time)
-Clearer image/easier to positive ID
-Doesn't lose resolution when magnified
Pro's (for thermal):
-24 hr use (day/night)
-Quicker target acquisition
-More recoil resilient
-Video out capable (most models)
-Remembers zero's for different rifles (some models)
Con's for NVG scope:
-Recoil sensitive
-Can only be used at night (maybe at twilight with manual gain)
-Loses clarity past ~150 yards (in my experience, I used to shoot in an old rock quarry so things may be different in open pastures)
-External IR illuminators are faintly visible to the eye at certain angles
-Can't see through cover (like thermals can)
Con's for thermal:
-Cost
-Cost (stated twice for emphasis)
Will lose it's value as newer stuff comes out
?
?
I'm interested to hear what the experienced folks here think.
I have a Gen3 PVS-7, slip on X3 magnifier, good helmet, good IR laser (rifle), and good IR laser (pistol), I use them a lot, and plan on keeping them. I planned to wear the PVS-7 for navigation/positive ID and scan/shoot with a thermal scope.
However, since my first thermal (640 Zeus) is getting some warranty work I've been rethinking my night shooting strategy. Would I be better off with a Gen3 NVG scope (shooting) and a 336 thermal monocular (scanning) instead of a single dedicated 640 rifle scope? Or has the advent of semi-affordable thermal scopes eliminated the point of having a top shelf gen3 weapon scope?
Pro's (for the 3rd gen NVG scope):
-Generally cheaper
-More mature technology (more likely to retain value over time)
-Clearer image/easier to positive ID
-Doesn't lose resolution when magnified
Pro's (for thermal):
-24 hr use (day/night)
-Quicker target acquisition
-More recoil resilient
-Video out capable (most models)
-Remembers zero's for different rifles (some models)
Con's for NVG scope:
-Recoil sensitive
-Can only be used at night (maybe at twilight with manual gain)
-Loses clarity past ~150 yards (in my experience, I used to shoot in an old rock quarry so things may be different in open pastures)
-External IR illuminators are faintly visible to the eye at certain angles
-Can't see through cover (like thermals can)
Con's for thermal:
-Cost
-Cost (stated twice for emphasis)
Will lose it's value as newer stuff comes out
?
?
I'm interested to hear what the experienced folks here think.