... ... I really thought and hoped that I could skip the PVS 14 setting up my night hunting program, but I listened to every experienced opinion and to a man the advice was start with the PVS 14. ... ...
I went through the same process ... I wanted to skip 14 ... and get more clipons ... but somehow I listened and got one 14 and then a second ... two is one ... if a team member forgets their 14 then I have one to share ... dual 14s is great for driving ... I usually exceed day speed (I guess I drive like a FARMER in the day) ...
What can a 14 do?
01 - handheld monocular
I've been using it like this lately on a homemade lanyard, as I don't want to drop it. It is very convenient. If I don't need it, it is around my neck waiting. If I need it I can have it up to either eye in seconds.
02 - Driving
This is the use case I missed in my thinking. I can drive the buggy at full speed most times with one or both 14s I can scan left and right while rolling. I can usually see the deer with the 14s while driving and can then stop and take DVR of them with the thermal.
03 - Helmet mounted
When 1-2 14s are on the helmet I am hands free, then one hand on the rifle and maybe the other hand holding shooting stick. Can't do that without a 14.
04 - Weapons mounted
It is good to have this flexibility, though I don't use it much. Behind eotech it is useful to help co-witness the ir-laser, that is probably how I use it most. But if you need a backup i^2 device on .22LR or .223 it is good to have this option.
05 - Photographs
14 can be mounted to a phone for taking stills or videos.
06 - Spotter
14 can be mounted behind a spotter to enable spotter to be used at night ...
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I am probably forgetting some uses, but these are the ones that come to mind. The one word summary is FLEXIBILITY the 14 can be used in many ways and you will probably find some news ones once you get one.