I often get asked about the applicability of less expensive NODs, such as the older Gen 1 Russian imported stuff, and some of the stuff you can find at hunting retailers like Cabelas. In a word, don’t. I’m sure someone will post a comment on this article about how it’s better than no NODs at all. You’re wrong, and you are doing nothing but demonstrating your ignorance when you do. The only way the cheap stuff is even remotely viable is with the use of the IR illuminator device switched on. Having the illuminator device on is the NOD equivalent of taping a f___ing SureFire light to your face. If you’re dumb enough to assume that you’re the only guy in the area smart enough to have NODs, then thank you in advance for contributing to the cleansing of the gene pool....which immediately reminded me of this...
True story:Even if nobody's shooting at the dot between your eyes, the Gen 1 Russkie NVGs fall more into the category of "toy" than "tool".
Many moons ago, back in '02 or so, I picked up a set of crappy Russkie Gen 1 NODs on a lark. I guess they're better than nothing, provided that it's pretty dark, but not too dark, and you're not trying to run around too much. You could maybe use them if you were sitting still watching a game trail or something.
One night a few years later a friend brought home a PVS-7 from work to play with in the back forty. I dragged my old Russkie NODs out for a side-by-side comparison. Of course there wasn't any comparison at all...
Anyhow, it was a pretty dark night that night, and as we got down under the cover of some trees near the lake*, the "Gen 1" Russian gear started having a hard time with the deeper shadows under the pines. I turned on the "IR illuminator" on my goggles...
"Uh, I don't think you would ever want to do that in real life," said my friend.
"Why not?"
"Because there's a really bright light between your eyes and... whoa!"
"What?"
"Well, I flipped up my goggles and that light? It's not just in IR. There's a dim red LED right in the middle of your forehead."
*Me moving slowly and haltingly, at almost the same pace you would in a dark room with your hands out in front of you, due to motion blur and the absolute lack of depth perception: Step, halt, look... step, step, halt, look... step, stumble, halt, curse, look...
21 comments:
Also, the crosshairs in Russian optical scopes are treated with something or other that phosphoresces when exposed to infrared. So even Joe Blow with daytime opticals can pop one off at you with his AK or Moisin-Nagant.
Having spent a noticeable amount of dollars on this stuff for feral hog control I can testify that sometimes even the 'good' stuff isn't worth a shit.
I won't mention any names but I'm on my 3rd thermal imagining device from one company to find one that holds up. They keep upgrading me and I keep having problems.
When it comes to thermal vs. night vision; generally speaking good night vision is better and it's usually half-the-price, but we're still talking good used car amounts of money.
However, it's hard to beat to good thermal (major bucks) for 'scouting' when you're out in the boonies, it's dark and the quarry is trying their best to avoid getting perferated...
All The Best,
Frank W. James
Some years back, I had a gen-1 US made setup. Not goggles, but more a spotting scope style rig.
I found it... well.... better than nothing is a good phrase. It enhanced low light enough to be quite useful at times.
As for the IR illumination, an utter waste of time for me. I taped over it to keep it off for certain.
That said, I did build a couple LED IR illuminator boxes and place them along parts of the property I wanted to watch. They'd run for days on a set of AA batteries, and several foxes met their doom passing under their light.
I traded the thing for a car, and I suspect I got the better end of the deal.
The funny thing is humans refuse to learn. We already know how to limit the effectiveness of IR devices, yet we still think that moving at night, and giving the advantage to people with unlimited budget and tec. is the only way to go. And I am sure that JM, the worlds leading expert on everything, will have a scathing and profanity laced put down for me. After all anyone who knows everything and has an ego that big can never be -wrong, about anything. He may or may not be right on this one, I don't know. But he spends way to much type space bragging, bullying and calling everybody else stupid for me to give him much credit.
The sensitivity of people's feelings on the internets never fails to amaze me.
One very minor, very limited exception - I have IR cameras around the property with built in illumination spraying all over the yard(s). They provide plenty of illumination in IR for even crusty old devices. And it's not like they are the only cameras (half plus) aren't lit up at any one time, just using illumination from others.
Yeah, someone can take them out as they are easy to spot being visibly red to the unaided eye. But that just tells me someone is out there which is half the issue at any given time.
(For fun, drive around a rural neighborhood and you will find lots of IR illuminated properties already out there.)
So these were the Red-Dot targets to go with the Red-Dot sights?!
As noted, the Gen-1 devices are somewhat better than nothing. I bought a very cheap hand-held monocular, complete with built-in IR illuminator so that I could see what was out in the back-yard of my friend's house (she lives way up in northern Minnesnowta, and without street lights, or even yard lights, it's DARK on an overcast night).
We were wondering what was moving around out there, and didn't want to hit it with the flashlight. We had a bet whether it was 'yotes, wolves or cougar. Amazingly, it was just a pack of coyotes, but you'd only occasionally hear one of them. What was interesting was that their eyes absolutely light up when hit with the IR illuminator. And yes, it would have provided a perfect aiming point for anybody out there point back at us, but at this point, I'm not worried about somebody arming the coyotes (yet).
For that purpose, it was just about perfect. Not intending to use it as a weapons-sight, and not trying to be covert. Just checking out the night-critters without spooking 'em.
Anon: "And I am sure that JM, the worlds leading expert on everything, ... "
Gear ghod, you came all the way over here to flame that guy? Did he block your posts on his own blog? Butthurt much?
I use a rusky IR illuminated monocular for the same purpose as above, night critters, tho they are potentially more troublesome than coyotes. Newer stuff would be nice, but works fine for critters, and likely fine for the possible human miscreant out in the woods or near home.
A more fun application, ever looked at the stars with nite vision? Even in the darkeness of the rockies and the stunning array of stars, with night vision, even the darkest part of the sky seems vastly overcrowded with stars.
Mal
+1
My brother was serving on a tin can in the early 70's. Back then night optics were huge and pedestal mounted affairs.
During a tour of the Med, they were "ghosting" a Russian warship early one morning...and observing it with the night optics.
The Russians suddenly turned on every external light they had...giving the poor sailor on duty an instant migraine.
Always found that story amusing...until I started getting migraines. :-)
Unless you're a Hindu that's some scary about the red dot - then it's some kind of Sadhu magic.
My MA buddy got one of the Gen I devices and spied a pack of coyotes nested-down out under the trees in his back yard - I said, "Coyotes in MA? - he said "Srsly, Dude."
Who's JM?
I loved flying in Iraq under NODs, I felt like Batman. Firing is a bit tricky, guns are just a wee bit brighter.
ever looked at the stars with nite vision?
This is **really** neat even with the cheapest NV.
If you have one, do it tonight.
Headmounted AN/PVS-14 monocular and a weapon-mounted AN/PEQ-15 is the best game in town, bar none.
Only ever used it once in training in California (of all places). But when I did, it really was like cheating.
Never used Russian stuff. Never bothered.
gvi
WV: ctatit Spell it out in Cyrillic (replace the I with a backwards N) and it's the Russian word for Prostatitis.
Tam, it's nice to see your captcha is back to its usual tricks. You sure it's not communicating with the hybrids who send you the stream-of-consciousness spam?
The retailer "What a Country" sells 1'i.r. FILTERS that fit mini Maglights and several of the even higher powered tacticool lights, and larger ones for handheld spotlights. These black glass filters emit no visable light and greatly outperform led illuminators. While they will shine like the sun to another NV device, they also may cause it to flare if aimed directly at it. Unless you plan on facing police or military, in the US, chances two opponents will both have NV are slim and none.
I'd never heard of the guy or his blog. Went and read a bit--he sounds like Rawles with a bad attitude. Too much reliance on stuff. Stuff is great, but it's knowledge that will carry the day.
"Went and read a bit..."
I don't think we are talking about the same blog if that is the impression you came away with? :s
Got a set of Gen II+ and am really happy with them. This was about five years ago when the huge price jump was at Gen III, so these were the "Don't need a second mortgage" option. Their clarity and resolution is on a par with the PVS-7s I use on the job.
They have a built in IR illuminator, but I got a Surefire M1 for more flexibility. Mainly I have the NVDs for watching game animals at night, when the bears and cougars like to wander around. I see the ads for surplus Warsaw Pact stuff and figure sure, if you want a set for your kids.
Mosby...Rawles with a bad attitude?
No. Mosby is Rawles a dozen chapters into Rawles' book.
My opinion, anyways.
Secret Code: 4409 paipsi
A new soft drink sure to be banned in New York City.
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