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Posted: 1/25/2015 4:03:16 PM EDT
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Can any of you folks recommend an IR illuminator for use with my Gen3+ night scope?
I have been using the same ITT 2.5 x 10 x 56mm for twenty years and it is still going strong, but Id like to try a more powerful IR source than the small light built into the night vision module. (It is difficult to regulate to the center of the scope and requires the shooter to hold it on so it is good for observation only). I have a one inch keymod flashlite mount Id like to use but it is not essential if a larger diameter or picatinny rail is standard. Effective range should be between 75 and 150 yards if that is possible. IR illuminator is only necessary to unmask coyotes in dark shadows and for hunting on a new moon but Id like to try one. Under $200 a plus. Thanks. |
| Im a Newbie into the nv world. A friend of mine reccomended me this light. Good price too. |
| I use a solar force flashlight and have all kinds of drop in heads. I think for the body head and choice of tail cap you could do it for under 30 If you got the stuff on clearance or sale direct from China or under 40 from lighthound. I haven't used any other ir light so I can't compare but it lights up whole hillsides from about 200 yards or so and is a pretty wide beam. |
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I've used two units. one is the ultrafire flashlight with 3W, 3 LED IR drop in. Works great at the ranges you are talking about. Don't get the 4 LED, it didn't shine any. It has a broad area of illumination. cost is about 14 bucks on amazon. You will need battery and charger
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NTWJBZ6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ISI1ZO6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OCCNBOE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I also have a gun mounted surefire 952. It shines a bit brighter than the ultrafire and it seems like that is has more of a concentrated illumination at center. That's all I have experience with. I bought the ultrafire for my helmet mount and the 952 for my rifle. I'm sure there's better options out there, but I can take all sorts of shots in the 75-150 yard range with laser. |
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Delerious, I see the 952 price on amazon and EE have come way down. thanks for feed back. Does your IR head flicker? Only complaint I have heard. 150 yards would be great. Anyone tried a Torch Pro or Arma sight? IR only but 500 - 800 yards hard to believe! I have a Torch Pro...it will EASILY reach out to 500. It is a big light but goddamn it works well. |
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Uniquesnd,
Do you know if the Is the C6 made in the USA? I checked the specs and it appears to be all I need if it really makes it to 200 yards IR. Have you used it that far and with what kind of sight? Renegade, Do you consider the Surefire 952 a close range wide angle or medium distance light? Madbarbarian, What kind of sight are you using with the Torch Pro? Thanks everyone, very useful information. |
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Quoted:
Delerious, I see the 952 price on amazon and EE have come way down. thanks for feed back. Does your IR head flicker? Only complaint I have heard. 150 yards would be great. Anyone tried a Torch Pro or Arma sight? IR only but 500 - 800 yards hard to believe! no flicker here. |
| The 952Vs that I have (4 of them) each throw about a 25 yard beam at 100 yards. In between the 952v and the Torch Pro is the Streamlight TL-2 IR, TLR-1 IR and SuperTac IR. All of those work well and are more powerful than the 952. I've used the SuperTac and TL-2 IR with the scope you have and could easily see coyote eye shine and make them out clearly at 300 yards. |
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Have not seen the beam so I cannot say. Quoted:
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Renegade, Do you consider the Surefire 952 a close range wide angle or medium distance light? Have not seen the beam so I cannot say. I would consider it a medium range. It seems certainly more center concentrated. I wouldn't say its wide range but then again, I havnt tried other lights that are concentrated and for longer yardage. I personally wouldn't be taking shot more than 150 yards. I would be capable of walking up game(hogs) at much closer distances. With wind right, I got 30 yards a few weekends ago and took a shot. All I had with me was a suppressed 22/45 with IR laser though. |
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Quoted:
Uniquesnd, Do you know if the Is the C6 made in the USA? I checked the specs and it appears to be all I need if it really makes it to 200 yards IR. Have you used it that far and with what kind of sight? Renegade, Do you consider the Surefire 952 a close range wide angle or medium distance light? Madbarbarian, What kind of sight are you using with the Torch Pro? Thanks everyone, very useful information. Only time I have shot with it was with an IR laser. Most of the time I use it as a hand-held to scan woodlines and peer into really dark places. |
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i have never used this light but it has a hell of a reputation, also look for a used torch. I really like the tlr ir led it's great out to 100 meters depending weather but not too bright to use indoors. skip the 952v the beam is very wide flood it won't do for yotes. |
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Ncorry,
Thanks for expert feed back. Did you use the TL-2 IR hand held or did you mount it on your hand guard? I see it has a 0.9 inch (25mm I guess) diameter. Did it hold with a std one inch ring or did oyu use a thin rubber spacer or something? Its a confidence builder you also used the ITT Gen3+ with those two lights. I set my scope on 6 X most of the time. Thanks! I see that the Stream light's are "assembled in the USA," and been in business since the 1970's. The Nitecore is imported from China. Do you guys have any preference between these brands? They cost about the same. Thanks. |
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I purchased a Streamlight TL 2 IR flashlight.
Wrapped some skate board tape around it so it would fit my one inch rings and mounted it in line with my bore, the bezel a bit forward of gas block. Boy, it is bright!!! It is probably not necessary for a Gen 3+ in most conditions. Blooms out image frequently esp prone or sitting. Better off hand or with rifle braced over a fence rail. It is useful for lighting up deep shadows at long range (like 400 yards!) Fog, light rain, wet grass really reflect back alot of light which I knew from small illuminator on my ITT 2.5 - 10. It is a very bright flashlight! thanks everyone for your help. Take home lesson, an adjustible focus and a dedicated weapon light (one inch diameter) might be more useful, but Im glad to have one to play with. |
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Quoted:
I purchased a Streamlight TL 2 IR flashlight. Wrapped some skate board tape around it so it would fit my one inch rings and mounted it in line with my bore, the bezel a bit forward of gas block. Boy, it is bright!!! It is probably not necessary for a Gen 3+ in most conditions. Blooms out image frequently esp prone or sitting. Better off hand or with rifle braced over a fence rail. It is useful for lighting up deep shadows at long range (like 400 yards!) Fog, light rain, wet grass really reflect back alot of light which I knew from small illuminator on my ITT 2.5 - 10. It is a very bright flashlight! thanks everyone for your help. Take home lesson, an adjustible focus and a dedicated weapon light (one inch diameter) might be more useful, but Im glad to have one to play with. Please elaborate on this so-called Gen3+ technology. I am used to the Plain Jane Gen3 stuff. |
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Absolutely this. Throws a beam like crazy |
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Wikepedia has a decent description of gen 3 vs gen 3+.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_vision_device It is more detailed than what I got in my instruction manual. Gen 3+ does give up a little bit of longevity but Ive used mine for 21 years now. 15,000 hour life vs 20,000 hour with gen 3. I used to use my sight with a three baffle muzzle brake and the auto gate system does work as advertised. |
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I have used a Streamlight Supertac ir for a couple years. It is too bright for a pvs14 at less than 100yds. A square of electrical tape in the center of the lens fixes that.
I have replaced the Supertac with an Uniquefire T20. At max power it blows away the Supertac. I have no need for that much light other than scanning fields 1/4-1/2 mile out. At lower power levels it is just fine for use out to 200-300 yards and is still not too bright close in. I like this light for a couple reasons. One is rechargeable batteries. Two you can focus the beam and it has very little spill. I find this more useful with a magnified scope to help eliminate excess light on close grass, limbs, etc and putting it on the intended target. It's not as tight as a laser or the SPIR but the $35 I have invested in it it suits me fine. OP, I see you are in Oregon. Where at? |
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Quoted:
I have used a Streamlight Supertac ir for a couple years. It is too bright for a pvs14 at less than 100yds. A square of electrical tape in the center of the lens fixes that. I have replaced the Supertac with an Uniquefire T20. At max power it blows away the Supertac. I have no need for that much light other than scanning fields 1/4-1/2 mile out. At lower power levels it is just fine for use out to 200-300 yards and is still not too bright close in. I like this light for a couple reasons. One is rechargeable batteries. Two you can focus the beam and it has very little spill. I find this more useful with a magnified scope to help eliminate excess light on close grass, limbs, etc and putting it on the intended target. It's not as tight as a laser or the SPIR but the $35 I have invested in it it suits me fine. OP, I see you are in Oregon. Where at? Howdy Mountain guy Is the Uniquefire T20 a true IR light? ska not visible to human eye? |
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Thanks everyone for your advice on the IR weapon lights and flashlights.
I shot about 50 rounds last friday night out to 400 yards on 12 inch steel dingers with the IR flashlight mounted on left side of handguard in line with bore and it worked great. Once I had put a small square of black electric tape in center of lens to reduce the wash out. that was a great tip. Thanks! Without the square of electric tape the target was washed out and real fuzzy w light on, but it was so dark I could barely see my reflective (tin foil) targets. The bare IR lighjt was OK at 200 yards but better at 250. With the electric tape it worked great at all ranges. the IR light source allowed me to use regular 11 inch black bullseye targets rather than tin foil which resulted in being able to get a really precise and200 yard zero. Really good advice! Thanks. |
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