[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is there any place for a cheap digital night vision scope in your arsenal? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 11/3/2025 6:06:48 PM EDT
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I’ve been playing with an ATN 5-15. I think it’s Sightmark. With the included IR illuminator, it’s honestly better than I expected. The image is quite clear. Right now it’s sitting on a cheap 11.5 AR, but I think it might serve better on a 300 Blackout, for nighttime pests. I do have real night vision, but there’s something charming and appealing about its cheapness and utility. I’ll post a pic tonight. What’s y’all’s experience with them? |
| Sionyx is ok for the price and that's what I would but if I wanted something really cheap. I have time behind one comparing to a WP PVS-14. Possibly helmet mount-able, but a little heavy. Not sure if it would take recoil as weapon mounted and it would be pretty big. But that is what I would look at if I wanted to spend $250, but you can probably find an older PVS-14 with lower specs for like $1200 that is a pretty big step up. I agree that thermal scope would probably be more useful in an "arsenal" than cheap NVG. But Sionyx is kind of cool for what it is. |
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Quoted: Those thermals are getting cheaper and cheaper. Not only that but they are getting better and better I feel leaps and bounds nicer than the cheap NV No offense to the OP Quoted: Quoted: I thought $1300 was a steal on a clean pvs-14 a steal on a thermal is still gonna hurt  Those thermals are getting cheaper and cheaper. Not only that but they are getting better and better I feel leaps and bounds nicer than the cheap NV No offense to the OP None taken! I like this scope the way I like a Savage Axis. It’s not great, but I appreciate the value there. I’m leery about getting into cheap thermals, though I’m sure I will eventually. |
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Quoted: Those thermals are getting cheaper and cheaper. Not only that but they are getting better and better I feel leaps and bounds nicer than the cheap NV No offense to the OP Quoted: Quoted: I thought $1300 was a steal on a clean pvs-14 a steal on a thermal is still gonna hurt Those thermals are getting cheaper and cheaper. Not only that but they are getting better and better I feel leaps and bounds nicer than the cheap NV No offense to the OP I love legacy NV. You are correct. |
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Quoted: None taken! I like this scope the way I like a Savage Axis. It’s not great, but I appreciate the value there. I’m leery about getting into cheap thermals, though I’m sure I will eventually. Now that Ive shat all over your thread how is the digital NV these days? One day it will be here A few years ago I was blown away buy a guys PVS 14 with a new Gen2+ tube in it |
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Quoted: Now that Ive shat all over your thread how is the digital NV these days? One day it will be here A few years ago I was blown away buy a guys PVS 14 with a new Gen2+ tube in it Quoted: Quoted: None taken! I like this scope the way I like a Savage Axis. It’s not great, but I appreciate the value there. I’m leery about getting into cheap thermals, though I’m sure I will eventually. Now that Ive shat all over your thread how is the digital NV these days? One day it will be here A few years ago I was blown away buy a guys PVS 14 with a new Gen2+ tube in it My Gen 3 White Phosphor tube is AWESOME. |
| A question for anyone who has the knowledge: The IR illuminator for this digital night vision. Is it the same wavelength of light as traditional IR illuminators for Image Intensification? The one that came with this scope is cheap and chintzy, though effective. |
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fuck no. go away in shame op. save your pennies are a must instead of wasting it on horseshit digital. maybe in 15 years "digital" will be what you think it should be and is on the civ market. find a 1st gen rico > buy that. sell off lots of your collection that doesnt really matter > duals after the thermal. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I thought $1300 was a steal on a clean pvs-14 a steal on a thermal is still gonna hurt https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51169436808_c91bc82bc0_w.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52180970109_b3335258cd_w.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51198431697_453c670f5d_w.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51169000816_fd7e517b30_w.jpg  @Goodn  Total cost for the thermal scope on my .22 is $0.00
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Quoted: fuck no. go away in shame op. save your pennies are a must instead of wasting it on horseshit digital. maybe in 15 years "digital" will be what you think it should be and is on the civ market. find a 1st gen rico > buy that. sell off lots of your collection that doesnt really matter > duals after the thermal. Why would I want two NV tubes when I can have three?  " />
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Quoted: Cheap night vision is terrible and in anything other than hunting usage becomes a liability because you have to broadcast IR to use it. I mean how many non LE/MIL civilians have to worry about a self defense situation where the aggressor has NVG’s? Hell, most guys with NVG’s are spamming IR lasers left and right anyway. In a HD scenario I think most people would be lucky to get their underwear on before things went loud never the less a plate carrier, a bucket, and get their NVG’s fired up. |
| I have a helmet mounted Sionyx Pro that I maybe have $1200 into. Which includes the unit, IR lights, helmet, mounts, pads, batteries, and an IR laser. It is a fun unit and it works great for pig hunting and playing around at night. Would I want to go up against a bunch of next get equipment, no, but it could also do some work in a pinch. |
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Quoted: The sightmark mini wraith was under $1k over the summer. I picked mine up from PSA for $500 with the battery. Attached File |
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Quoted: I mean how many non LE/MIL civilians have to worry about a self defense situation where the aggressor has NVG’s? Hell, most guys with NVG’s are spamming IR lasers left and right anyway. In a HD scenario I think most people would be lucky to get their underwear on before things went loud never the less a plate carrier, a bucket, and get their NVG’s fired up. It sucks being the only one in the group blasting nasty IR everywhere you look. Just walking or hunting at night with a group sucks when someone has to use active IR all the time for their unit to work. |
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Quoted: I picked mine up from PSA for $500 with the battery. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/464793/IMG_0656_png-3652900.JPG How do you like it? For some reason I want one for a cheapish toy |
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Quoted: @Goodn https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/140663/1000005550-3453899.jpg Total cost for the thermal scope on my .22 is $0.00 
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Quoted: How do you like it? For some reason I want one for a cheapish toy Quoted: Quoted: I picked mine up from PSA for $500 with the battery. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/464793/IMG_0656_png-3652900.JPG How do you like it? For some reason I want one for a cheapish toy @hk94dude I like it. Total range toy as I live in the city, but fun. I have the 2-16, but there is also one that goes to 32. Works good as a daytime scope too. I like the 2 shot zero function. Works well. I have not shot it in NV mode yet, but have had some fun with the kids looking around the neighborhood with it at night (off the gun). Pretty cool looking when it was raining. It has a video/pic option also. It saves it to a micro SD. I’ll see if I can get some pics of the NV transferred over so I can post them. |
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I can say it rocks for night time pest elimination. coons and skunks have NO idea they are in crosshairs and are just sitting there until "pop, shwack" and they fall over. they think they are hidden at night and the cheap 299 PSA special scope proves otherwise(had to add an airsoft IR flashlight though) |
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Quoted: @hk94dude I like it. Total range toy as I live in the city, but fun. I have the 2-16, but there is also one that goes to 32. Works good as a daytime scope too. I like the 2 shot zero function. Works well. I have not shot it in NV mode yet, but have had some fun with the kids looking around the neighborhood with it at night (off the gun). Pretty cool looking when it was raining. It has a video/pic option also. It saves it to a micro SD. I’ll see if I can get some pics of the NV transferred over so I can post them. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I picked mine up from PSA for $500 with the battery. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/464793/IMG_0656_png-3652900.JPG How do you like it? For some reason I want one for a cheapish toy @hk94dude I like it. Total range toy as I live in the city, but fun. I have the 2-16, but there is also one that goes to 32. Works good as a daytime scope too. I like the 2 shot zero function. Works well. I have not shot it in NV mode yet, but have had some fun with the kids looking around the neighborhood with it at night (off the gun). Pretty cool looking when it was raining. It has a video/pic option also. It saves it to a micro SD. I’ll see if I can get some pics of the NV transferred over so I can post them. Thanks. I might have to pick one up just for screwing around |
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Quoted: Thermal is great but you can not move around in the darkness. When you move you will need light and a PVS 14 will see you from a long way off. With the right equipment PVS 14 operator will be shooting while you move. You really need both. Eh, it depends. For tactical use, yeah, get both. For killing stuff and can only get one, thermal, easy. I never use any light when I leave the truck with only themal, never have any problems either. I'm not doing crazy land nav stuff with thermal alone, obviously, but it's really not that big a deal unless you're afraid of the dark or something I suppose. |
This thing is the tits, if one manages one's expectations. Yes, I'm emitting IR with the external light. It's not a gun to be used while hiding from humans with NODs. The image is extremely clear, and the ability to charge the scope with a USB is handy. I'm going to obtain an IR flashlight that also charges from a port. Then I can keep both charging in standby, and they'll be freshly topped off whenever I grab it.  " />I don't think this gun has reached its final form. I need to lighten up the forend. |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is there any place for a cheap digital night vision scope in your arsenal? (Page 1 of 2)
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