Best night vision option for around $1,000?
- Thread starter MAArcher
- Start date
The pulsar Photon XT runs around $500. You can also get an N750 recon (monocular) for right around $500.
If $1000 was my budget that's probably what I'd do.
For a little better performance and a little more $$ look at the N550A, possibly a used unit to fit within your budget.
If $1000 was my budget that's probably what I'd do.
For a little better performance and a little more $$ look at the N550A, possibly a used unit to fit within your budget.
PharmerJon
New member
At minimum I'd suggest the FLIR PS 24 thermal unit for scanning...
Amazon has them for just over $1500 periodically. Then you can "switch [on] a kill light for the kill" when they get in range.
I just bit the bullet this year and it is AWESOME!
Amazon has them for just over $1500 periodically. Then you can "switch [on] a kill light for the kill" when they get in range.
I just bit the bullet this year and it is AWESOME!
None of those mentioned get fried in the daytime. The Photon and the Pulsar digisight both are designed to use in the daytime and at night. Both are good choices but the Pulsar may be a little higher than your budget. PharmerJon and Tbone-AZ gave some good advice. Save your money, get a thermal monocular to spot with, then turn on a kill light and nail em. Works good till you can afford a PVS-14 or some such Gen 3 device for ident.
HTRN57
New member
The best options available at that price range would be to look at the digital NV products out there such as the Sightmark Photon or Pulsar Digisight. Since all are dedicated NV riflescopes you will also need to get something for scanning purposes unless you are planning on hunting over a bait pile. A decent cheap scanning option is the Sightmark Ghosthunter Gen 1 binocular paired with a powerful external IR device such as the Irlightbuilds T-20 in 850nm model. Cost for both (Photon and Ghosthunter) with one IR device would be around 1,200. Outfitting the Photon with an external IR would also boost performance considerably. Only problem you will encounter is getting your hands on a Photon as the manufacturer can't keep up with the demand right now. Kevin
Guys
One has to remember that others may just want to buy a 1k scope and call it good there.
They don't need to save more money or buy helmet mounted rigs or pvs14s or any of that.
Maybe their situation is straight forward hunting and buying a 1k scope is a goal of theirs which can provide years of use with no further financial outlay...
The OP asked for best NV scope for 1k
Answer is Sightmark photonxt with optional IR light, keep the change to buy some ammo, corn, and gas.
There are no thermal options for 1k that will be back by any warranty. A remote possibility is a thermal monocular that is second or third hand (used as-is).
Kill lights are most cost effective, paired with a digital spotter you can keep the change here as well but between a dedicated scope vs spotter/kill light I have been more effective with a dedicated unit scanning with the weapon, there is a safety concern here so factor that.
Goodluck
One has to remember that others may just want to buy a 1k scope and call it good there.
They don't need to save more money or buy helmet mounted rigs or pvs14s or any of that.
Maybe their situation is straight forward hunting and buying a 1k scope is a goal of theirs which can provide years of use with no further financial outlay...
The OP asked for best NV scope for 1k
Answer is Sightmark photonxt with optional IR light, keep the change to buy some ammo, corn, and gas.
There are no thermal options for 1k that will be back by any warranty. A remote possibility is a thermal monocular that is second or third hand (used as-is).
Kill lights are most cost effective, paired with a digital spotter you can keep the change here as well but between a dedicated scope vs spotter/kill light I have been more effective with a dedicated unit scanning with the weapon, there is a safety concern here so factor that.
Goodluck
Originally Posted By: cmatera No one is criticizing the OP. We all have to work within our means as defined by ourselves. We do have to be realistic in our expectations. I'd like to buy a new Ferrari Testarossa for 5K, but I don't think that will happen.
My point was not that the responses are a criticism of the original posters quest to achieve NV bliss at 1k, rather the responses aren't helpful to his objective.
Analogy:
Guy wants basic transportation and his options are Chevy or GMC
Responses say he should save more money or look for used Cadillacs or Denalis
Dude needs to get to work, 1k is what he wants to spend.
Disclaimer:
He is new to NV so why not let the evolution begin naturally at the lowest level of tech?
We see these posts many many many times across all forums (best NV for sub 1k) so it isn't just this thread that I see the responses to go big or stay home.
BB
My point was not that the responses are a criticism of the original posters quest to achieve NV bliss at 1k, rather the responses aren't helpful to his objective.
Analogy:
Guy wants basic transportation and his options are Chevy or GMC
Responses say he should save more money or look for used Cadillacs or Denalis
Dude needs to get to work, 1k is what he wants to spend.
Disclaimer:
He is new to NV so why not let the evolution begin naturally at the lowest level of tech?
We see these posts many many many times across all forums (best NV for sub 1k) so it isn't just this thread that I see the responses to go big or stay home.
BB
Last edited:
6mm06
Well-known member
Yep, I agree Ben. I have seen a lot of that over a period of time. While most of us would like a nice Gen 3 scope, it just isn't going to happen for a lot of us, and for a variety of reasons, with cost being the main one.
When a guy pretty much figures what he can or wants to spend, he asks a simple question and hopes to get responses within the limitations he asked.
I have heard the "save your money for a Gen 3" for so long that it's almost like a broken record, playing the same thing over and over. Those kind of responses don't solve anything or answer sincere questions within the perimeters set by the OP.
Some of the posts were not helpful, some were regarding Digisights, and kill lights. Again, it depends on how you define "night vision". Is a flashlight night vision? I don't know. NV just happens to be one arena where there are a lot of low cost options. It is getting better with new products coming out every day at lower prices. Telling the guy the truth is not necessarily not being helpful. It is what it is. I do agree telling someone they have to spend X amount and not answering the question is not being helpful.
twhitey
New member
I was one of the guys that stated Save your money and here is why I did he lives in a state where lights are not legal and ir as well so with that being said I think a head mounted gen 2 or 3 monocular would fit the bill.So that's why I said save your $$$
I don't think a digital gun mounted scope is gonna work unless sitting over a bait and will they even work without an Ir?
So that's why I said save maybe for another yr or two.Why put him into a low budget setup and wish you did something else.I went down that road and now have a Hand Select IttNepvs14 and am very happy with the way it works in my state with the no artificial light laws which stink.
I don't think a digital gun mounted scope is gonna work unless sitting over a bait and will they even work without an Ir?
So that's why I said save maybe for another yr or two.Why put him into a low budget setup and wish you did something else.I went down that road and now have a Hand Select IttNepvs14 and am very happy with the way it works in my state with the no artificial light laws which stink.
Originally Posted By: twhiteyI was one of the guys that stated Save your money and here is why I did he lives in a state where lights are not legal and ir as well so with that being said I think a head mounted gen 2 or 3 monocular would fit the bill.So that's why I said save your $$$
I don't think a digital gun mounted scope is gonna work unless sitting over a bait and will they even work without an Ir?
So that's why I said save maybe for another yr or two.Why put him into a low budget setup and wish you did something else.I went down that road and now have a Hand Select IttNepvs14 and am very happy with the way it works in my state with the no artificial light laws which stink.
Well you told this guy the same thing when he stated a night vision scope was too much money and in a state where nv scopes are prohibited no less...
http://www.predatormastersforums.com/for...182#Post2751182
I don't think a digital gun mounted scope is gonna work unless sitting over a bait and will they even work without an Ir?
So that's why I said save maybe for another yr or two.Why put him into a low budget setup and wish you did something else.I went down that road and now have a Hand Select IttNepvs14 and am very happy with the way it works in my state with the no artificial light laws which stink.
Well you told this guy the same thing when he stated a night vision scope was too much money and in a state where nv scopes are prohibited no less...
http://www.predatormastersforums.com/for...182#Post2751182
6mm06
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: twhitey Why put him into a low budget setup and wish you did something else.
Because he asked for a scope at around $1,000. It's just that simple. Don't try to sell him a $3,000 to $4,000 outfit if his budget is $1,000.
Good advice from people who have been there and done that is generally a good thing, but it needs to be offered with experiences and not "I think," and not the same old "keep saving" or "save your money for a Gen 3" stuff that is quickly becoming worn out.
People who offer advice need to have some experience with such things, which includes the latest scopes on the market. If anyone had bad experiences back when Gen 1 was all that was available for under $1,000, and if that's what they base their advice on today, then really that advice is not worth much, given today's new scopes and illuminators.
I heard the same old thing about Gen 1's, but that was all I could afford, rather it was all I was willing to pay at the time and so I purchased one. It got me into the night vision game and I enjoyed the heck out of it. It wasn't great, had a lot of limitations and wasn't suited for every type of hunting situation, but man it was far better than the continuous "Gen 1 is junk" stuff that I was hearing so often. I made it work with proper IR lighting and dropped 6 coyotes with it at my bait site. Since then some on the forums have changed their tune just a wee bit to say that Gen 1 is junk unless you use it at a bait site. Wonder where that idea came from. In my mind, I questioned if anyone had experience with a Gen 1 at a bait site when they offered their expert advice. I think most didn't. I proved the Gen 1 does have usefulness, though admittedly limited.
The bottom line is this - not everyone can afford high dollar scopes, and not everyone wants one even if they can afford it. There are people like me who could afford one if I really wanted it or needed it. Turning loose of $4,000 for a scope is just something I can't picture myself doing, not because I can't afford it right now, but because I don't need it and can't justify it. Does that mean that I should not enjoy night vision because I won't get that kind of scope? Heck no.
twhitey
New member
Originally Posted By: BennyboneOriginally Posted By: twhiteyI was one of the guys that stated Save your money and here is why I did he lives in a state where lights are not legal and ir as well so with that being said I think a head mounted gen 2 or 3 monocular would fit the bill.So that's why I said save your $$$
I don't think a digital gun mounted scope is gonna work unless sitting over a bait and will they even work without an Ir?
So that's why I said save maybe for another yr or two.Why put him into a low budget setup and wish you did something else.I went down that road and now have a Hand Select IttNepvs14 and am very happy with the way it works in my state with the no artificial light laws which stink.
Well you told this guy the same thing when he stated a night vision scope was too much money and in a state where nv scopes are prohibited no less...
Ben
You are right I totaly agree with you.I started with a gen1 monocular and a gen 2 monocular and a gun mounted gen2 scope and wasnt happy not being able to see good enough to ethically make a clean shot and maybe shoot someone's pet cat or dog.With a gun mounted scope scanning back and forth just did not cut it for me as I feel it's not safe and adds movement.
As far as that link you posted the Op asked about Nv so without knowing his laws since he asked I thought it was legal.
I hear you guys loud and clear it probably gets old hearing save up or because I can I was just trying to help him with my past experiences.
Carry on
http://www.predatormastersforums.com/for...182#Post2751182
I don't think a digital gun mounted scope is gonna work unless sitting over a bait and will they even work without an Ir?
So that's why I said save maybe for another yr or two.Why put him into a low budget setup and wish you did something else.I went down that road and now have a Hand Select IttNepvs14 and am very happy with the way it works in my state with the no artificial light laws which stink.
Well you told this guy the same thing when he stated a night vision scope was too much money and in a state where nv scopes are prohibited no less...
Ben
You are right I totaly agree with you.I started with a gen1 monocular and a gen 2 monocular and a gun mounted gen2 scope and wasnt happy not being able to see good enough to ethically make a clean shot and maybe shoot someone's pet cat or dog.With a gun mounted scope scanning back and forth just did not cut it for me as I feel it's not safe and adds movement.
As far as that link you posted the Op asked about Nv so without knowing his laws since he asked I thought it was legal.
I hear you guys loud and clear it probably gets old hearing save up or because I can I was just trying to help him with my past experiences.
Carry on
http://www.predatormastersforums.com/for...182#Post2751182
There are a whole bunch of people in the world that just don't want to spend the big money to go with the Gen3 and Thermal stuff. It might be fun to play with and enticing, but when it comes down to it, there are a lot of ways to kill coyotes and such without spending a fortune. I don't hold it against those folks that have the nice toys, but I truly enjoy doing the job without spending a lot of money doing it. For that purpose, I have a high appreciation of what 6mm06 has done with his homebuilt night vision system. I'm planning on doing the same thing here. In the meantime, I'm doing pretty well killing varmints with my Photon XT and T-20. I've got a Gen3 scope, but it's more fun for me to do it with the Photon. Before I got all the night vision toys, I had a bundle of fun sitting out on the back side of the farm with a call and a red light. I've gotten a lot of mileage out of hunting on a budget. No reason for anybody to think that you have to have an expensive set of night vision toys to enjoy the hobby. I think it would help all of us to remember that it IS a hobby, not a vocation.