IR Patrol as a Clip-On?
- Thread starter DocGlenn
- Start date
SkyPup
New member
Good luck with that!
It was too heavy for me and too difficult to zero as it is not collimated to any other day optic, you have to do it yourself and it is a PITA.
For me it works much better as a standalone dedicated thermal weapon scope. You may find different opinions about it's use as a clip-on, but that is my opinion.
They should have just made it easy to cowitness with a movable internal digital reticule that you line up with your day optic reticule in a few seconds, since your day optic is already zeroed to begin with.....plus it is just too heavy for me.
It was too heavy for me and too difficult to zero as it is not collimated to any other day optic, you have to do it yourself and it is a PITA.
For me it works much better as a standalone dedicated thermal weapon scope. You may find different opinions about it's use as a clip-on, but that is my opinion.
They should have just made it easy to cowitness with a movable internal digital reticule that you line up with your day optic reticule in a few seconds, since your day optic is already zeroed to begin with.....plus it is just too heavy for me.
SkyPup
New member
If you want to try your hand at attempting to use it as a day optic, here is a little instruction set I wrote down when I tired to do it myself:
You first adjust your day optic onto the target bulleye at the range you have your day optic zeroed.
Then you carefully attach the MKII in front of day optic on the rail as close as you can without moving the rifle off target.
Fine adjust the MKII ocular diopter to get best focus after you've turned the scope on.
Go to Level 4 by turning the left turrent.
Turn the right turrent to CO for Clip-On mode.
Turn the left turrent to Level 5.
Use the top and right turrents to shift the entire scene until your day optic is back on target.
Turn the left turrent back to Level 1 to save the setting.
Remove MKII and insure day optic is still on target.
Reinstall the MKII, turn on the power, go back to Clip-On mode from level 4 and make sure that the screen position was saved and the MKII is still on target.
If not, repeat until on target.
Take some practice shots at the range at which you originally zeroed your day optic and repeat again to fine adjust your zero.
Another approach if you don't have a vice or mag well mount:
1 - put the MK II on your gun in front of a sighted in optic.
2 - Shoot 3 rounds to see where you are
3 - unlock reticle and adjust the windage and elevation in CO Mode so that your POA matched POI.
4 - adjust your ZC to to the center of day reticle and you are done.
You first adjust your day optic onto the target bulleye at the range you have your day optic zeroed.
Then you carefully attach the MKII in front of day optic on the rail as close as you can without moving the rifle off target.
Fine adjust the MKII ocular diopter to get best focus after you've turned the scope on.
Go to Level 4 by turning the left turrent.
Turn the right turrent to CO for Clip-On mode.
Turn the left turrent to Level 5.
Use the top and right turrents to shift the entire scene until your day optic is back on target.
Turn the left turrent back to Level 1 to save the setting.
Remove MKII and insure day optic is still on target.
Reinstall the MKII, turn on the power, go back to Clip-On mode from level 4 and make sure that the screen position was saved and the MKII is still on target.
If not, repeat until on target.
Take some practice shots at the range at which you originally zeroed your day optic and repeat again to fine adjust your zero.
Another approach if you don't have a vice or mag well mount:
1 - put the MK II on your gun in front of a sighted in optic.
2 - Shoot 3 rounds to see where you are
3 - unlock reticle and adjust the windage and elevation in CO Mode so that your POA matched POI.
4 - adjust your ZC to to the center of day reticle and you are done.
SkyPup
New member
I thought the M-300 Patrol would be great as a clip-on too, due to it small size and light weight, but it is not collimated to any day optic lens either and has to be manually collimated following the same instructions above. The internal reticule in the M-300 is also very thick and will cover your target making precision shoots next to impossible. The only thing I would recommend trying with the M-300 Patrol is trying to set it up with a 1X Eotech or a 1X Aimpoint red dot holographic sight.
Another problem was with both my Elcan and ACOG being used as clip-ons with the MKII or the M-300 Patrol is that anything over 2X would obliterate the icons you need to see to be able to use the scopes, ie all you see is your day optic reticule and cannot operate the scope settings using the icons.
What is worse, is that once you have it collimated on your rifle to your day scope, if you move it as a clip-on to another rifle you have to do the same thing all over again, ie you cannot just collimate the IR scopes once and they are GTG, you must do it each and every time you move it to another rifle setup. I found that once I had them dialed in as clip-ons after many rifle rounds down range getting them dialed in, they were at best 3-4 MOA setups, where using either of them as a standalone thermal scope was closer to 1 MOA.
Plus, there is no X,Y coordinates to to refer to or write down or store.
For me, it was just too complicated to use either of them as a clip-on compared to all my other thermal clip-ons that take about five seconds to attach, turn on, and shoot since they are already collimated to day optic lenses.....
You can certainly go ahead and try it out on the MKII or the M-300 patrol, maybe you will find that you like it? I found that after taking the time trying them out as clip-ons, I decided I would use them as standalones only.
Another problem was with both my Elcan and ACOG being used as clip-ons with the MKII or the M-300 Patrol is that anything over 2X would obliterate the icons you need to see to be able to use the scopes, ie all you see is your day optic reticule and cannot operate the scope settings using the icons.
What is worse, is that once you have it collimated on your rifle to your day scope, if you move it as a clip-on to another rifle you have to do the same thing all over again, ie you cannot just collimate the IR scopes once and they are GTG, you must do it each and every time you move it to another rifle setup. I found that once I had them dialed in as clip-ons after many rifle rounds down range getting them dialed in, they were at best 3-4 MOA setups, where using either of them as a standalone thermal scope was closer to 1 MOA.
Plus, there is no X,Y coordinates to to refer to or write down or store.
For me, it was just too complicated to use either of them as a clip-on compared to all my other thermal clip-ons that take about five seconds to attach, turn on, and shoot since they are already collimated to day optic lenses.....
You can certainly go ahead and try it out on the MKII or the M-300 patrol, maybe you will find that you like it? I found that after taking the time trying them out as clip-ons, I decided I would use them as standalones only.
Victor_TNVC
New member
Originally Posted By: jwdakotaAny reason for the norotos mount vs Wilcox g24?
I also like the Click to reveal.. TATM INVG mount that I can swivel to the side.
Vic
I also like the Click to reveal.. TATM INVG mount that I can swivel to the side.
Vic
Last edited:
SkyPup
New member
Originally Posted By: jwdakotaAny reason for the norotos mount vs Wilcox g24?
They both work well on the helmet, but if you are going to need a cheekweld on your rifle stock to shoot, the INVG swings out of the way completely to the side, while the G-24 sticks up and interferes somewhat, it is dooable but the better to swing out to side instead of up.
They both work well on the helmet, but if you are going to need a cheekweld on your rifle stock to shoot, the INVG swings out of the way completely to the side, while the G-24 sticks up and interferes somewhat, it is dooable but the better to swing out to side instead of up.
Victor_TNVC
New member
Originally Posted By: jwdakotaIs that the TATM (long arm)?
My mistake I meant to say INVG...Sorry about that.
My mistake I meant to say INVG...Sorry about that.