WI Predator Hunter
New member
Anyone have any experience with these? Seems like a good alternative to the M845 Gen 2+ scopes which are impossible to find right now..
Night Optics NS-520 Gen 2HP Night Vision scope???
- Thread starter WI Predator Hunter
- Start date
I'm also curious, There is a predator management program I might be able to get into and if I can make an impression there may be a little money to be made. not tons but mileage and maybe an hourly wage. Thing is it's way up north in some secluded deer yards miles from roads snowshoeing in ... yadda yadda.
I think night vision is whats going to put me ahead of the game. Thing is 3500 / 4K is too big a turd to poop as us hicks in northern Maine say. 2K on the other hand is doable. I'd really like to do business with the guys active on these boards. But they seem loathe to dabble in anything below gen 3. Nothing against Skypup I've learned alot from reading his posts but I,d say he the exception more than the rule.
I think night vision is whats going to put me ahead of the game. Thing is 3500 / 4K is too big a turd to poop as us hicks in northern Maine say. 2K on the other hand is doable. I'd really like to do business with the guys active on these boards. But they seem loathe to dabble in anything below gen 3. Nothing against Skypup I've learned alot from reading his posts but I,d say he the exception more than the rule.
Spitfire262
New member
I have one. I too was trying to get an M-845 but it proved difficult to find and when I found a dealer who had one and ordered. I received a call and they recommended the NS-520 instead due to the higher quality tubes (uses high performance Phontonis/DEP Gen 2 w/ 51 lp/mm) increase in features. I don't feel as though I was bieng deceived since the scopes were almost the exact same price ($1,750 vs $1,800) and they still honored the orginal price of the M-845 I ordered. So I decided to give it a try as it has a 2 year warranty and is a new production item.
I haven't done any hunting with it yet but I have zeroed it in and got a chance to play with it bit. Overall its very clear and seems to be a great unit. I have used Gen 3 PVS-14's in the military and while this is not quite up to that, it offers probably 80% of the capability at half the price. Let me know if you guys have any questions.
I haven't done any hunting with it yet but I have zeroed it in and got a chance to play with it bit. Overall its very clear and seems to be a great unit. I have used Gen 3 PVS-14's in the military and while this is not quite up to that, it offers probably 80% of the capability at half the price. Let me know if you guys have any questions.
Originally Posted By: SimweanI think night vision is whats going to put me ahead of the game. Thing is 3500 / 4K is too big a turd to poop as us hicks in northern Maine say. 2K on the other hand is doable. I'd really like to do business with the guys active on these boards. But they seem loathe to dabble in anything below gen 3. Nothing against Skypup I've learned alot from reading his posts but I,d say he the exception more than the rule.
I can tell you I dabbled in 2 different gen 2+ scopes and spent over 3k between the two and in my opinion it turned out to be a waste and I ended up giving one of them away and sold the other for a loss. so you can squwak about the price all you want, but if you want to be satisfied that you can ID what is out there before you squeeze the trigger while depending on NV you will save up and get the gen3 the first time around. just that simple. no one likes to spend more than they have to including me. so you need to understand there is a good reason to tell people the truth rather than coax them into gen2 equipment when the people that have had them know better. if you want the gen2 stuff, buy it! just don't tell anyone that they loathe to dabble in something when they have totally experienced it and are just being honest with you. I would sure like to have that 3k back I dabbled with...
I can tell you I dabbled in 2 different gen 2+ scopes and spent over 3k between the two and in my opinion it turned out to be a waste and I ended up giving one of them away and sold the other for a loss. so you can squwak about the price all you want, but if you want to be satisfied that you can ID what is out there before you squeeze the trigger while depending on NV you will save up and get the gen3 the first time around. just that simple. no one likes to spend more than they have to including me. so you need to understand there is a good reason to tell people the truth rather than coax them into gen2 equipment when the people that have had them know better. if you want the gen2 stuff, buy it! just don't tell anyone that they loathe to dabble in something when they have totally experienced it and are just being honest with you. I would sure like to have that 3k back I dabbled with...
family guy
New member
Buying the wrong Gen 3 can also be a waste of money. Think long and hard about how you hunt. I went through three Gen 3 set-up before finding what is best for the way I hunt. Their listed in the classifieds now.
Spitfire262
New member
Originally Posted By: ShurshotI can tell you I dabbled in 2 different gen 2+ scopes and spent over 3k between the two and in my opinion it turned out to be a waste and I ended up giving one of them away and sold the other for a loss. so you can squwak about the price all you want, but if you want to be satisfied that you can ID what is out there before you squeeze the trigger while depending on NV you will save up and get the gen3 the first time around. just that simple. no one likes to spend more than they have to including me. so you need to understand there is a good reason to tell people the truth rather than coax them into gen2 equipment when the people that have had them know better. if you want the gen2 stuff, buy it! just don't tell anyone that they loathe to dabble in something when they have totally experienced it and are just being honest with you. I would sure like to have that 3k back I dabbled with...
What Gem 2+ scopes did you try? They certainly are not all going to have the same performance. Take a look at this comparison of NV equipment if you haven't already...
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_18/329958_.html
In there you will see that the Gen 2 SHP did extremely well when paired against the Gen 3 units. While not as clear as a Gen 3 unit it certainly provided very usable images, much better than older Gen 2 equipment. Easily good enough for hunting or those looking for a good entry level device. The clarity and brightness of the NS 520 is similar to the GT-14 in the review. Note the comparible specification between the NS-520 HP and the GT-14...
What Gem 2+ scopes did you try? They certainly are not all going to have the same performance. Take a look at this comparison of NV equipment if you haven't already...
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_18/329958_.html
In there you will see that the Gen 2 SHP did extremely well when paired against the Gen 3 units. While not as clear as a Gen 3 unit it certainly provided very usable images, much better than older Gen 2 equipment. Easily good enough for hunting or those looking for a good entry level device. The clarity and brightness of the NS 520 is similar to the GT-14 in the review. Note the comparible specification between the NS-520 HP and the GT-14...
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my first gen2 scope was made by US Nightvision. that scope was decent but the paralax was screwed on it and I could never duplicate a shot so it was useless as a weapon sight. I gave it to my hunting partner and he uses it to scan with and to get to his stands but it weighs over 3 lbs and isn't the best at all for that purpose.
then I bought an ATN NightArrow 4x. there were times when I thought it was plenty good enough and it was, but the conditions had to be bright and clear. certainly useable but not dependable for me. there were times I went out and setup and couldn't see anything with it so I quit using it. I ended up selling it and the guy that bought it has had 2 shots and he missed one and then he got the second one so it does work, but again everything has to be just right.
now I have a PVS-14 gen3 and I can see!
now the issue is magnification and mounting on my rifle but if you like the helmet (I am not a fan) you can wear it hands free and take it off and mount it on your rifle behind an Aimpoint or Eotech (hence the magnification issue) with a 3x behind it. I want more than 3x and there are other issues that you may like or dislike but now I want a 740 or 760. a clip-on would be fantastic if you can mount it on your rifle. an AR is no big deal, but a bolt reifle is a whole different story. it all boils down on what works for you and the way you hunt like family guy said. if you are able to look through one before you bought it, you would be way ahead of the spending curve.
then I bought an ATN NightArrow 4x. there were times when I thought it was plenty good enough and it was, but the conditions had to be bright and clear. certainly useable but not dependable for me. there were times I went out and setup and couldn't see anything with it so I quit using it. I ended up selling it and the guy that bought it has had 2 shots and he missed one and then he got the second one so it does work, but again everything has to be just right.
now I have a PVS-14 gen3 and I can see!
WI Predator Hunter
New member
Originally Posted By: Spitfire262I have one. I too was trying to get an M-845 but it proved difficult to find and when I found a dealer who had one and ordered. I received a call and they recommended the NS-520 instead due to the higher quality tubes (uses high performance Phontonis/DEP Gen 2 w/ 51 lp/mm) increase in features. I don't feel as though I was bieng deceived since the scopes were almost the exact same price ($1,750 vs $1,800) and they still honored the orginal price of the M-845 I ordered. So I decided to give it a try as it has a 2 year warranty and is a new production item.
I haven't done any hunting with it yet but I have zeroed it in and got a chance to play with it bit. Overall its very clear and seems to be a great unit. I have used Gen 3 PVS-14's in the military and while this is not quite up to that, it offers probably 80% of the capability at half the price. Let me know if you guys have any questions.
Welcome Spitfire!
I appreciate the info. I purchased one on a similar deal to yours shortly after my post about 1.5 months ago. I have used it on a few hunts since then, and I am very pleased with the purchase so far. I have no previous night-vision experience, but it is clear and bright for my style of hunting. Return to zero has also been very good on the mount. Time will tell, and I have no doubt Gen 3 is better, but for those looking for a dedicated low magnification NV scope for inside 200 yards I believe it is a good value for the money.
I haven't done any hunting with it yet but I have zeroed it in and got a chance to play with it bit. Overall its very clear and seems to be a great unit. I have used Gen 3 PVS-14's in the military and while this is not quite up to that, it offers probably 80% of the capability at half the price. Let me know if you guys have any questions.
Welcome Spitfire!
I appreciate the info. I purchased one on a similar deal to yours shortly after my post about 1.5 months ago. I have used it on a few hunts since then, and I am very pleased with the purchase so far. I have no previous night-vision experience, but it is clear and bright for my style of hunting. Return to zero has also been very good on the mount. Time will tell, and I have no doubt Gen 3 is better, but for those looking for a dedicated low magnification NV scope for inside 200 yards I believe it is a good value for the money.
Gman757
Well-known member
Shurshot...
Have you considered getting a Jackrabbit unit from HTRN ? Since you already have the PVS14 it seems like the logical solution to get more range.
I plan to try mine with the Summit QD ring. I already have the ring and I really like the way it works for the AR platform.
There are a lot of posts on here from guys that are very happy with the PVS14 behind a day scope.
Spitfire262
New member
Originally Posted By: WI Predator Hunter
Welcome Spitfire!
I appreciate the info. I purchased one on a similar deal to yours shortly after my post about 1.5 months ago. I have used it on a few hunts since then, and I am very pleased with the purchase so far. I have no previous night-vision experience, but it is clear and bright for my style of hunting. Return to zero has also been very good on the mount. Time will tell, and I have no doubt Gen 3 is better, but for those looking for a dedicated low magnification NV scope for inside 200 yards I believe it is a good value for the money.
Thank you for the warm welcome!
I'm glad to hear you are happy with yours so far. Its always encouraging to hear positive things from other owners, particularly those with more hands on experience than myself. What do you hunt and have you made any successful kills with it? I am going to use mine for coyotes here in Southern Nevada. Also, do you use any sort of IR illumination or have any recommendations for one? I currently have one of the IR-K2's and while it does work very well, although I am considering something with more power. I am also happy to hear that the mount returns to zero, it certainly seems well designed and I will be removing mine from time to time.
Welcome Spitfire!
I appreciate the info. I purchased one on a similar deal to yours shortly after my post about 1.5 months ago. I have used it on a few hunts since then, and I am very pleased with the purchase so far. I have no previous night-vision experience, but it is clear and bright for my style of hunting. Return to zero has also been very good on the mount. Time will tell, and I have no doubt Gen 3 is better, but for those looking for a dedicated low magnification NV scope for inside 200 yards I believe it is a good value for the money.
Thank you for the warm welcome!
I'm glad to hear you are happy with yours so far. Its always encouraging to hear positive things from other owners, particularly those with more hands on experience than myself. What do you hunt and have you made any successful kills with it? I am going to use mine for coyotes here in Southern Nevada. Also, do you use any sort of IR illumination or have any recommendations for one? I currently have one of the IR-K2's and while it does work very well, although I am considering something with more power. I am also happy to hear that the mount returns to zero, it certainly seems well designed and I will be removing mine from time to time.
Gman757
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: ShurshotI have never heard of the jackrabbit. I will look to see what it is.
http://www.hightechredneckincorporated.c...r_p/nva3025.htm
http://www.hightechredneckincorporated.c...r_p/nva3025.htm
WI Predator Hunter
New member
Spitfire..
Shot a coyote under 1/2 moon over snow cover on Jan 5th. 70 yard shot, pretty easy test for it as visibility was pretty good. However I could easily see into the darker shadow areas of the woods and fencelines, where in the past proved difficult with my regular day scope. I have hunted for years at night just relying on good moonlight over snow with a regular scope, so this NS-520 is unbelievable in comparison.
I have the Torch Pro illuminator from TNVC, although I haven't needed it yet. In my limited time with this scope, it seems any combination of moon and starlight over snow provides more than enough light to get a clear picture to identify and shoot at realistic ranges through the scope.
Spitfire262
New member
Originally Posted By: WI Predator Hunter
Spitfire..
Shot a coyote under 1/2 moon over snow cover on Jan 5th. 70 yard shot, pretty easy test for it as visibility was pretty good. However I could easily see into the darker shadow areas of the woods and fencelines, where in the past proved difficult with my regular day scope. I have hunted for years at night just relying on good moonlight over snow with a regular scope, so this NS-520 is unbelievable in comparison.
I have the Torch Pro illuminator from TNVC, although I haven't needed it yet. In my limited time with this scope, it seems any combination of moon and starlight over snow provides more than enough light to get a clear picture to identify and shoot at realistic ranges through the scope.
Awesome, thanks for the reply! I will have to look into one of the TNVC torches. For those who would like to get an idea of the performance of this scope, I have uploaded a few pics from my backyard with my cheapo camera. Obviously, the scope was not attached to my rifle when I took the pics...
First, the lighting conditions...
Overall, It seems to be a real nice performer for the money. I am going to do some more night shooting with it tommorow night and I am looking forward into putting it through its paces.
Spitfire..
Shot a coyote under 1/2 moon over snow cover on Jan 5th. 70 yard shot, pretty easy test for it as visibility was pretty good. However I could easily see into the darker shadow areas of the woods and fencelines, where in the past proved difficult with my regular day scope. I have hunted for years at night just relying on good moonlight over snow with a regular scope, so this NS-520 is unbelievable in comparison.
I have the Torch Pro illuminator from TNVC, although I haven't needed it yet. In my limited time with this scope, it seems any combination of moon and starlight over snow provides more than enough light to get a clear picture to identify and shoot at realistic ranges through the scope.
Awesome, thanks for the reply! I will have to look into one of the TNVC torches. For those who would like to get an idea of the performance of this scope, I have uploaded a few pics from my backyard with my cheapo camera. Obviously, the scope was not attached to my rifle when I took the pics...
First, the lighting conditions...
Overall, It seems to be a real nice performer for the money. I am going to do some more night shooting with it tommorow night and I am looking forward into putting it through its paces.
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WI Predator Hunter
New member
Welcome to PM Wileedog!
Did your scope come with the flip cover, or did you put it on? Mine came with a screw on daylight cover...
Did your scope come with the flip cover, or did you put it on? Mine came with a screw on daylight cover...