Sighting in night vision scopes

Darknight

Darknight

Member
Just wondering how you all sight in your night vision scopes? Do you guys do it in the dark? Do you leave the objective cover on and do it in the daytime?
I have a Nemesis Gen 2+ 4 power scope on my 204 Ruger and have noticed it is challenging to focus the target. Additionally it's difficult with a 4x scope to see the bullseye.
I took a target and drew an approx. 3 inch black bullseye and taped a smaller bullseye made of aluminum foil centered inside the larger black bullseye.

Is this lack of clarity due to the fact I'm shooting a Gen 2+ scope? I assume it's difficult to see the bullseye at 100 yds because it's only a 4x scope?


I also noticed the manual on the Nemesis states 1 click = 1/2 inch but it seems my groups would only move around 1/4 inch per click. I'm still trying to get this thing dialed in but should be close enough to drop a coyote soon.

I will try to post pictures of my target later so you guys can see what I tried with my target
 
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Sight mine in after dark. Start out with a reflective tack, then go to a black 6" circle target
in front of a white back ground. This is at 100 yards, then redone at 200.
 

I too had a problem sighting in a Photon digital 4.6x scope during the day time. The view was so bright that a white target would fade out, so I purchased some bullseye targets with a larger black center. As you mentioned, a 4x scope is difficult to get a good view of the target. I also had the 2.8x Night Optics M845 Gen 2 scope and it was difficult to get a good view of the target due to the lesser magnification.

If sighting your Nemesis during the day time, you will have to leave the lens cap on. I had a Gen 1 scope a couple of years ago and I sighted it during the day, lens cap on. It was a 5x scope and I could see the target well enough to sight it in properly. You just need a larger bullseye in order to see well. Centering the scope crosshair is not a problem on a larger target that you can see well.

Sighting at night seems to have a clearer view but I generally sight mine during the daytime.

 
I zeroed my D760 in the daylight with the cover on, then checked it at night. I set out sheet of note book paper with a 1" inch black dot exactly in the center. The dot is useless for aiming at, I can't see it. I just aim for the exact center of the paper. I fire a couple of rounds, then check the paper.
I just re-checked my zero last night. 1 hole dead center, 1 hole 1"low to the left. That's as good as it gets for me when I can't see the bulls eye.
 
I like to sight in just before dark after the sun goes down. I use a 2"x2" square of black paper for the bullseye and use cardboard or kraft paper bags for the background. On the Photon 4.6 I'm shooting the German post style crosshair with center dot which just about completely covers the square at 100 yds., but makes it pretty easy and repeatable.
 
What works best for me
1). Make sure you and your scope is shaded.
2). Use Largest Birchwood Shoot-N-C
4). Put target inside of a box that shades the target from sunlight.
5). Use your closer MPBR to do initial sight in.
6). Confirm later at night.
If able sight in on cloudy days and in the shade of a tree line.
NV Crosshairs are nightmares during day. Approach it like an archer does modern pin sight with peep aperture.
I know my crosshairs is roughly 2 MOA at 50 yards. Double that at 100 yards.
Hopefully that's helpful
 

D740 gen3
I sighted in at dusk with the cover on
when it got dark, I took a cardboard box and made a small cut in center, put in one of these 6” Infrared Chemical Lights from TNVC 10/for $20
these give you a lighted small target
shot at 100 yards
when I shot the infrared stick I was zeroed
 
I sight in at night and the best way I have found is to use the white reflective thumb tacks you use for marking trails. At 100 yards I usually clump three thumb tacks together to make the target a little bigger. When you hit the the target with your ir illumanator the reflective thumb tack will glow and give you a nice pin prick to place your crosshairs on. Once I started using the thumb tacks my groups at night shrunk considerably.
 
Reflective thumb tacks or reflective tape like the kind used on trailers also works well, just cut to the size you like.
I find a NV scope harder to shoot than a day scope but with practice your group size will shrink.

 
I made sure mine was focused at night for that range for both my 740 and Nemesis. Than is worked better when sighting in during the day. It didn't seem like it would focus with the cap on.
 
I do mine in the day w/cover closed, then recheck it at night on one of the properties I have.
Ive not seen any changes after sighting during daytime, vs doing it at night.
I use plain rolled white paper and paint a black or red 3" circle on it for daytime & night time targets.
 
I personally never thought of the thumb tack trick I have hundreds of them as I am a deer hunter as well. Ive also noticed my groups not as good as I has hoped with my photon, but I will be out this week trying the thumb tack approach this is why I love this forum board you guys rock....
 
I sure appreciate all the advice on sighting in at night. Thanks to all. I think I've got it pretty close now. Got this one last night at about 50 paces.



I'm still trying to figure out how to take pics through the scope/thermal viewer with my cell phone.
 


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