Silver Lifetime
- Messages
- 42,878
- Reactions
- 111,411
Noticed a Bushnell Equinox device on sale on Amazon for ~$172 with IR illuminator.
Turns out that although this has not reticle of any type, it is rated to withstand the G forces or recoil, and that you can get a weapon mount for it (looks like it might come with a rail built-in.
Not a NVD or thermal, requires use of the built-in illuminator for really dark environs - it is just an IR sensitive CCD sensor - like that on a camera - not a photo multiplier like most NVDs or thermal. Not particularly sensitive, but good enough out to about 200 yards and better than nothing.
Still, the price and capabilities made it seem like a good value. Saw several vids of people who had mounted it on an AR-15 - one behind a red dot, another behind a scope.
Did some research though, while good quality, there are a few shortcomings; the illuminator is not a true IR only light source, but rather a regular wide spectrum light source behind an IR filter, which makes it visible to the human eye - even at a distance, and it consumes more battery power than is necessary. The other is the limited field of view due to the magnification.
The latter I can live with, but the illuminator being visible severely limits its usefulness on defensive weapons IMO.
The two uses I would have for such a device in a SHTF scenario would be defense/surveillance and hunting at night. For hunting alone, the illuminator would maybe be okay, except for the fact that it betrays your presence to others while hunting. For defense/surveillance it is even worse.
What NVDs/et. al. - besides the typical low cost 1st and 2nd gen surplus devices on the market - are low cost and high value (for the cost) that could be used as a weapon sight and cost under $1K?
Eventually I would want to get a good thermal device, but I am waiting for them to get better while the price comes down.
Turns out that although this has not reticle of any type, it is rated to withstand the G forces or recoil, and that you can get a weapon mount for it (looks like it might come with a rail built-in.
Not a NVD or thermal, requires use of the built-in illuminator for really dark environs - it is just an IR sensitive CCD sensor - like that on a camera - not a photo multiplier like most NVDs or thermal. Not particularly sensitive, but good enough out to about 200 yards and better than nothing.
Still, the price and capabilities made it seem like a good value. Saw several vids of people who had mounted it on an AR-15 - one behind a red dot, another behind a scope.
Did some research though, while good quality, there are a few shortcomings; the illuminator is not a true IR only light source, but rather a regular wide spectrum light source behind an IR filter, which makes it visible to the human eye - even at a distance, and it consumes more battery power than is necessary. The other is the limited field of view due to the magnification.
The latter I can live with, but the illuminator being visible severely limits its usefulness on defensive weapons IMO.
The two uses I would have for such a device in a SHTF scenario would be defense/surveillance and hunting at night. For hunting alone, the illuminator would maybe be okay, except for the fact that it betrays your presence to others while hunting. For defense/surveillance it is even worse.
What NVDs/et. al. - besides the typical low cost 1st and 2nd gen surplus devices on the market - are low cost and high value (for the cost) that could be used as a weapon sight and cost under $1K?
Eventually I would want to get a good thermal device, but I am waiting for them to get better while the price comes down.