Recommend a Budget Night Optic?

[rainshadow1]

Anyone have experience with the newer versions of a $4-800 night optic?

No, I'm not going to be convinced to go $2-5k for thermal. Just looking for occasional after hours coyote, defending the goat and chickens on 3 acres, and the like. (May even mount it on a 22 for the latter.) I do not need the big money thermals.

That being said, I do appreciate quality and a good product.

Any pointers?

[Cougartail]

I always first choose my thermal gear. My next choice is red lights and lastly my cheap night vision. ($500.00)

Low end Pulsar and Sightmark NV is the way I'd go if you decide to go that route.

At fixed distances that stuff works OK like over bait.

[huntingfool7]

I always first choose my thermal gear. My next choice is red lights and lastly my cheap night vision. ($500.00)

Low end Pulsar and Sightmark NV is the way I'd go if you decide to go that route.

At fixed distances that stuff works OK like over bait.

Thermal is awesome for quick scanning but overall it's really weak when you have to sort out possums/raccoons/the wifes cat.

What would be the low end for Pulsar?  Otherwise the options seem limited to ATN, Sightmark Wraith and the PARD.

A lot of the guys running ATN seem to have glitchy issues.  I've heard locking up and a hard reboot is common.  The Wraith reportedly has some lag time when scanning.  The PARD has a narrow FOV.  It seems the most effective would be a low end FLIR scanner and a rifle/shotgun with a light mounted on it.

[rainshadow1]

Thanks for the input. If I planned to do a lot of nighttime, I'd probably find an excuse to go big, sell off some of the safe sitters and buy thermal. But like I said, it's going to be occasional recreation and even less occasional predation control, so something that 'will work' is what I'm seeking.

(I do like the idea of upgrading the IR illuminator though.)

[KFhunter]

I started out with attaching flashlights to my scope, got a few yotes over bait

Got the odepro predator light off amazon for 100 bux, got a few yotes over bait with the white light lol, go figure.  It comes with red, white, green and IR850 led swaps

Then got an ATN $500X-sight II HD
It doesn't do squat without an IR illuminator, the one that comes with it sucks.

Stuck my odepro 850IR light one the side and wow, I can see eyes at 500 yards, identify yotes at 200 ish

It's a save the chickens, hunt over bait solution.

I would not use it for calling stands at night as is, I'd have a scanner and even so it has a lot of limitations.  Its slow, clunky, but it'll smoke yotes hitting bait or coons in the chickenhouse. 


It will make your right eye blind for about 10 minutes if you look in it too long   

The display is a tad too bright on its lowest setting.


Its not a scope, think of it as a small computer with a tiny monitor

[rainshadow1]

I started out with attaching flashlights to my scope, got a few yotes over bait

Got the odepro predator light off amazon for 100 bux, got a few yotes over bait with the white light lol, go figure.  It comes with red, white, green and IR850 led swaps

Then got an ATN $500X-sight II HD
It doesn't do squat without an IR illuminator, the one that comes with it sucks.

Stuck my odepro 850IR light one the side and wow, I can see eyes at 500 yards, identify yotes at 200 ish

It's a save the chickens, hunt over bait solution.

I would not use it for calling stands at night as is, I'd have a scanner and even so it has a lot of limitations.  Its slow, clunky, but it'll smoke yotes hitting bait or coons in the chickenhouse. 


It will make your right eye blind for about 10 minutes if you look in it too long   

The display is a tad too bright on its lowest setting.


Its not a scope, think of it as a small computer with a tiny monitor

 

Thanks KF

[GWP]

If you are willing to use a screen and IR Illuminator you can get into it pretty cheap. Works fine for shorter range. Say up to 50 yards or so. Takes some fiddling to get them dialed in but once you do it works pretty well.
Little weird as you are not really holding it like a rifle any more, AND your ‘night vision’ is gone with a naked eyeball.
Lots of rat hunting vids on YouTube using that set up.

[huntingfool7]

Night vision scopes starting at the 5 minute mark.
As a sidenote, the comments on the Sniper Hog Light is legit.  I have five or six of them.  I prefer the 66 model and have one in ir but I also have the Coyote Cannon.  Great lights.  Terrific ir that stands up against ir laser.

[birdshooter1189]

Here's what's currently working for me:

IR camera and 5" LCD screen that mounts to your existing scope: ($93)

https://www.amazon.com/BESTSIGHT-Digital-riflescopes-Portable-Display/dp/B06XJ1M846/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=5%22+night+vision+scope&qid=1637246840&qsid=137-0557494-2136841&sr=8-7&sres=B0768BHHFY%2CB079K1797S%2CB06XJ1M846%2CB07N11XQMQ%2CB07MW21G53%2CB091YKW44C%2CB08549Z4GY%2CB07882YFF6%2CB07PDQX56B%2CB01BYDUZ60%2CB08DFPFBQR%2CB07KXMTFKT%2CB079JY61HG%2CB097SSFP2F%2CB08N16J53B%2CB011NSY9HM%2CB08KVYTHH3%2CB07211HGZ2%2CB074CKJ1Z9%2CB08SKV3RD2&srpt=AIMING_SCOPE_SIGHT

Upgraded IR illuminator: ($50)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/133856845383?epid=27039849443&hash=item1f2a7d5e47:g:AuAAAOSwPXRhIwiA

A pack of rechargable 18650 batteries: (~$1 each)

I also have a sightmark photon xt 4.6x42 (~$400) nightvision scope.  The 5" LCD screen setup is several times better than the photon in most situations.  Wider FOV, better resolution, zoom(whatever is on the scope it is mounted to), better contrast between light/dark.

With all the money you saved, buy a 4 pack of these driveway alarms. Set them up along game trails, or around your animal pens, or wherever you expect animals to come in. Maybe put one alarm right on a bait pile where you want to shoot the critters in case they sneak past our entry/exit path alarms.

https://www.amazon.com/Driveway-Wireless-Detector-Rechargeable-Weatherproof/dp/B07YFZYGTF/ref=sr_1_19?keywords=driveway+alarm&qid=1637247171&qsid=137-0557494-2136841&sr=8-19&sres=B07L3TFM2G%2CB08NYDFRVL%2CB003765W0W%2CB086X3SCB5%2CB07Q2Y1BTQ%2CB07SH52FTW%2CB07PRGGRGW%2CB086TT8X8C%2CB002ISVJL6%2CB07Y41NVZC%2CB07G356GFC%2CB01JRASCDU%2CB07PFXQR9R%2CB07YFZYGTF%2CB07TPSL1T1%2CB01M3QINCM&srpt=MOTION_DETECTOR_DEVICE

You will now be in charge of what happens on your property after dark. 

I have a few videos online of myself using this setup for rat hunting and for coyote control around my house.  Here's a link to one: (you can find the rest through the channel)

[huntingfool7]

@birdshooter1189  What is your coyote tally this year? 

[birdshooter1189]

19

[huntingfool7]

The review comments on the ATN X-SIGHT LTV 5-15x caught my attention.  Especially the part about overcast days since there are a few of those around here   Large objective and good magnification range.
 -

 
Opening scene shows inefficiency of rat traps for squirrels.  Then right into the ATN review portion.

The LTV version is priced at $679. from the manufacturer.
https://www.atncorp.com/x-sight-ltv-day-night-rifle-scope-5-15x

[Hillbilly Zen]

Ya could build a better chicken and goat pen for pennies on the dollar and sleep at night.  I get the recreational aspect though 😂

[Jburke]

The review comments on the ATN X-SIGHT LTV 5-15x caught my attention.  Especially the part about overcast days since there are a few of those around here   Large objective and good magnification range.
 -

 
Opening scene shows inefficiency of rat traps for squirrels.  Then right into the ATN review portion.

The LTV version is priced at $679. from the manufacturer.
https://www.atncorp.com/x-sight-ltv-day-night-rifle-scope-5-15x

I just snagged one of these the other day and took it outside a few minutes ago to see what it was like at night. So far I’m impressed at 100 yards looking across the park from my front door(don’t worry, it’s not mounted on a rifle yet). I’m going to take it out to my brothers place tomorrow evening to see what the quality is like at longer ranges. I haven’t got the IR light hooked up yet since it’s not mounted


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KFhunter]

Those Odepro lights off amazon work very well, it's got an IR, White, Red and Green LED that's interchangable.   The IR now lives on my ATN scope

fog and falling snow is its nemesis