Best IR Illuminator

[NigelM]

I have had a Starlight Archer for some years now and get on very well with it. The little laser IR light on top has always thrown off a pretty "dirty" light which has always frustrated me a bit so I thought it was about time to get a new illuminator.

Started to do some research and it confused the hell out of me. I want to be able to see into the corners of the fields from my recon positions which means an effective range of about 400 yds to clearly pick up a fox.

Many people are saying that the new LED's with the AS pill are very capable. However, I don't want to go up to a T74 size head as I think it's all going to be a bit big and heavy. Some talk about Sunrangers which appear to be a T20 with a new photographic lens attached to the front and able to focus a much better beam than most standard torches. There is the new Dragonfly laser from Starlight as well which some say is very good, but the light is still a little dirty. Others swear by the X-Searcher which again is a bit big.

So has anyone got the answer to a reasonably compact IR illuminator that will focus a good beam out to 400 yds plus?

 

[Eric the Red]

Have you cleaned the lens on the Firefly? Makes a massive difference as the slightest scratch/mark causes diffraction. A T50/Evo 50 should punch the distance you want. Failing that - Dipol L3 laser - or Laserluchs - but ££££.....

 

[NigelM]

Have you cleaned the lens on the Firefly? Makes a massive difference as the slightest scratch/mark causes diffraction. A T50/Evo 50 should punch the distance you want. Failing that - Dipol L3 laser - or Laserluchs - but ££££.....

Clean the lens regularly and have tried all sorts to clean it with, fiddly little bugger. Know a few other people with similar issue so I don't think it's me doing anything wrong.

Who would you buy a T50 from? Is a Black Sun T50 that much better than anything else?

 

[243ack]

Try a EVO50 from The Torch Factory. Best value out there. (No connection - other than being a satisfied customer)

 

[SussexFallow]

I have an n1000 from Clive ward I'm selling should work very nicely with the archer

 

[The Singing Stalker]

The dogs danglies is the dragonfly. ,no if's, no but's
i have nm800 and firefly and np1000. There is no competition. I was so impressed I bought 2.

 

[RPA 6MM BR]

The dogs danglies is the dragonfly. ,no if's, no but's
i have nm800 and firefly and np1000. There is no competition. I was so impressed I bought 2.

Exactly! Nothing comes even close!

 

[bryn]

Give this a go on the nightvision forum. http://nightvisionforumuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16028
I have a T20 with a black sun pil which will take you out to about 300 yards and in the right conditions a little more but I wanted to go further so I have just bought a T74 from IR light builds which I have yet to mount on my Drone Pro.
The man in the know is a chap called Dave (warbucks).
Bryn

 

[NigelM]

Give this a go on the nightvision forum. http://nightvisionforumuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16028
I have a T20 with a black sun pil which will take you out to about 300 yards and in the right conditions a little more but I wanted to go further so I have just bought a T74 from IR light builds which I have yet to mount on my Drone Pro.
The man in the know is a chap called Dave (warbucks).
Bryn

How is the T74 size wise? Is it ridiculously big on the rifle?

 

[foxhunter]

+1 for the dragonfly . Don't need anything else.

 

[bryn]

How is the T74 size wise? Is it ridiculously big on the rifle?

I had to buy a riser (which has not arrived yet) to get the T74 head/lens above the top of the drone pro. In terms of weight it won't make a lot of difference as I shoot a Tikka with a 23inch varmint barrel which is either of the roof of the 4x4 or on sticks. Size wise I don't think the T74 looks overly big however having said that its not a set up you would want to go hill stalking with.
bryn

 

[sauer]

I have the T74 on top of my drone and I don't find it too bad but I'm not covering massive lot of ground in an evening ....I walk with rifle on shoulder with z aim sling for comfort and to keep hands free & rifle can't slip , I use an old pulsar NV spotter with a T20 on it and a set of limmulus quad sticks & just creep bout in the dark using the wind, small farm tho so not walking miles .
I have an adjustable mount from ant supplies for the T74 which lifts it way clear but can adjust beam up down left right etc , to be honest it's over the top and can see for miles , if your looking for only 400 yds a T20 not far from that , maybe a T38 or a T67 ?
If you get your T74 go for one from Ian Sirrel of IRlightbuilds or sikastag as known on NV forum .
Mealliejimmy on here has tested the light outputs from various T models and from Night master models etc and the T74 still the best .

Paul

 

[kes]

I have a NM 800 with IR pill - I've spotted out to 350 on a pulsar nm870 - the wavelength is perfect for the pulsar - not tried a dragonfly as no need for me. I find even with a NM800 close foliage causes partial whiteouts, more illumination may not be better in even open woodland/hedges.

 

[DeerDucksFishin]

i wouldnt entertain any other brand nowadays after purchasing a laserluchs fantastic quality really sharp easy to focus beam if you dont mind paying for quailty its the one to have its german at the end of the day, scott country do them

I have had a Starlight Archer for some years now and get on very well with it. The little laser IR light on top has always thrown off a pretty "dirty" light which has always frustrated me a bit so I thought it was about time to get a new illuminator.

Started to do some research and it confused the hell out of me. I want to be able to see into the corners of the fields from my recon positions which means an effective range of about 400 yds to clearly pick up a fox.

Many people are saying that the new LED's with the AS pill are very capable. However, I don't want to go up to a T74 size head as I think it's all going to be a bit big and heavy. Some talk about Sunrangers which appear to be a T20 with a new photographic lens attached to the front and able to focus a much better beam than most standard torches. There is the new Dragonfly laser from Starlight as well which some say is very good, but the light is still a little dirty. Others swear by the X-Searcher which again is a bit big.

So has anyone got the answer to a reasonably compact IR illuminator that will focus a good beam out to 400 yds plus?

 

[Sikadave84]

+1 for the Dragonfly, no other ir comes close to it

 

[Nod-1]

The Dragonfly with out a doubt is the best.

regards Neil.

 

[Earw1g]

Evo 67 is ace

 

[Gunner223]

Ive had most torche's/lasers , I found the firefly great when brand new, trouble is it has plastic glass, not the best for a laser, ive had the top end Laserluch's, but the best I found so far is the Draonfiy, mounted on a ball torch mount by Laserlusch.

 

[hairlesshunter]

I have had a t74 for two years now and had it on a few different nv and it brings the best out of them I was toying with the idea of getting a dragonfly till a friend who had a t74 got one and sent it back as as some are very poor when leaving starlight and he didn't think it was worth twice the cost of a t74 plus if you ever need to change the ir pill it's the same as a t20 one and the same cost

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I have a german Fero 51 bino night viewer but so far have not found a usable ir match as illuminator (the original issue light and battery are just far too large and outdated). I will keep working on it as the lens system is Zeiss and is a very clear focusable 6x mag lens system the original cost to the german government was 10,000 dms they come now around 200 euros in fleaboy.