Front mounted night vision - Best options, recommendations

[Jim xyz]

Hi All,

Looking at going back from a Pard 008 set up on a 22.250 to a scope with a front mounted nv add on for foxing.

I looked a few years ago and the technology didn’t seem to be mature enough. Does anyone use a front mounted system that they’d recommend.

Open to thermal or image intensifying but something that goes on the front of the scope not the back with minimum fuss and that doesn’t weigh a ton.

Many thanks,

Jim

 

[FISH BOY]

Pulsar Core.

Not often sold though.

 

[Herb64]

Had both a Pulsar Krypton and a f455 from Pulsar. Both very poor when zoomed in to any degree. Personally never again…. Can’t recommend it at all.

 

[paul o']

I have been thinking about something like the infiray or the Hik cheeter and the Hik looks to give a brighter picture x 100 yrds but this could be the lamp.?

Clip NV Series Thermal Clip On CD35

 

[Trigger260]

Forget front mounted in my experience.

 

[User00036]

Using a pulsar F455 for a few years now, it does the job. If I was a rich man, or a full time gamekeeper/ pest controller I would have 2 rifles, one with quality optics, & one with dedicated night vision, but I'm not, so a F455 is a compromise, but it works well for me. Biggest drawback, is lack of magnification with the scope before image quality suffers. Using at 4/5 mag & ranges up to 200 meters its fine, I have stretched that a bit at times when needs must, but most foxes are shot well below that. If your looking to shoot foxes at longer range forget it. A decent light with a dimmer & adjustable beam is a must.

 

[Jim xyz]

Thanks for all the answers chaps, I‘ll have a look at the Pulsar Core but I get the impression that the technology still isn’t there.

It would be perfect to have something small and lightweight that would just clip onto the front of a decent optic and turn it into a night scope but it looks like I’ll be sticking with the Pard for now. It’s great for what it does but it would be lovely to have a decent optic for the day.

Jim

 

[jthyttin]

Clip-ons (front add-ons) are quite terrible for the ergonomics. And that isn't just going away. Fast lenses (low f number = good light/warmth gathering) will have narrow depth of field and will require adjusting the lens. So you will be reaching in front of your dayscope to adjust for focus (in addition to other adjustments you need to make).

If you want decent dayoptics it might be worth your while to check e.g. Delta Optical 2.5-15x56 and couple it with rear digital add-on like Pard NV007 (maybe one of the shorter models, was it S?) or Ludicrous Lumens latest Vulpine.

 

[mealiejimmy]

IMHO, the only reason front add-ons are made is that in some countries (like Germany) it gets around the laws regarding NV or thermal targetting devices (scopes)
A front add-on does not have a reticle so it's classed as an observation device rather than a targetting device
This allows hunters in those countries where NV or thermal scopes would be illegal to still have some ability to shoot with NV or thermal
That limitation does not apply in the UK where NV and thermal targetting devices (scopes) are legal
I've owned 3 different NV and thermal front add-ons and they were all a complete PITA.
They were heavy, upset the balance of the rifle, needed someone with arms the length of a gorilla to adjust the focus, only work over a limited scope magnification range (typically x2.5-8) and you could never be sure if zero had been retained from the last time it was fitted.
Don't waste your money on a front add-on spend it on a decent NV scope and quick release rings for it and your existing scope so you can swap between them.

Cheers

Bruce

 

[User00040]

IMHO, the only reason front add-ons are made is that in some countries (like Germany) it gets around the laws regarding NV or thermal targetting devices (scopes)
A front add-on does not have a reticle so it's classed as an observation device rather than a targetting device
This allows hunters in those countries where NV or thermal scopes would be illegal to still have some ability to shoot with NV or thermal

Ah, that explains why Swaro, Leica and Ziess have gone down the otherwise dead end of front clip-ons!

Hate to admit it, but the Chinese are world leaders when it comes to stuff like torches, NV units (PARD) and cheap Wifi CCTV.

 

[mealiejimmy]

Agreed, anyone who buys a Zeiss, Swaro or Leica thermal needs their head looked - possibly the clearest case ever for paying a premium for a brand name on a type of product that's better made for a lot less money by several other companies (e.g Pulsar and HIK)

Cheers

Bruce

 

[artschool]

Agreed, anyone who buys a Zeiss, Swaro or Leica thermal needs their head looked - possibly the clearest case ever for paying a premium for a brand name on a type of product that's better made for a lot less money by several other companies (e.g Pulsar and HIK)

Cheers

Bruce

i like my zeiss thermals

 

[mealiejimmy]

Fine, I'm happy for you - but you could have got a better product for less money

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Chikentikka]

if you want to spend the money, tubed nv on a bridge rail (not touching your scope) but if its dedicated night rifle then just leave a nv scope or thermal on it?

 

[Andy RV]

The FLIR fused (Thermal & IR) forward mount should do the job!

FLIR Thermal Vision Weapon Mounted Systems - Beechwood Equipment

If only…..

 

[gixer1]

I’ve used pulsar krypton’s and protons….I think they work as well as any other thermal as long as you aren’t looking to zoom in past 4x which is usually fine…they have the added bonus of being removable so you can use them on multiple rifles/scopes.

I would say a dedicated thermal scope would be better optically but once they are on you are kind of stuck with them unless you have high quality return to zero mounts…(I find a pic rail doesn’t do that consistently)

I also have an adaptor to turn my proton into a thermal spotter which is handy as a spare for my son to use when in a highseat.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Gixer

 

[User00036]

The one major benefit of a front mounted add on is that you get to keep your good quality low light scope. I get to use a lamp a fair bit, with a dimmer switch, good glass is invaluable when using a lamp, especially at low power. Foxes seem to be a lot less lamp shy these days, & its still my favourite way of shooting them.

 

[Smellydog]

The one major benefit of a front mounted add on is that you get to keep your good quality low light scope. I get to use a lamp a fair bit, with a dimmer switch, good glass is invaluable when using a lamp, especially at low power. Foxes seem to be a lot less lamp shy these days, & its still my favourite way of shooting them.

Sometimes I just old school and yep it's a joy and yep fox's seem to be forgetting about lamps again

 

[User00036]

Sometimes I just old school and yep it's a joy and yep fox's seem to be forgetting about lamps again

The biggest problem with lamping is sweeping that lamp around to spot them, because they also spot you. Thermal vision is an absolute game changer, the only time they get to see a lamp is about three seconds before they are dead.

 

[mealiejimmy]

The biggest problem with sweeping a lamp around is that other people see you - some of whom are anti-shooting.
The less people like that know about what goes on at night, the better

Cheers

Bruce