Just to join the foray and laugh at the old fuddie duddies and their lamps... ( That should upset a few
) Ive been lamping with an air rifle, not quite the same as you fellas with your big guns I have to admit and got fed up trying to get closer ( five hours and 2 rabbits. First person to mention fieldcraft gets a slap...... Unless they are bigger then me.
So I dug out my old gen 1 add on. Attached to the right scope and with the addition of a decent illuminator (£150 ish) You will be able to see long distances. I was looking out my back door last night counting the bricks on a house that was about 150 yards away. Scope was set at 12 mag.
Advanages are no wires to become disconnected when you climb over gates. pull the nv off and use as normal during the day. I have my .22 set up for NV. So the scope is set forward and the hold is comfortable, but it is still back far enough for me to be able to use it as a day scope. It is a bit of a compromise. But I am comfortable with it. There is nothing worse than having to lean your head backwards and holding the rifle. Bloody uncomfortable.
Disadvantages.................Cost. The unit and and decent illuminator. Also in your case you are shooting a 243. Certain NV will not handle the shock as they are fragile. (From conversations with people in the trade and reading the forums you need to be very careful, bit of a minefield) And the other cost implication, you can go, wow, I really like this, lets buy another.
I have gen 1 and Digi add on. I haven't got lots of experience with them on anything above air rifle but the theory is the same. To quote somebody else. Switch on and the magic green kingdom opens up before us.
I have been having a few conversations with Starlight over the last day or so. I like to ask lots of questions. (Read my signature, it's true). My main question was, will it be ok with my 243. Shock and rearrangement of facial features due to recoil. He assured me it would be fine. Many of the others are not suitable for centrefire.
I don't have a starlight, I just quote him cos he is one I have spoke to.
I love NV. You can sit in a shed foxing without the neighbours being disturbed behind you seeing a lamp shining back and forth. Stealth. Lamp shy foxes can be a bit easier. I get enough exercise cycling to work ta muchly. I can stalk up to a bunny and pop him off and his mates haven't got a clue what happened! Although they learn, hear the thud of the bullet hitting and dissappear or they might be next.
NV and lamping are right up there with the "which is better, 17 or 22". Everybody has an opinion and it is wrong because it is not mine.
Is it expensive, yes it can be, How much did you spend on your scope. Talk to people on here and they spend stupid money on a Swaro. If I could afford it I would too.
If you really want to shoot your 243, then you have 2 NV options. use a smaller bullet. 50 grain? to reduce recoil. Sorry my experience doesn't go this far, somebody else will have to step in here, or spend the money on an NV unit with suitable eye relief and capable of handling the recoil. And lastly, worst case scenario, if it was to get broken, could it be fixed and how? That is to my mind another very importand question that needs serious digging into. Specialy if you are spending loads of wonga.
Failing that, go lamping, it is also lots of fun.
Right then, I need a drink, I'm not used to typing so much.
Declan
Knows nothing much but is learning lots about nothing really quickly.
Perhaps you can give some tips on lamp shy creatures and how we can be a little less heavy handed with a lamp in the future. I suspect I have overlamped my ground - and when getting back into it forgot the rule of only lamping where you can shoot (rather than scanning too far ahead).
