[robawen]

I've been thinking about buying a cheap NOD (night observation device) and was wondering if anyone has any experience with them, or can recomend a good one. Im not sure it would be usefull in a SHTF situation, but I go on alot of night hikes and would be buying it more for fun than for any expected tactical use.

 

[trouble]

I've got 2, both are Russian gen I tubes. On a moonlit night they work like a charm and you can see failry well within their forucs range, now on a real dark night the illuminators are the weak link. The work and they were inexpensie in the world of NV, sure I'd love to have a PVS14 but I just flat don't have the $ for one. GenI is better than nothing...

 

[aka"militiamike"]

I own two gen 2 ATN NVGs scopes...one riflemounted (Arrow 4), one ATN (NVM14-2) 1 to 1 scope with IR laser....would love to get the funds together for a thermal scope...

 

[rover]

I've got 2, both are Russian gen I tubes. On a moonlit night they work like a charm and you can see failry well within their forucs range, now on a real dark night the illuminators are the weak link. The work and they were inexpensie in the world of NV, sure I'd love to have a PVS14 but I just flat don't have the $ for one. GenI is better than nothing...

I heard the Soviet stuff will nuke your eyes- any truth to that you think?

 

[wind]

I heard the Soviet stuff will nuke your eyes- any truth to that you think?

No.

I've been using a gen I for years.

Really come in handy during midnight walks in the woods.

See alot of cool stuff you'd miss otherwise.

I carry night vision monocular, 16x mini binos and a 1000yrd range finder in my kit.

Thats all I need in the woods at dusk.

They are well worth the $200.00 if your just going to use them for general hikes etc.

The kids think theyre the cat's a-- when camping.

 

[MikeK]

The cheapo gen 1 units from the local sporting goods stores and such usually have horrible illuminators. If you get one, plan extra money for a quality illuminator, or spend a little more to begin with for a better unit like Yukon. They have good tubes and good illuminators.

I heard the Soviet stuff will nuke your eyes- any truth to that you think?

There's no radiation involved in the technology. All it does is generate photons, which is just light. It can induce eyestrain pretty quick in some people, myself among them. That's probably where the rumor got started.

 

[punkwaffen]

I got a cheap 1st gen monocular. Nothing awesome, but its better than my own eyes. I can see pretty damn far with it too. I was pleasantly surprised even with the battery almost dead. I am trying to sell the monocular now as I have to move, but if I do not I plan to make an illumination device for night vision use with some infrared LEDs. Flip a switch and itll get like daylight all around you.

 

[maccrazy2]

I have a ATN 1st gen scope. I think it is the palidan 360 if I remember correctly. I can engage targets out to 600 yds under starlight at the machinegun shoots. It works well out to 200, after that you can still see targets but they are harder to make out. It is alot of fun to use and I also found out people get frisky when camping!
I take it to our trip every memorial day weekend. Last year we were a good way from the camp site so my friends could check it out. Some people from down the road had snuck off from their campfire to fool around in the woods. I turn on the scope and hand it to my buddy and he is scanning around the woods when he suddenly stopped and played with the focus. I asked what he was looking at and he said laughing "hold this I will be right back" He damn near dropped the scope. I grabbed it and looked as he went running in the direction he was looking. He started running and yelling like an idiot (we were drinking) straight for the couple who were naked in the woods in front of us. LOL It was like a benny hill movie. I could barley see thru the scope I was laughing so hard. The chick freaked and went running off, the guy ran a short distance then stopped with a oh well you caught us look untill he realized josh (my friend) was not one of his friends. Then his tone changed to a little defensive. By this point the others with me were hollering and laughing. I think he realized we were from the camp down the road.
In retrospect not such a smart thing to do but it was not like he had a gun on his hip. LOL he did not have anything on his hip, except well you know.

 

[cowboy56]

I've been thinking about buying a cheap NOD (night observation device) and was wondering if anyone has any experience with them, or can recomend a good one. Im not sure it would be usefull in a SHTF situation, but I go on alot of night hikes and would be buying it more for fun than for any expected tactical use.

we bought a russian type PN-14K goggles. I really like them and they fit well... never have had a problem with them.... also have a russian gen 1 setup...and it is really reliable as well...

rifle scopes we use alot are also Russian... a PN-17K. great scope but we did have to do some work getting it to adapt to the AR and there was no trouble mounting it to the brownings ... or anything that had a Piccatiny rail or any of our hunting weapons having mounts for standard prism.

you should have good luck with them ...I think there are some others out there and someone here is sure to have them or knows more about them than I do...