Night shooting kit... on the cheap.

[steveR]

I want to be able to tackle a few rats around the yards with an air rifle at night, and I have been wondering about one of the cheapie "night vision" setups that utilise the exisiting scope.

They work by fixing an IR camera in place on the eyepiece of the scope, and then feeding the image to a small LCD screen on top of the rifle/scope to allow you to see the crosshairs. Illumination comes from an IR flashlight, or around my yard, it would be the IR floodlight for the cameras.

Do they work?

 

[John]

Get a Yukon photon they are really good for the money. You will need a separate ir like a t20.you can get an early one for less than £200 now

 

[steveR]

Get a Yukon photon they are really good for the money. You will need a separate ir like a t20.you can get an early one for less than £200 now

I know, but that is more than the rifle...

Foxing lads have a Yukon.

 

[John]

You won’t get anything for lees that works. If that’s to much get someone in people are always looking for shooting

 

[PaulNix]

I made a DIY version for under £100, car reversing camera and screen mounted on my scope, with a decent lamp which i had I can see to shoot out past 150 yrd's.
Would be a version of the camera which would be lower quality and downgrade the battery and I imagine you can do one for less than £50 but still good enough at air rifle range.

 

[steveR]

I made a DIY version for under £100, car reversing camera and screen mounted on my scope, with a decent lamp which i had I can see to shoot out past 150 yrd's.
Would be a version of the camera which would be lower quality and downgrade the battery and I imagine you can do one for less than £50 but still good enough at air rifle range.

Spoeaking with a guy today I know, who is a serious rifle shooter and he found the little Chinese devices with a small screen to work reasonably well. IR illumination was the issue at bigger ranges. Reckoned fine for sub 40m though, as you suggest, air rifle ranges... Springer might have a tad too much "bounce" though...

 

[JohnGalway]

I want to be able to tackle a few rats around the yards with an air rifle at night, and I have been wondering about one of the cheapie "night vision" setups that utilise the exisiting scope.

They work by fixing an IR camera in place on the eyepiece of the scope, and then feeding the image to a small LCD screen on top of the rifle/scope to allow you to see the crosshairs. Illumination comes from an IR flashlight, or around my yard, it would be the IR floodlight for the cameras.

Do they work?

They work.

 

[steveR]

They work.

 

[Wurzeetoo]

I’ve got a nitesite viper I picked up for £150 which is ideal for ratting. But as you’ve said I wouldn’t put it on my Springer. What about going old school and using a torch with red plastic over the lense? I made one up a cheap scope to torch mount and some red lighting film cost me £5 on eBay

 

[steveR]

I’ve got a nitesite viper I picked up for £150 which is ideal for ratting. But as you’ve said I wouldn’t put it on my Springer. What about going old school and using a torch with red plastic over the lense? I made one up a cheap scope to torch mount and some red lighting film cost me £5 on eBay

TBH, that is what I used to use 20 odd years ago, with modest success in the barns. The problem is my eyes are now 20+ years older...

The idea of a screen showing the target and the Cross hairs that I can see clearly with glasses, really appeals!!

 

[david ll]

I use a NVUK kit (basic at £160). Find it very good although I have got the upgraded IR50 torch, extra £60 as I also use it on .22 and .222.

 

[scottrac]

I use a NVUK kit (basic at £160). Find it very good although I have got the upgraded IR50 torch, extra £60 as I also use it on .22 and .222.

i'm just looking at the ratting kit on nvuk site and it seems very cheap,how are you getting on with yours please?

 

[david ll]

I find it very good. I have shot upwards of 300 in the last few weeks.

 

[scottrac]

I find it very good. I have shot upwards of 300 in the last few weeks.

thanks,thats convinced me then
Borrowed a wolf nite site and although very good (and expensive) the range seemed more suited to a rifle rather than an air rifle so think the ratting one might be best for me

 

[Kentishfarmer]

Nite Site have stopped trading so you cant get parts for them anymore. I lost my charger and may have broken the one I borrowed has anyone else had this problem or does anyone know of a general charger I could buy that fits it?
The female end of the coupling being on the charger unit seems to be uncommon

 

[steveR]

Nite Site have stopped trading so you cant get parts for them anymore. I lost my charger and may have broken the one I borrowed has anyone else had this problem or does anyone know of a general charger I could buy that fits it?
The female end of the coupling being on the charger unit seems to be uncommon

Looks the same as seen on my heated m/bike clothing! It also looks the same as the QR fittings on cable used for standby charging bike batteries, so will be commonplace if you can check the plug size.



What voltage??

 

[Wurzeetoo]

I know nite sight are in trouble but a quick google has found a fair few suppliers of genuine chargers mm sporting being one for £21 inc vat. Have you called these companies, or accepted what a counter leaning guy in the rfd has told you? Ebays worth keeping an eye on

 

[Kentishfarmer]

I know nite sight are in trouble but a quick google has found a fair few suppliers of genuine chargers mm sporting being one for £21 inc vat. Have you called these companies, or accepted what a counter leaning guy in the rfd has told you? Ebays worth keeping an eye on

If you look at all of those suppliers from Google the item is listed as out of stock
Will check the voltage etc later

 

[Wurzeetoo]

If you look at all of those suppliers from Google the item is listed as out of stock
Will check the voltage etc later

Crikey I missed that, I better start looking after my kit better!

 

[Kentishfarmer]

Looks the same as seen on my heated m/bike clothing! It also looks the same as the QR fittings on cable used for standby charging bike batteries, so will be commonplace if you can check the plug size.



What voltage??

The voltage on the battery is listed as 11.1V output and its a 2AH battery
The charger is 0.6ah output and 12Volt
Do you have a link or product name of the charger you think would fit?

If I were to be getting into night shooting for the first time today this is what I'd try