The price of night vision also varies with what types of tubes are inside. Those are at the heart of the system. A PVS-14 with a single, un-filmed, white-phosphor tube costs more than a dual-green-phosphor-tube Gen2+ model. So more tubes does not mean a better setup. Do the research and try a set of NVGs if you can. Go to a Tactical Night Vision Company course and rent a set of NVGs to see what these magic goggles can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the Stealth 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Night Vision 101: The Pros and Cons of Single-Tube vs Multi-Tube NODs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-nods-pro-con","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/11\/night-vision-nods-pro-con\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129398,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-22 06:03:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-22 11:03:50","post_content":"\r\n\r\nThough the U.S. military has been using night vision for decades, American law enforcement<\/a> has only begun to break the surface of such gear for operations. One of the more recent, notable uses of cutting-edge technology used by LEOs was in 2013 when Massachusetts State Police used a FLIR camera from a helicopter to find one of Boston bombers hiding inside a covered boat. Very cool, but that story is somewhat of an outlier.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"202088\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nThat said, many competent officers and leaders across the country simply don\u2019t have the depth of knowledge to implement a comprehensive plan for using and training with lasers, suppressors and night vision with their current firearms. Couple that lack of knowledge with the continual budget challenges every department experiences and stealth integration gets pushed farther to the bottom of the list.\r\n\r\nI sat down with longtime friend Lt. Mark Byrum of the Madison County, Tennessee, Sheriff\u2019s Department to discuss these issues. Byrum is the department\u2019s SWAT commander and training coordinator. He handles all of the equipment acquired through the federal lease program. He has been working to integrate stealth equipment into his department\u2019s operations for years. So he\u2019s already experienced some of the learning curve officers across the country face when they begin this process. Here are the most relevant points of our discussion.\u00a0<\/strong>\r\nPolice Night Vision Q&A<\/h3>\r\n
Where is your department in terms of stealth gear, and what obstacles have you faced so far?<\/h3>\r\nWe got our first NODs around 2010 or 2011 through a Homeland Security grant. That grant included six PVS-14s, which is obviously not enough to equip the entire 16-man team. Since we didn\u2019t have enough PVS-14s, we began looking for another source of equipment. The lease program we found is run through the Navy. Through that program, we were able to lease 16 PVS-18s for $4,800 per year, which is much better than having to buy that many units. But since we\u2019re taking what\u2019s available and don\u2019t get to pick, the NODs and accessories don\u2019t necessarily match. Some of the aftermarket accessories we\u2019ve tried have been problematic with the less-common dovetail mounting components of the PVS-18. While I\u2019ve had people tell me they prefer the dovetail, the mounts are less common, and we\u2019ve had to retrofit regular PVS-14 mounts to fit our helmets.\r\n\r\nWe have several deputies who are former military, but they were in units that didn\u2019t necessarily get to use this type of gear extensively. They\u2019ve used them a little on patrol or in training, so we don\u2019t have any in-house experts, so we\u2019re having to reach outside to get someone to get us squared away on it. The National Guard provided us a guy, but I think he was in the same situation, where he knew just enough that they made him an instructor. He gave us some classroom stuff, some PowerPoint presentations, but we didn\u2019t really have any practical exercises. Up to now, we\u2019ve been somewhat self-taught. So far, we\u2019ve only used them in training and have never been able to deploy them on an operation yet.\r\n
Police Night Vision: Training & Shooting<\/h3>\r\nWe don\u2019t really know the limitations until we discover them in training. Just to learn how to navigate takes time. You have to get used to the adjustments and where everything is. If you wanted to try to open a door, you have to change your focus to the doorknob instead of something 20 to 30 feet away, where your human eye does that automatically. Just trying to walk around with an NOD changes your depth perception. Then you have the whole perception that once you get this stuff, you\u2019re automatically like the guys in movies and can run around through here and shoot at stuff in the dark and all. Well, no, you can\u2019t.\r\n\r\nBefore you can shoot any kind of weapon system, you\u2019ve got to have some kind of sighting system to go along with it. Here you\u2019re looking at another accessory that, depending on what you get, is going to cost almost as much as your night-vision device itself. So you\u2019re looking at some sort of infrared laser coupled with a visible laser so you can easily sight it in. It has to be durable.\r\n
Police Night Vision Concerns<\/h3>\r\nSome of the less expensive lasers won\u2019t hold their zero just from firing a few rounds, so what do you do? Do you go through the time and expense to buy all these things and learn as you go, or do you reach out to other people? Sometimes you don\u2019t know who to reach out to. You have all that to go through to figure out what equipment you really need. Then, how do you justify the expense? How much are you really going to use this? The best application we\u2019ve found for this is to navigate up to your target and then assault the target with white light. That seems to be the smartest thing to do.\r\n
That seems like the only way for law enforcement to do it. Even the majority of our special operations troops will approach under NODs and then assault with white light.<\/h3>\r\nYeah, you hear about the guys that went in to kill bin Laden and did it under NODs. Well, how long did they train for just that mission?\r\n
The top 1 percent does that sort of mission.<\/h3>\r\nRight, and you have teams like that, if they\u2019re not on a mission, they\u2019re training for one. Most law enforcement teams, especially part-time teams like ours, don\u2019t get that. We\u2019re lucky enough to get two training days per month, but with patrol staffing, we don\u2019t get a full eight-hour day. We get four to six hours with the whole team there and then finish out with whoever can stay. There are a lot of teams that only get one training day per month, and they may not get a full eight hours.\r\n\r\nThere are a lot more important things that you have to train on, where night vision and everything related to it seems more like a luxury. If you can get the equipment and the training hours in, then yes, it\u2019s great. You have an ability that other people don\u2019t have. If you look at the training required and the consequences of using this gear during a mission and failing, then you have to ask if it\u2019s worth getting into, given everything else we have to be able to do.\r\n
Have you discussed any of this with the Telluric Group or the other companies that specialize in training on night operations and equipment?<\/h3>\r\nMost of the people I\u2019ve learned from so far have been former military who have used them extensively. So far we haven\u2019t received any formal training from anyone but the National Guard. Once again, it costs money. Everyone\u2019s training money has been constrained over the last few years, and we have to move into this new facility that\u2019s taking up a lot of our time and money.\r\n
What types of operations do you foresee being suited to this type of equipment?<\/h3>\r\nAny time you have an extended situation like a hostage situation, it\u2019s always going to be to your advantage to get a listening device up close to the structure the hostage-taker is holding. Night-vision capability would allow you to approach the structure in darkness to plant a listening device. Or, when you\u2019re preparing for an assault, you can approach and place breaching charges\u2014things like that, where you can approach quietly in the dark without escalating the situation.\r\n\r\nAlso, just placing your team members. If your negotiator can talk the suspect into coming outside to show that the hostage is alive, you could potentially have officers in position without the suspect\u2019s knowledge in case the opportunity arises to end the situation. Also, everyone has night-vision security cameras around their houses now. Well, bad guys have them, too. If there are cameras, then they should be lit up like a spotlight when you\u2019re looking through night vision. You can spot the guy\u2019s cameras and either know what to avoid or where to go to disable the cameras.\r\n
So, you guys have NODs and some of the other equipment, but no formal training so far. Is that what\u2019s next?<\/h3>\r\nThat\u2019s part of it. In years past, we\u2019ve had very low turnover on the team. About two years ago, we found ourselves in the situation where 10 of the 16 team members had one year of experience or less. So, we\u2019ve really been struggling trying to make sure everyone is up to speed in daylight, much less trying to incorporate things at night. We have new guys still learning what they need to know. Then we hand them this new piece of gear and say, \u201cBy the way, you need to be competent with this, too.\u201d\r\n
Have you looked at this from the standpoint of reconnaissance, surveillance or pre-mission planning where the situation is still developing?<\/h3>\r\nThe Metro Narcotics Division used to do their own entries. As of about three years ago, the decision was made by both parent agencies that one agency\u2019s SWAT team or the other would do all narcotics entries going forward. Sometimes we get enough advance notice to go do surveillance beforehand, but a lot of times we don\u2019t. When we do get enough notice, it would be outstanding to use this equipment in that way. Sometimes, the National Guard\u2019s counter-drug unit is able to come out and do that surveillance and strictly inform and advise us on what they\u2019ve observed. We\u2019ve been able to get day and nighttime air assets in some cases as well.\r\n
Have you considered adding suppressors to your weapons?<\/h3>\r\nWe have. I definitely see a role for them, and it would be great to have them. Right now, we\u2019ve decided that there are other things that are more important. Our body armor needs to be replaced. It\u2019s reached its expiration date.\r\n
During the day, deputies recognize each other by their standard uniforms and marked patrol cars. Has there been any discussion of identification when working under NODs in low-light situations.<\/h3>\r\nThere has. We\u2019ve discussed the need for infrared-reflective patches for our uniforms. We\u2019ve not discussed anything for the vehicles yet. Right now, we don\u2019t have any sort of individual identification patches. As far as being on scene or in a stack, we all look the same. We\u2019ve discussed some way to recognize who is who. We do have some of the surplus infrared strobes. But that\u2019s going to alert the suspect if they happen to have cameras that see infrared light. The patches would be passive. We do have a couple of handheld thermal devices\u2014each patrol supervisor carries one. But it helps identify an individual that\u2019s hiding or if someone is injured in an area that\u2019s hard to see.\r\n\r\nThe Bottom Line on police using night vision: <\/strong>Though stealth guns and gear offer an opportunity to improve the safety and performance of law enforcement teams nationwide, tremendous improvements must be made to the availability of equipment and training required for officers, leaders and administrators to authorize and use them. Budget constraints, training priorities and knowledge deficiencies hamper the integration of stealth tools into law enforcement operations. But forward-thinking leaders such as Byrum keep pushing their departments\u2019 capabilities forward.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"What Are the Benefits and Challenges of Police Using Night Vision?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"benefits-police-using-night-vision","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:51","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/22\/benefits-police-using-night-vision\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129460,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-15 06:01:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-15 11:01:46","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOne of the issues every shooter must overcome when integrating stealth technology like image-intensification and thermal<\/a> devices into their inventory is how to mesh the tools used during daylight hours with the tools used during low-light hours. Rifles require optics and iron sights for redundant aiming systems during the day. When darkness falls, those same guns need white and infrared lights for searches and identifying people or objects, plus an infrared laser and either a dedicated night optic or what is referred to as a Clip On Night Vision device that attaches to the day scope for aiming once a target is found and identified. There are advantages and disadvantages to each setup. But the concept of a clip-on night sight that attaches to your existing day scope is tremendously appealing for a number of reasons.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"201553\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Pros & Cons<\/h3>\r\nClip-on night vision devices attach to the rifle in front of the day scope. Attachment is usually accomplished by placing the NVD on an extended Picatinny rail or on a forend bracket with a Picatinny rail. Some clip-on optics attach directly to the riflescope. Meanwhile, others attach to a special mount that replaces the top of the forward scope ring.\r\n\r\nUsing a clip-on in front of the day optic allows the shooter to use the same familiar scope, reticle, adjustment knobs and other controls he or she trained on during daylight hours for night operations as well. In this mode, there is no reticle in the clip-on optic, and all of the aiming is done with the reticle of the day optic. The clip-on merely presents the field of view and target image to the day optic. Some clip-ons are also capable of working in standalone mode where the clip-on becomes the sole optic. Here, it provides both the target image and the aiming point. The advantages of using the same day scope during night operations are lost in this configuration, however.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision in the Military<\/h3>\r\nPerhaps the most dominant use of the clip-on NVD is in long-range military observation and sniping roles. Our military snipers have successfully used clip-ons like the PVS-27 Magnum Universal Night Sight (MUNS)<\/a> for years. The training and proficiency benefits that come with maintaining one day-scope system for 24-hour use is significant. The same zero is maintained, the same ballistic data and resulting aiming corrections are maintained, and the controls required to make those corrections feel the same during day or night. The elevation-adjustment knob is always in the same place, always turns the same direction, and each adjustment increment always has the same \u201cclicks\u201d as it is turned. The same goes for the windage-adjustment knob. This facilitates rapid engagement and consistency of operation, which are both obvious benefits.\r\n
Using Clip On Night Vision Devices<\/h3>\r\nIf there is a downside to the most common clip-on NVDs, it is the use of image-intensification technology, which relies on available light to process and present an image to the day optic. As the amount of light increases, the performance of the clip-on increases. Conversely, on those dark, moonless, overcast nights, the range of the clip-on will be significantly limited and may require additional illumination from an infrared device. This also has advantages and disadvantages.\r\n\r\nFor the military sniper working against a night-vision-equipped adversary, using an infrared illuminator is like turning on a glowing beacon that says, \u201cDrop artillery here!\u201d On the other hand, the sniper\u2019s spotter, who often has a clip-on mounted in front of a spotting scope, or the sniper himself can watch the bullet fly to the target by observing the reflection of the infrared light off the base of the bullet. This makes spotting impacts and correcting for a follow-up shot easier than doing so during some daylight conditions when watching the trace of the bullet. If you\u2019re an enthusiast looking to ring some steel targets after hours, then using infrared illumination isn\u2019t a big deal.\r\n\r\nMounting a clip-on in front of your day scope also takes advantage of the day scope\u2019s magnification and ability to zoom in or out. Night-vision devices generally only have digital zooms that significantly degrade in quality as magnification increases. Since day scopes use optical zoom, there is no degradation or pixilation of the image as magnification is increased. Since the exit pupil decreases with increased magnification, there will be a reduction of light transmission, however. Some clip-on models will perform well only up to moderate magnification levels.\r\n
Going Thermal?<\/h3>\r\nThe ability to utilize the day scope\u2019s optical zoom ties into the primary benefit of an image-intensifying clip-on over a thermal clip-on: identification. There is no doubt that a thermal scope or thermal clip-on will make detection\u2014simply realizing the presence of a target\u2014easier. Identifying that target, however, is usually easier with an image-intensifying device due to the increased detail available through such an optic. When you are operating under the sort of rules of engagement or use-of-force criteria that our military snipers and law enforcement marksmen work with, positively identifying the guy who just walked up to the building you\u2019re observing is mandatory. There\u2019s a big difference between \u201ca tall guy with a beard and a funny hat just entered the building\u201d and \u201cOsama bin Laden just entered the building.\u201d The increased detail available through an image-intensifying device facilitates positive identification.\r\n\r\nIs there a place for a thermal clip-on? You bet. For the around-the-clock hunter, a thermal clip-on is a great option. You\u2019ve set up your stand during daylight hours. You\u2019ve zeroed and practiced with your day optic. You know the controls and are comfortable and confident in its use. After sunset, you simply clip on your thermal and the heat signatures from the animals are instantly visible. For that matter, you can use the thermal clip-on during the day as well.\r\n
Further Considerations on Clip On Night Vision<\/h3>\r\nTurn on your image-intensifying clip-on in broad daylight and you\u2019ll quickly ruin it. Points go to the thermal in this case. Another option is to use your thermal clip-on as a handheld monocular during daylight hours. You can detect heat signatures where animals may be hiding by using the thermal to scan. Once you locate the heat signature, use your day optic to zoom in. Then identify the target and take the shot if desired.\r\n\r\nKeep in mind that you won\u2019t be able to watch bullet trace or see your impacts unless there is some sort of thermal signature created by those impacts. Several years ago I spent a few days at Fort Riley, Kansas, with some soon-to-deploy snipers. Impacts on steel targets and misses into the surrounding gravel were easy to spot through the high-end thermal viewers. When we hit steel, there was an obvious thermal signature created as the bullet impacted the target. If missed (not that I<\/em> missed or anything) into the gravel, sparks flew and corrections were easy to make. When our rounds impacted into grassy areas, however, no thermal signature was created. Those misses were very hard to call precisely unless you were following the signature of the bullet itself.\r\n\r\nTo be fair, the same problems can exist with standard day optics in those conditions as well. One negative of the thermal clip-on is the reduced screen size of most units. If you want to use the optic in standalone mode or as a handheld scanner, you\u2019ll have a reduced screen. Not the end of the world, but a possible consideration.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Final Thoughts<\/h3>\r\nAs is often the case, the right tool for the job will be determined by your application and environment. If merely finding an animal or a person that is either well camouflaged or screened by light brush is adequate, the thermal excels during day or night. If detailed identification or long-range marksmanship with a spotter is your mission, an image-intensifying clip-on has some serious advantages.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"Why You Should Consider Adding a Clip On Night Vision Device","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"clip-on-night-vision-device","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/15\/clip-on-night-vision-device\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-09 06:03:31","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-09 11:03:31","post_content":"\r\n\r\nEntering the world of low-light endeavors can be daunting on many levels. One of the earliest challenges that new shooters encounter is the selection of their first night-vision device (NVD)<\/a>. The idea that you can simply buy a night-vision scope and perform every shooting task at night that you normally perform during the day soon evaporates with a little research, knowledge and experience.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"181479\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nSo how does a new shooter determine what type of NVD to start with? Applications and budget determine the need.\u00a0Keep in mind that there is some crossover. While one type of device may be best for a certain task, it may be acceptable, even with some limitations, for other tasks. Typically, once the stealth bug bites, we end up with multiple devices that are used together or enlisted for specific tasks as needed.\r\n
Owning The Night<\/h3>\r\nWhat most people think of when the term \u201cnight vision\u201d comes up is the green-image view from an image-intensified device like the PVS-14 or the older PVS-7. Hollywood has shown this view in movies for decades, and news broadcasts shown during the invasion of Iraq and many other military conflicts show a green, pixelated image of a darkened city with ribbons of anti-aircraft fire heading into the clouds in search of American bombers. This perception is not without merit. At this point, most U.S. service members engaged in direct ground combat are issued an image-intensifying night observation device (NOD). These image intensifier devices have reached the point of being almost ubiquitous.\r\n
Image Intensifier NODs<\/h3>\r\nAs their name suggests, image-intensifying NODs strengthen available light and present whatever the device \u201csees\u201d before it. There is no through-the-scope view of the actual object you\u2019re observing like there is through a riflescope or binoculars. Instead, a screen essentially plays a life feed from the NOD.\r\n\r\nOf course, to intensify light, there must first be light. If you close yourself inside a completely sealed room with no illumination source whatsoever, you will see only a murky black image with an image-intensifying device. Add even the smallest amount of illumination and your device will start to present a visible image. As available light increases, the image shown to the wearer becomes clearer and brighter. When an NOD receives too much light, it may be damaged, unless the unit features a control mechanism or \u201cgate\u201d to protect the image intensifier (the heart of the device) within.\r\n
Infrared<\/h3>\r\nIn addition to intensifying visible light like moonlight, streetlights or other forms of illumination that the human eye can see unaided, an NOD can see light in the infrared spectrum as well. Since infrared light is not normally visible to the human eye, this presents an opportunity for those with NODs to illuminate darkened areas without revealing themselves and their activities to an opponent who does not have night-vision technology.\r\n\r\nWith the aid of infrared light, a shooter equipped with an NOD can function on even the darkest of nights far from the spill of urban glow. Of course, if your adversary is equipped with an NOD, then he will also be able to see the infrared light just as well as you. For this reason, active infrared illumination is kept to a minimum when such a threat exists. As a note, most home security cameras feature a version of image-intensifying technology and will have multiple infrared illuminators.\r\n
Thermal Imaging<\/h3>\r\nThough most of us think of an image-intensifying device when we hear the term \u201cnight vision,\u201d there is another type of technology that fits within the category as well. Thermal-imaging devices (thermals) rely on the heat generated by objects instead of the light reflected by those same objects. This is a huge distinction and has a host of advantages and disadvantages. Anyone who has seen the movie Predator<\/em> has seen a depiction of what thermal imaging looks like to the shooter. The thermal detects the intensity of an object\u2019s heat and translates that into a shaded image that is presented to the viewer. As with an image-intensifying device, there is no through-the-scope view with a thermal. You\u2019re viewing a screen that\u2019s showing a translated representation of the heat signatures detected by the thermal.\r\n\r\nIn addition to the two main types of night-vision technology, there are multiple applications, or form factors, of each. Monoculars and binoculars feature attachments for a helmet. Dedicated riflescopes are also available in thermal and image-intensifying configuration. A dedicated scope eliminates a day scope mounted on the firearm. This has advantages and disadvantages. An alternative is the \u201cclip-on\u201d NVD that mounts in front of a standard day scope. The clip-on has no reticle but presents an image to the objective lens of the day scope. The reticle and all adjustments are inherent within the day scope. Finally, there are handheld devices with neither reticle nor mounting system. These would be similar to binoculars or monoculars used for viewing during daylight.\r\n
Image Intensifier and Thermal Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h3>\r\nSo do you need an image-intensifying device or a thermal? The short answer is yes, and here\u2019s why: image intensifying is best for navigation or tasks where details must be discernible, and thermal is best for locating warm things like wild boars across a field or a trespasser in the woods. You can certainly locate hogs with an image-intensifying device, but your range and detection capabilities will be noticeably less, especially on dark nights without much ambient lighting.\r\n\r\nYou can navigate in some cases with only a thermal device, but you\u2019ll have difficulty in others. Similar vegetation tends to take on a monotone look in a thermal. This vegetation can easily hide obstacles within, and things on the ground can trip you or impede your movement. Thermals can\u2019t see shadows or reflections, but an image-intensifying device can see both. Image-intensifying devices also perform similarly in varying atmospheric conditions. Thermals perform poorly when the temperature and humidity are high. At the same time, thermals can see warm objects through smoke, but an image-intensifying device cannot.\r\n\r\nThermals can\u2019t see infrared light, and therefore can\u2019t detect an infrared laser or illuminator. With an image intensifier, teammates can point out targets or signal each other with infrared lasers. Image-intensifying NODs can see through glass, assuming there\u2019s adequate lighting beyond that glass, while thermals cannot. As I said, you may need both.\r\n
Image Intensifier & Thermal Power Combos<\/h3>\r\nSince most image-intensifying devices are used for navigation, they are generally worn mounted in front of the shooter\u2019s eye. The most common mounting system combines a helmet-borne shroud, mount and swingarm that allows the NOD to be installed and removed from the helmet quickly, and to be flipped up and out of view when not in use. A typical execution of this would involve a SWAT team navigating from their last covered and concealed position to the target site using their helmet-mounted NODs, then flipping up their NODs before making entry into the structure with visible light. Another example is a hog hunter navigating along an old logging road using his image-intensifying NOD. One flips it up so that he can get his eye behind his weapon-mounted thermal riflescope to search for hogs beyond the brush as he nears the recently planted peanut field.\r\n\r\nAfter years of using image-intensifying and thermal-imaging devices for both professional and recreational purposes against both man and beast, here are the configurations that I believe offer the best combination of capabilities. For the tactical shooter, a helmet-mounted NOD like the PVS-14 or, better yet, a binocular NVD like the Sentinel is used for navigation purposes. An image-intensifying device calls for a weapon-mounted infrared laser to be used for aiming and signaling. For target detection, a handheld thermal monocular provides an additional capability that can\u2019t be overemphasized. Detecting targets is simply easier, quicker and more certain with a thermal in many circumstances.\r\n
In the Field<\/h3>\r\nFor pre-mission reconnaissance, team members should be equipped with both image-intensifying and thermal devices that are designed for longer-range target identification. This may include a clip-on image-intensifying optic in front of the marksman\u2019s magnified day scope and a thermal scope either mounted on a rifle or simply mounted on a tripod as an observation and detection tool. It is worth noting that most thermal scopes have the built-in capability of recording video and taking pictures. These can obviously be used as part of a briefing to mission planners and team members.\r\n\r\nFor the nocturnal hunter, I\u2019d similarly suggest a helmet-mounted or binocular NOD for navigation purposes. For target detection and as the primary engagement tool, a rifle-mounted thermal scope can\u2019t be beat. I recommend cause, of course, when using any weapon-mounted optic to detect targets.\u00a0If your budget allows, a handheld thermal monocular mitigates this safety issue completely. Finally, I\u2019d also suggest a weapon-mounted infrared laser.\r\n\r\nWhen things go perfectly and you\u2019re able to get within extremely close range of that big sounder of hogs, the added field of view of an unmagnified helmet-mounted NOD, combined with the quick-aiming capability of an infrared laser, is absolutely devastating. As the hogs flee beyond the range of the evening\u2019s illumination, you can quickly flip up that NOD and resume work with the thermal scope. This combination has proven unbeatable. So, whatever your individual needs happen to be, there is a night-vision solution for you.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em>","post_title":"Should You Choose an Image Intensifier or Thermal?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-image-intensifier","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/09\/night-vision-image-intensifier\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
So how many tubes is best for you? This is a tough question. It all depends on your priorities and budget. What will you be using NVGs for? If you are training recreationally on a square range, then all you need is a PVS-14. If you have the disposable income to upgrade to dual tubes, then by all means get the best you can afford. There\u2019s a lot of aftermarket support for single- and dual-tube night vision nowadays. So it\u2019s easy to get what you want and set it up to suit your needs. Quad-tube devices are cool but rather expensive. While the ANVIS-10 is priced similarly to the PVS-31, they\u2019re both hard to find and require specialized knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The price of night vision also varies with what types of tubes are inside. Those are at the heart of the system. A PVS-14 with a single, un-filmed, white-phosphor tube costs more than a dual-green-phosphor-tube Gen2+ model. So more tubes does not mean a better setup. Do the research and try a set of NVGs if you can. Go to a Tactical Night Vision Company course and rent a set of NVGs to see what these magic goggles can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the Stealth 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Night Vision 101: The Pros and Cons of Single-Tube vs Multi-Tube NODs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-nods-pro-con","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/11\/night-vision-nods-pro-con\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129398,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-22 06:03:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-22 11:03:50","post_content":"\r\n\r\nThough the U.S. military has been using night vision for decades, American law enforcement<\/a> has only begun to break the surface of such gear for operations. One of the more recent, notable uses of cutting-edge technology used by LEOs was in 2013 when Massachusetts State Police used a FLIR camera from a helicopter to find one of Boston bombers hiding inside a covered boat. Very cool, but that story is somewhat of an outlier.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"202088\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nThat said, many competent officers and leaders across the country simply don\u2019t have the depth of knowledge to implement a comprehensive plan for using and training with lasers, suppressors and night vision with their current firearms. Couple that lack of knowledge with the continual budget challenges every department experiences and stealth integration gets pushed farther to the bottom of the list.\r\n\r\nI sat down with longtime friend Lt. Mark Byrum of the Madison County, Tennessee, Sheriff\u2019s Department to discuss these issues. Byrum is the department\u2019s SWAT commander and training coordinator. He handles all of the equipment acquired through the federal lease program. He has been working to integrate stealth equipment into his department\u2019s operations for years. So he\u2019s already experienced some of the learning curve officers across the country face when they begin this process. Here are the most relevant points of our discussion.\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n So how many tubes is best for you? This is a tough question. It all depends on your priorities and budget. What will you be using NVGs for? If you are training recreationally on a square range, then all you need is a PVS-14. If you have the disposable income to upgrade to dual tubes, then by all means get the best you can afford. There\u2019s a lot of aftermarket support for single- and dual-tube night vision nowadays. So it\u2019s easy to get what you want and set it up to suit your needs. Quad-tube devices are cool but rather expensive. While the ANVIS-10 is priced similarly to the PVS-31, they\u2019re both hard to find and require specialized knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The price of night vision also varies with what types of tubes are inside. Those are at the heart of the system. A PVS-14 with a single, un-filmed, white-phosphor tube costs more than a dual-green-phosphor-tube Gen2+ model. So more tubes does not mean a better setup. Do the research and try a set of NVGs if you can. Go to a Tactical Night Vision Company course and rent a set of NVGs to see what these magic goggles can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the Stealth 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Night Vision 101: The Pros and Cons of Single-Tube vs Multi-Tube NODs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-nods-pro-con","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/11\/night-vision-nods-pro-con\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129398,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-22 06:03:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-22 11:03:50","post_content":"\r\n\r\nThough the U.S. military has been using night vision for decades, American law enforcement<\/a> has only begun to break the surface of such gear for operations. One of the more recent, notable uses of cutting-edge technology used by LEOs was in 2013 when Massachusetts State Police used a FLIR camera from a helicopter to find one of Boston bombers hiding inside a covered boat. Very cool, but that story is somewhat of an outlier.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"202088\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nThat said, many competent officers and leaders across the country simply don\u2019t have the depth of knowledge to implement a comprehensive plan for using and training with lasers, suppressors and night vision with their current firearms. Couple that lack of knowledge with the continual budget challenges every department experiences and stealth integration gets pushed farther to the bottom of the list.\r\n\r\nI sat down with longtime friend Lt. Mark Byrum of the Madison County, Tennessee, Sheriff\u2019s Department to discuss these issues. Byrum is the department\u2019s SWAT commander and training coordinator. He handles all of the equipment acquired through the federal lease program. He has been working to integrate stealth equipment into his department\u2019s operations for years. So he\u2019s already experienced some of the learning curve officers across the country face when they begin this process. Here are the most relevant points of our discussion.\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n So how many tubes is best for you? This is a tough question. It all depends on your priorities and budget. What will you be using NVGs for? If you are training recreationally on a square range, then all you need is a PVS-14. If you have the disposable income to upgrade to dual tubes, then by all means get the best you can afford. There\u2019s a lot of aftermarket support for single- and dual-tube night vision nowadays. So it\u2019s easy to get what you want and set it up to suit your needs. Quad-tube devices are cool but rather expensive. While the ANVIS-10 is priced similarly to the PVS-31, they\u2019re both hard to find and require specialized knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The price of night vision also varies with what types of tubes are inside. Those are at the heart of the system. A PVS-14 with a single, un-filmed, white-phosphor tube costs more than a dual-green-phosphor-tube Gen2+ model. So more tubes does not mean a better setup. Do the research and try a set of NVGs if you can. Go to a Tactical Night Vision Company course and rent a set of NVGs to see what these magic goggles can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the Stealth 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Night Vision 101: The Pros and Cons of Single-Tube vs Multi-Tube NODs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-nods-pro-con","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/11\/night-vision-nods-pro-con\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129398,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-22 06:03:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-22 11:03:50","post_content":"\r\n\r\nThough the U.S. military has been using night vision for decades, American law enforcement<\/a> has only begun to break the surface of such gear for operations. One of the more recent, notable uses of cutting-edge technology used by LEOs was in 2013 when Massachusetts State Police used a FLIR camera from a helicopter to find one of Boston bombers hiding inside a covered boat. Very cool, but that story is somewhat of an outlier.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"202088\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nThat said, many competent officers and leaders across the country simply don\u2019t have the depth of knowledge to implement a comprehensive plan for using and training with lasers, suppressors and night vision with their current firearms. Couple that lack of knowledge with the continual budget challenges every department experiences and stealth integration gets pushed farther to the bottom of the list.\r\n\r\nI sat down with longtime friend Lt. Mark Byrum of the Madison County, Tennessee, Sheriff\u2019s Department to discuss these issues. Byrum is the department\u2019s SWAT commander and training coordinator. He handles all of the equipment acquired through the federal lease program. He has been working to integrate stealth equipment into his department\u2019s operations for years. So he\u2019s already experienced some of the learning curve officers across the country face when they begin this process. Here are the most relevant points of our discussion.\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n The other issue with quad tubes is the price. GPNVGs retail for about $40,000. ANVIS-10s, however, are more reasonably priced at $10,000 to $15,000, depending on where you find them\u2014if<\/em> you can find them. But they aren\u2019t as common as PVS-14s or dual-tube goggles, so finding replacement parts can be extremely difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So how many tubes is best for you? This is a tough question. It all depends on your priorities and budget. What will you be using NVGs for? If you are training recreationally on a square range, then all you need is a PVS-14. If you have the disposable income to upgrade to dual tubes, then by all means get the best you can afford. There\u2019s a lot of aftermarket support for single- and dual-tube night vision nowadays. So it\u2019s easy to get what you want and set it up to suit your needs. Quad-tube devices are cool but rather expensive. While the ANVIS-10 is priced similarly to the PVS-31, they\u2019re both hard to find and require specialized knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The price of night vision also varies with what types of tubes are inside. Those are at the heart of the system. A PVS-14 with a single, un-filmed, white-phosphor tube costs more than a dual-green-phosphor-tube Gen2+ model. So more tubes does not mean a better setup. Do the research and try a set of NVGs if you can. Go to a Tactical Night Vision Company course and rent a set of NVGs to see what these magic goggles can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the Stealth 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Night Vision 101: The Pros and Cons of Single-Tube vs Multi-Tube NODs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-nods-pro-con","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/11\/night-vision-nods-pro-con\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129398,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-22 06:03:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-22 11:03:50","post_content":"\r\n\r\nThough the U.S. military has been using night vision for decades, American law enforcement<\/a> has only begun to break the surface of such gear for operations. One of the more recent, notable uses of cutting-edge technology used by LEOs was in 2013 when Massachusetts State Police used a FLIR camera from a helicopter to find one of Boston bombers hiding inside a covered boat. Very cool, but that story is somewhat of an outlier.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"202088\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nThat said, many competent officers and leaders across the country simply don\u2019t have the depth of knowledge to implement a comprehensive plan for using and training with lasers, suppressors and night vision with their current firearms. Couple that lack of knowledge with the continual budget challenges every department experiences and stealth integration gets pushed farther to the bottom of the list.\r\n\r\nI sat down with longtime friend Lt. Mark Byrum of the Madison County, Tennessee, Sheriff\u2019s Department to discuss these issues. Byrum is the department\u2019s SWAT commander and training coordinator. He handles all of the equipment acquired through the federal lease program. He has been working to integrate stealth equipment into his department\u2019s operations for years. So he\u2019s already experienced some of the learning curve officers across the country face when they begin this process. Here are the most relevant points of our discussion.\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n Most single- or dual-tube goggles use a PVS-14-style eyepiece, which has a built-in diopter adjustment. Since the GPNVGs and ANVIS-10 have a merged eyepiece, there isn\u2019t really a rear adjustment for them. Instead, they have clip-on lenses that have fixed diopter corrections. They aren\u2019t that common and are rather expensive. Good luck getting more diopter lenses. Along with diopter eyepieces, the ANVIS-10 is a discontinued goggle set. The tubes are proprietary. So even if you were able to somehow conjure up a complete housing, there is no way you can get the intensifier tubes to make them work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other issue with quad tubes is the price. GPNVGs retail for about $40,000. ANVIS-10s, however, are more reasonably priced at $10,000 to $15,000, depending on where you find them\u2014if<\/em> you can find them. But they aren\u2019t as common as PVS-14s or dual-tube goggles, so finding replacement parts can be extremely difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So how many tubes is best for you? This is a tough question. It all depends on your priorities and budget. What will you be using NVGs for? If you are training recreationally on a square range, then all you need is a PVS-14. If you have the disposable income to upgrade to dual tubes, then by all means get the best you can afford. There\u2019s a lot of aftermarket support for single- and dual-tube night vision nowadays. So it\u2019s easy to get what you want and set it up to suit your needs. Quad-tube devices are cool but rather expensive. While the ANVIS-10 is priced similarly to the PVS-31, they\u2019re both hard to find and require specialized knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The price of night vision also varies with what types of tubes are inside. Those are at the heart of the system. A PVS-14 with a single, un-filmed, white-phosphor tube costs more than a dual-green-phosphor-tube Gen2+ model. So more tubes does not mean a better setup. Do the research and try a set of NVGs if you can. Go to a Tactical Night Vision Company course and rent a set of NVGs to see what these magic goggles can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the Stealth 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Night Vision 101: The Pros and Cons of Single-Tube vs Multi-Tube NODs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-nods-pro-con","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/11\/night-vision-nods-pro-con\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129398,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-22 06:03:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-22 11:03:50","post_content":"\r\n\r\nThough the U.S. military has been using night vision for decades, American law enforcement<\/a> has only begun to break the surface of such gear for operations. One of the more recent, notable uses of cutting-edge technology used by LEOs was in 2013 when Massachusetts State Police used a FLIR camera from a helicopter to find one of Boston bombers hiding inside a covered boat. Very cool, but that story is somewhat of an outlier.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"202088\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nThat said, many competent officers and leaders across the country simply don\u2019t have the depth of knowledge to implement a comprehensive plan for using and training with lasers, suppressors and night vision with their current firearms. Couple that lack of knowledge with the continual budget challenges every department experiences and stealth integration gets pushed farther to the bottom of the list.\r\n\r\nI sat down with longtime friend Lt. Mark Byrum of the Madison County, Tennessee, Sheriff\u2019s Department to discuss these issues. Byrum is the department\u2019s SWAT commander and training coordinator. He handles all of the equipment acquired through the federal lease program. He has been working to integrate stealth equipment into his department\u2019s operations for years. So he\u2019s already experienced some of the learning curve officers across the country face when they begin this process. Here are the most relevant points of our discussion.\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n There are some negatives to having extra tubes on your face. While at face value more information from more tubes is better, they are rather big, so you can\u2019t exactly see around them in close quarters. Slim binos like the PVS-31 are small enough that it\u2019s easy to look under or around them to scan the area with your unaided peripheral vision. In order to see your environment using the ANVIS-10 with just your eyes, you will have to flip the tubes up and away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most single- or dual-tube goggles use a PVS-14-style eyepiece, which has a built-in diopter adjustment. Since the GPNVGs and ANVIS-10 have a merged eyepiece, there isn\u2019t really a rear adjustment for them. Instead, they have clip-on lenses that have fixed diopter corrections. They aren\u2019t that common and are rather expensive. Good luck getting more diopter lenses. Along with diopter eyepieces, the ANVIS-10 is a discontinued goggle set. The tubes are proprietary. So even if you were able to somehow conjure up a complete housing, there is no way you can get the intensifier tubes to make them work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other issue with quad tubes is the price. GPNVGs retail for about $40,000. ANVIS-10s, however, are more reasonably priced at $10,000 to $15,000, depending on where you find them\u2014if<\/em> you can find them. But they aren\u2019t as common as PVS-14s or dual-tube goggles, so finding replacement parts can be extremely difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So how many tubes is best for you? This is a tough question. It all depends on your priorities and budget. What will you be using NVGs for? If you are training recreationally on a square range, then all you need is a PVS-14. If you have the disposable income to upgrade to dual tubes, then by all means get the best you can afford. There\u2019s a lot of aftermarket support for single- and dual-tube night vision nowadays. So it\u2019s easy to get what you want and set it up to suit your needs. Quad-tube devices are cool but rather expensive. While the ANVIS-10 is priced similarly to the PVS-31, they\u2019re both hard to find and require specialized knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The price of night vision also varies with what types of tubes are inside. Those are at the heart of the system. A PVS-14 with a single, un-filmed, white-phosphor tube costs more than a dual-green-phosphor-tube Gen2+ model. So more tubes does not mean a better setup. Do the research and try a set of NVGs if you can. Go to a Tactical Night Vision Company course and rent a set of NVGs to see what these magic goggles can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is from the Stealth 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Night Vision 101: The Pros and Cons of Single-Tube vs Multi-Tube NODs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-nods-pro-con","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:43","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:43","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/11\/night-vision-nods-pro-con\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129398,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-22 06:03:50","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-22 11:03:50","post_content":"\r\n\r\nThough the U.S. military has been using night vision for decades, American law enforcement<\/a> has only begun to break the surface of such gear for operations. One of the more recent, notable uses of cutting-edge technology used by LEOs was in 2013 when Massachusetts State Police used a FLIR camera from a helicopter to find one of Boston bombers hiding inside a covered boat. Very cool, but that story is somewhat of an outlier.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"202088\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nThat said, many competent officers and leaders across the country simply don\u2019t have the depth of knowledge to implement a comprehensive plan for using and training with lasers, suppressors and night vision with their current firearms. Couple that lack of knowledge with the continual budget challenges every department experiences and stealth integration gets pushed farther to the bottom of the list.\r\n\r\nI sat down with longtime friend Lt. Mark Byrum of the Madison County, Tennessee, Sheriff\u2019s Department to discuss these issues. Byrum is the department\u2019s SWAT commander and training coordinator. He handles all of the equipment acquired through the federal lease program. He has been working to integrate stealth equipment into his department\u2019s operations for years. So he\u2019s already experienced some of the learning curve officers across the country face when they begin this process. Here are the most relevant points of our discussion.\u00a0<\/strong>\r\nPolice Night Vision Q&A<\/h3>\r\n
Where is your department in terms of stealth gear, and what obstacles have you faced so far?<\/h3>\r\nWe got our first NODs around 2010 or 2011 through a Homeland Security grant. That grant included six PVS-14s, which is obviously not enough to equip the entire 16-man team. Since we didn\u2019t have enough PVS-14s, we began looking for another source of equipment. The lease program we found is run through the Navy. Through that program, we were able to lease 16 PVS-18s for $4,800 per year, which is much better than having to buy that many units. But since we\u2019re taking what\u2019s available and don\u2019t get to pick, the NODs and accessories don\u2019t necessarily match. Some of the aftermarket accessories we\u2019ve tried have been problematic with the less-common dovetail mounting components of the PVS-18. While I\u2019ve had people tell me they prefer the dovetail, the mounts are less common, and we\u2019ve had to retrofit regular PVS-14 mounts to fit our helmets.\r\n\r\nWe have several deputies who are former military, but they were in units that didn\u2019t necessarily get to use this type of gear extensively. They\u2019ve used them a little on patrol or in training, so we don\u2019t have any in-house experts, so we\u2019re having to reach outside to get someone to get us squared away on it. The National Guard provided us a guy, but I think he was in the same situation, where he knew just enough that they made him an instructor. He gave us some classroom stuff, some PowerPoint presentations, but we didn\u2019t really have any practical exercises. Up to now, we\u2019ve been somewhat self-taught. So far, we\u2019ve only used them in training and have never been able to deploy them on an operation yet.\r\n
Police Night Vision: Training & Shooting<\/h3>\r\nWe don\u2019t really know the limitations until we discover them in training. Just to learn how to navigate takes time. You have to get used to the adjustments and where everything is. If you wanted to try to open a door, you have to change your focus to the doorknob instead of something 20 to 30 feet away, where your human eye does that automatically. Just trying to walk around with an NOD changes your depth perception. Then you have the whole perception that once you get this stuff, you\u2019re automatically like the guys in movies and can run around through here and shoot at stuff in the dark and all. Well, no, you can\u2019t.\r\n\r\nBefore you can shoot any kind of weapon system, you\u2019ve got to have some kind of sighting system to go along with it. Here you\u2019re looking at another accessory that, depending on what you get, is going to cost almost as much as your night-vision device itself. So you\u2019re looking at some sort of infrared laser coupled with a visible laser so you can easily sight it in. It has to be durable.\r\n
Police Night Vision Concerns<\/h3>\r\nSome of the less expensive lasers won\u2019t hold their zero just from firing a few rounds, so what do you do? Do you go through the time and expense to buy all these things and learn as you go, or do you reach out to other people? Sometimes you don\u2019t know who to reach out to. You have all that to go through to figure out what equipment you really need. Then, how do you justify the expense? How much are you really going to use this? The best application we\u2019ve found for this is to navigate up to your target and then assault the target with white light. That seems to be the smartest thing to do.\r\n
That seems like the only way for law enforcement to do it. Even the majority of our special operations troops will approach under NODs and then assault with white light.<\/h3>\r\nYeah, you hear about the guys that went in to kill bin Laden and did it under NODs. Well, how long did they train for just that mission?\r\n
The top 1 percent does that sort of mission.<\/h3>\r\nRight, and you have teams like that, if they\u2019re not on a mission, they\u2019re training for one. Most law enforcement teams, especially part-time teams like ours, don\u2019t get that. We\u2019re lucky enough to get two training days per month, but with patrol staffing, we don\u2019t get a full eight-hour day. We get four to six hours with the whole team there and then finish out with whoever can stay. There are a lot of teams that only get one training day per month, and they may not get a full eight hours.\r\n\r\nThere are a lot more important things that you have to train on, where night vision and everything related to it seems more like a luxury. If you can get the equipment and the training hours in, then yes, it\u2019s great. You have an ability that other people don\u2019t have. If you look at the training required and the consequences of using this gear during a mission and failing, then you have to ask if it\u2019s worth getting into, given everything else we have to be able to do.\r\n
Have you discussed any of this with the Telluric Group or the other companies that specialize in training on night operations and equipment?<\/h3>\r\nMost of the people I\u2019ve learned from so far have been former military who have used them extensively. So far we haven\u2019t received any formal training from anyone but the National Guard. Once again, it costs money. Everyone\u2019s training money has been constrained over the last few years, and we have to move into this new facility that\u2019s taking up a lot of our time and money.\r\n
What types of operations do you foresee being suited to this type of equipment?<\/h3>\r\nAny time you have an extended situation like a hostage situation, it\u2019s always going to be to your advantage to get a listening device up close to the structure the hostage-taker is holding. Night-vision capability would allow you to approach the structure in darkness to plant a listening device. Or, when you\u2019re preparing for an assault, you can approach and place breaching charges\u2014things like that, where you can approach quietly in the dark without escalating the situation.\r\n\r\nAlso, just placing your team members. If your negotiator can talk the suspect into coming outside to show that the hostage is alive, you could potentially have officers in position without the suspect\u2019s knowledge in case the opportunity arises to end the situation. Also, everyone has night-vision security cameras around their houses now. Well, bad guys have them, too. If there are cameras, then they should be lit up like a spotlight when you\u2019re looking through night vision. You can spot the guy\u2019s cameras and either know what to avoid or where to go to disable the cameras.\r\n
So, you guys have NODs and some of the other equipment, but no formal training so far. Is that what\u2019s next?<\/h3>\r\nThat\u2019s part of it. In years past, we\u2019ve had very low turnover on the team. About two years ago, we found ourselves in the situation where 10 of the 16 team members had one year of experience or less. So, we\u2019ve really been struggling trying to make sure everyone is up to speed in daylight, much less trying to incorporate things at night. We have new guys still learning what they need to know. Then we hand them this new piece of gear and say, \u201cBy the way, you need to be competent with this, too.\u201d\r\n
Have you looked at this from the standpoint of reconnaissance, surveillance or pre-mission planning where the situation is still developing?<\/h3>\r\nThe Metro Narcotics Division used to do their own entries. As of about three years ago, the decision was made by both parent agencies that one agency\u2019s SWAT team or the other would do all narcotics entries going forward. Sometimes we get enough advance notice to go do surveillance beforehand, but a lot of times we don\u2019t. When we do get enough notice, it would be outstanding to use this equipment in that way. Sometimes, the National Guard\u2019s counter-drug unit is able to come out and do that surveillance and strictly inform and advise us on what they\u2019ve observed. We\u2019ve been able to get day and nighttime air assets in some cases as well.\r\n
Have you considered adding suppressors to your weapons?<\/h3>\r\nWe have. I definitely see a role for them, and it would be great to have them. Right now, we\u2019ve decided that there are other things that are more important. Our body armor needs to be replaced. It\u2019s reached its expiration date.\r\n
During the day, deputies recognize each other by their standard uniforms and marked patrol cars. Has there been any discussion of identification when working under NODs in low-light situations.<\/h3>\r\nThere has. We\u2019ve discussed the need for infrared-reflective patches for our uniforms. We\u2019ve not discussed anything for the vehicles yet. Right now, we don\u2019t have any sort of individual identification patches. As far as being on scene or in a stack, we all look the same. We\u2019ve discussed some way to recognize who is who. We do have some of the surplus infrared strobes. But that\u2019s going to alert the suspect if they happen to have cameras that see infrared light. The patches would be passive. We do have a couple of handheld thermal devices\u2014each patrol supervisor carries one. But it helps identify an individual that\u2019s hiding or if someone is injured in an area that\u2019s hard to see.\r\n\r\nThe Bottom Line on police using night vision: <\/strong>Though stealth guns and gear offer an opportunity to improve the safety and performance of law enforcement teams nationwide, tremendous improvements must be made to the availability of equipment and training required for officers, leaders and administrators to authorize and use them. Budget constraints, training priorities and knowledge deficiencies hamper the integration of stealth tools into law enforcement operations. But forward-thinking leaders such as Byrum keep pushing their departments\u2019 capabilities forward.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"What Are the Benefits and Challenges of Police Using Night Vision?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"benefits-police-using-night-vision","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:51","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/22\/benefits-police-using-night-vision\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129460,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-15 06:01:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-15 11:01:46","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOne of the issues every shooter must overcome when integrating stealth technology like image-intensification and thermal<\/a> devices into their inventory is how to mesh the tools used during daylight hours with the tools used during low-light hours. Rifles require optics and iron sights for redundant aiming systems during the day. When darkness falls, those same guns need white and infrared lights for searches and identifying people or objects, plus an infrared laser and either a dedicated night optic or what is referred to as a Clip On Night Vision device that attaches to the day scope for aiming once a target is found and identified. There are advantages and disadvantages to each setup. But the concept of a clip-on night sight that attaches to your existing day scope is tremendously appealing for a number of reasons.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"201553\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Pros & Cons<\/h3>\r\nClip-on night vision devices attach to the rifle in front of the day scope. Attachment is usually accomplished by placing the NVD on an extended Picatinny rail or on a forend bracket with a Picatinny rail. Some clip-on optics attach directly to the riflescope. Meanwhile, others attach to a special mount that replaces the top of the forward scope ring.\r\n\r\nUsing a clip-on in front of the day optic allows the shooter to use the same familiar scope, reticle, adjustment knobs and other controls he or she trained on during daylight hours for night operations as well. In this mode, there is no reticle in the clip-on optic, and all of the aiming is done with the reticle of the day optic. The clip-on merely presents the field of view and target image to the day optic. Some clip-ons are also capable of working in standalone mode where the clip-on becomes the sole optic. Here, it provides both the target image and the aiming point. The advantages of using the same day scope during night operations are lost in this configuration, however.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision in the Military<\/h3>\r\nPerhaps the most dominant use of the clip-on NVD is in long-range military observation and sniping roles. Our military snipers have successfully used clip-ons like the PVS-27 Magnum Universal Night Sight (MUNS)<\/a> for years. The training and proficiency benefits that come with maintaining one day-scope system for 24-hour use is significant. The same zero is maintained, the same ballistic data and resulting aiming corrections are maintained, and the controls required to make those corrections feel the same during day or night. The elevation-adjustment knob is always in the same place, always turns the same direction, and each adjustment increment always has the same \u201cclicks\u201d as it is turned. The same goes for the windage-adjustment knob. This facilitates rapid engagement and consistency of operation, which are both obvious benefits.\r\n
Using Clip On Night Vision Devices<\/h3>\r\nIf there is a downside to the most common clip-on NVDs, it is the use of image-intensification technology, which relies on available light to process and present an image to the day optic. As the amount of light increases, the performance of the clip-on increases. Conversely, on those dark, moonless, overcast nights, the range of the clip-on will be significantly limited and may require additional illumination from an infrared device. This also has advantages and disadvantages.\r\n\r\nFor the military sniper working against a night-vision-equipped adversary, using an infrared illuminator is like turning on a glowing beacon that says, \u201cDrop artillery here!\u201d On the other hand, the sniper\u2019s spotter, who often has a clip-on mounted in front of a spotting scope, or the sniper himself can watch the bullet fly to the target by observing the reflection of the infrared light off the base of the bullet. This makes spotting impacts and correcting for a follow-up shot easier than doing so during some daylight conditions when watching the trace of the bullet. If you\u2019re an enthusiast looking to ring some steel targets after hours, then using infrared illumination isn\u2019t a big deal.\r\n\r\nMounting a clip-on in front of your day scope also takes advantage of the day scope\u2019s magnification and ability to zoom in or out. Night-vision devices generally only have digital zooms that significantly degrade in quality as magnification increases. Since day scopes use optical zoom, there is no degradation or pixilation of the image as magnification is increased. Since the exit pupil decreases with increased magnification, there will be a reduction of light transmission, however. Some clip-on models will perform well only up to moderate magnification levels.\r\n
Going Thermal?<\/h3>\r\nThe ability to utilize the day scope\u2019s optical zoom ties into the primary benefit of an image-intensifying clip-on over a thermal clip-on: identification. There is no doubt that a thermal scope or thermal clip-on will make detection\u2014simply realizing the presence of a target\u2014easier. Identifying that target, however, is usually easier with an image-intensifying device due to the increased detail available through such an optic. When you are operating under the sort of rules of engagement or use-of-force criteria that our military snipers and law enforcement marksmen work with, positively identifying the guy who just walked up to the building you\u2019re observing is mandatory. There\u2019s a big difference between \u201ca tall guy with a beard and a funny hat just entered the building\u201d and \u201cOsama bin Laden just entered the building.\u201d The increased detail available through an image-intensifying device facilitates positive identification.\r\n\r\nIs there a place for a thermal clip-on? You bet. For the around-the-clock hunter, a thermal clip-on is a great option. You\u2019ve set up your stand during daylight hours. You\u2019ve zeroed and practiced with your day optic. You know the controls and are comfortable and confident in its use. After sunset, you simply clip on your thermal and the heat signatures from the animals are instantly visible. For that matter, you can use the thermal clip-on during the day as well.\r\n
Further Considerations on Clip On Night Vision<\/h3>\r\nTurn on your image-intensifying clip-on in broad daylight and you\u2019ll quickly ruin it. Points go to the thermal in this case. Another option is to use your thermal clip-on as a handheld monocular during daylight hours. You can detect heat signatures where animals may be hiding by using the thermal to scan. Once you locate the heat signature, use your day optic to zoom in. Then identify the target and take the shot if desired.\r\n\r\nKeep in mind that you won\u2019t be able to watch bullet trace or see your impacts unless there is some sort of thermal signature created by those impacts. Several years ago I spent a few days at Fort Riley, Kansas, with some soon-to-deploy snipers. Impacts on steel targets and misses into the surrounding gravel were easy to spot through the high-end thermal viewers. When we hit steel, there was an obvious thermal signature created as the bullet impacted the target. If missed (not that I<\/em> missed or anything) into the gravel, sparks flew and corrections were easy to make. When our rounds impacted into grassy areas, however, no thermal signature was created. Those misses were very hard to call precisely unless you were following the signature of the bullet itself.\r\n\r\nTo be fair, the same problems can exist with standard day optics in those conditions as well. One negative of the thermal clip-on is the reduced screen size of most units. If you want to use the optic in standalone mode or as a handheld scanner, you\u2019ll have a reduced screen. Not the end of the world, but a possible consideration.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Final Thoughts<\/h3>\r\nAs is often the case, the right tool for the job will be determined by your application and environment. If merely finding an animal or a person that is either well camouflaged or screened by light brush is adequate, the thermal excels during day or night. If detailed identification or long-range marksmanship with a spotter is your mission, an image-intensifying clip-on has some serious advantages.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"Why You Should Consider Adding a Clip On Night Vision Device","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"clip-on-night-vision-device","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/15\/clip-on-night-vision-device\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-09 06:03:31","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-09 11:03:31","post_content":"\r\n\r\nEntering the world of low-light endeavors can be daunting on many levels. One of the earliest challenges that new shooters encounter is the selection of their first night-vision device (NVD)<\/a>. The idea that you can simply buy a night-vision scope and perform every shooting task at night that you normally perform during the day soon evaporates with a little research, knowledge and experience.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"181479\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nSo how does a new shooter determine what type of NVD to start with? Applications and budget determine the need.\u00a0Keep in mind that there is some crossover. While one type of device may be best for a certain task, it may be acceptable, even with some limitations, for other tasks. Typically, once the stealth bug bites, we end up with multiple devices that are used together or enlisted for specific tasks as needed.\r\n
Owning The Night<\/h3>\r\nWhat most people think of when the term \u201cnight vision\u201d comes up is the green-image view from an image-intensified device like the PVS-14 or the older PVS-7. Hollywood has shown this view in movies for decades, and news broadcasts shown during the invasion of Iraq and many other military conflicts show a green, pixelated image of a darkened city with ribbons of anti-aircraft fire heading into the clouds in search of American bombers. This perception is not without merit. At this point, most U.S. service members engaged in direct ground combat are issued an image-intensifying night observation device (NOD). These image intensifier devices have reached the point of being almost ubiquitous.\r\n
Image Intensifier NODs<\/h3>\r\nAs their name suggests, image-intensifying NODs strengthen available light and present whatever the device \u201csees\u201d before it. There is no through-the-scope view of the actual object you\u2019re observing like there is through a riflescope or binoculars. Instead, a screen essentially plays a life feed from the NOD.\r\n\r\nOf course, to intensify light, there must first be light. If you close yourself inside a completely sealed room with no illumination source whatsoever, you will see only a murky black image with an image-intensifying device. Add even the smallest amount of illumination and your device will start to present a visible image. As available light increases, the image shown to the wearer becomes clearer and brighter. When an NOD receives too much light, it may be damaged, unless the unit features a control mechanism or \u201cgate\u201d to protect the image intensifier (the heart of the device) within.\r\n
Infrared<\/h3>\r\nIn addition to intensifying visible light like moonlight, streetlights or other forms of illumination that the human eye can see unaided, an NOD can see light in the infrared spectrum as well. Since infrared light is not normally visible to the human eye, this presents an opportunity for those with NODs to illuminate darkened areas without revealing themselves and their activities to an opponent who does not have night-vision technology.\r\n\r\nWith the aid of infrared light, a shooter equipped with an NOD can function on even the darkest of nights far from the spill of urban glow. Of course, if your adversary is equipped with an NOD, then he will also be able to see the infrared light just as well as you. For this reason, active infrared illumination is kept to a minimum when such a threat exists. As a note, most home security cameras feature a version of image-intensifying technology and will have multiple infrared illuminators.\r\n
Thermal Imaging<\/h3>\r\nThough most of us think of an image-intensifying device when we hear the term \u201cnight vision,\u201d there is another type of technology that fits within the category as well. Thermal-imaging devices (thermals) rely on the heat generated by objects instead of the light reflected by those same objects. This is a huge distinction and has a host of advantages and disadvantages. Anyone who has seen the movie Predator<\/em> has seen a depiction of what thermal imaging looks like to the shooter. The thermal detects the intensity of an object\u2019s heat and translates that into a shaded image that is presented to the viewer. As with an image-intensifying device, there is no through-the-scope view with a thermal. You\u2019re viewing a screen that\u2019s showing a translated representation of the heat signatures detected by the thermal.\r\n\r\nIn addition to the two main types of night-vision technology, there are multiple applications, or form factors, of each. Monoculars and binoculars feature attachments for a helmet. Dedicated riflescopes are also available in thermal and image-intensifying configuration. A dedicated scope eliminates a day scope mounted on the firearm. This has advantages and disadvantages. An alternative is the \u201cclip-on\u201d NVD that mounts in front of a standard day scope. The clip-on has no reticle but presents an image to the objective lens of the day scope. The reticle and all adjustments are inherent within the day scope. Finally, there are handheld devices with neither reticle nor mounting system. These would be similar to binoculars or monoculars used for viewing during daylight.\r\n
Image Intensifier and Thermal Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h3>\r\nSo do you need an image-intensifying device or a thermal? The short answer is yes, and here\u2019s why: image intensifying is best for navigation or tasks where details must be discernible, and thermal is best for locating warm things like wild boars across a field or a trespasser in the woods. You can certainly locate hogs with an image-intensifying device, but your range and detection capabilities will be noticeably less, especially on dark nights without much ambient lighting.\r\n\r\nYou can navigate in some cases with only a thermal device, but you\u2019ll have difficulty in others. Similar vegetation tends to take on a monotone look in a thermal. This vegetation can easily hide obstacles within, and things on the ground can trip you or impede your movement. Thermals can\u2019t see shadows or reflections, but an image-intensifying device can see both. Image-intensifying devices also perform similarly in varying atmospheric conditions. Thermals perform poorly when the temperature and humidity are high. At the same time, thermals can see warm objects through smoke, but an image-intensifying device cannot.\r\n\r\nThermals can\u2019t see infrared light, and therefore can\u2019t detect an infrared laser or illuminator. With an image intensifier, teammates can point out targets or signal each other with infrared lasers. Image-intensifying NODs can see through glass, assuming there\u2019s adequate lighting beyond that glass, while thermals cannot. As I said, you may need both.\r\n
Image Intensifier & Thermal Power Combos<\/h3>\r\nSince most image-intensifying devices are used for navigation, they are generally worn mounted in front of the shooter\u2019s eye. The most common mounting system combines a helmet-borne shroud, mount and swingarm that allows the NOD to be installed and removed from the helmet quickly, and to be flipped up and out of view when not in use. A typical execution of this would involve a SWAT team navigating from their last covered and concealed position to the target site using their helmet-mounted NODs, then flipping up their NODs before making entry into the structure with visible light. Another example is a hog hunter navigating along an old logging road using his image-intensifying NOD. One flips it up so that he can get his eye behind his weapon-mounted thermal riflescope to search for hogs beyond the brush as he nears the recently planted peanut field.\r\n\r\nAfter years of using image-intensifying and thermal-imaging devices for both professional and recreational purposes against both man and beast, here are the configurations that I believe offer the best combination of capabilities. For the tactical shooter, a helmet-mounted NOD like the PVS-14 or, better yet, a binocular NVD like the Sentinel is used for navigation purposes. An image-intensifying device calls for a weapon-mounted infrared laser to be used for aiming and signaling. For target detection, a handheld thermal monocular provides an additional capability that can\u2019t be overemphasized. Detecting targets is simply easier, quicker and more certain with a thermal in many circumstances.\r\n
In the Field<\/h3>\r\nFor pre-mission reconnaissance, team members should be equipped with both image-intensifying and thermal devices that are designed for longer-range target identification. This may include a clip-on image-intensifying optic in front of the marksman\u2019s magnified day scope and a thermal scope either mounted on a rifle or simply mounted on a tripod as an observation and detection tool. It is worth noting that most thermal scopes have the built-in capability of recording video and taking pictures. These can obviously be used as part of a briefing to mission planners and team members.\r\n\r\nFor the nocturnal hunter, I\u2019d similarly suggest a helmet-mounted or binocular NOD for navigation purposes. For target detection and as the primary engagement tool, a rifle-mounted thermal scope can\u2019t be beat. I recommend cause, of course, when using any weapon-mounted optic to detect targets.\u00a0If your budget allows, a handheld thermal monocular mitigates this safety issue completely. Finally, I\u2019d also suggest a weapon-mounted infrared laser.\r\n\r\nWhen things go perfectly and you\u2019re able to get within extremely close range of that big sounder of hogs, the added field of view of an unmagnified helmet-mounted NOD, combined with the quick-aiming capability of an infrared laser, is absolutely devastating. As the hogs flee beyond the range of the evening\u2019s illumination, you can quickly flip up that NOD and resume work with the thermal scope. This combination has proven unbeatable. So, whatever your individual needs happen to be, there is a night-vision solution for you.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em>","post_title":"Should You Choose an Image Intensifier or Thermal?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-image-intensifier","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/09\/night-vision-image-intensifier\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
The Answer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Police Night Vision Q&A<\/h3>\r\n
Where is your department in terms of stealth gear, and what obstacles have you faced so far?<\/h3>\r\nWe got our first NODs around 2010 or 2011 through a Homeland Security grant. That grant included six PVS-14s, which is obviously not enough to equip the entire 16-man team. Since we didn\u2019t have enough PVS-14s, we began looking for another source of equipment. The lease program we found is run through the Navy. Through that program, we were able to lease 16 PVS-18s for $4,800 per year, which is much better than having to buy that many units. But since we\u2019re taking what\u2019s available and don\u2019t get to pick, the NODs and accessories don\u2019t necessarily match. Some of the aftermarket accessories we\u2019ve tried have been problematic with the less-common dovetail mounting components of the PVS-18. While I\u2019ve had people tell me they prefer the dovetail, the mounts are less common, and we\u2019ve had to retrofit regular PVS-14 mounts to fit our helmets.\r\n\r\nWe have several deputies who are former military, but they were in units that didn\u2019t necessarily get to use this type of gear extensively. They\u2019ve used them a little on patrol or in training, so we don\u2019t have any in-house experts, so we\u2019re having to reach outside to get someone to get us squared away on it. The National Guard provided us a guy, but I think he was in the same situation, where he knew just enough that they made him an instructor. He gave us some classroom stuff, some PowerPoint presentations, but we didn\u2019t really have any practical exercises. Up to now, we\u2019ve been somewhat self-taught. So far, we\u2019ve only used them in training and have never been able to deploy them on an operation yet.\r\n
Police Night Vision: Training & Shooting<\/h3>\r\nWe don\u2019t really know the limitations until we discover them in training. Just to learn how to navigate takes time. You have to get used to the adjustments and where everything is. If you wanted to try to open a door, you have to change your focus to the doorknob instead of something 20 to 30 feet away, where your human eye does that automatically. Just trying to walk around with an NOD changes your depth perception. Then you have the whole perception that once you get this stuff, you\u2019re automatically like the guys in movies and can run around through here and shoot at stuff in the dark and all. Well, no, you can\u2019t.\r\n\r\nBefore you can shoot any kind of weapon system, you\u2019ve got to have some kind of sighting system to go along with it. Here you\u2019re looking at another accessory that, depending on what you get, is going to cost almost as much as your night-vision device itself. So you\u2019re looking at some sort of infrared laser coupled with a visible laser so you can easily sight it in. It has to be durable.\r\n
Police Night Vision Concerns<\/h3>\r\nSome of the less expensive lasers won\u2019t hold their zero just from firing a few rounds, so what do you do? Do you go through the time and expense to buy all these things and learn as you go, or do you reach out to other people? Sometimes you don\u2019t know who to reach out to. You have all that to go through to figure out what equipment you really need. Then, how do you justify the expense? How much are you really going to use this? The best application we\u2019ve found for this is to navigate up to your target and then assault the target with white light. That seems to be the smartest thing to do.\r\n
That seems like the only way for law enforcement to do it. Even the majority of our special operations troops will approach under NODs and then assault with white light.<\/h3>\r\nYeah, you hear about the guys that went in to kill bin Laden and did it under NODs. Well, how long did they train for just that mission?\r\n
The top 1 percent does that sort of mission.<\/h3>\r\nRight, and you have teams like that, if they\u2019re not on a mission, they\u2019re training for one. Most law enforcement teams, especially part-time teams like ours, don\u2019t get that. We\u2019re lucky enough to get two training days per month, but with patrol staffing, we don\u2019t get a full eight-hour day. We get four to six hours with the whole team there and then finish out with whoever can stay. There are a lot of teams that only get one training day per month, and they may not get a full eight hours.\r\n\r\nThere are a lot more important things that you have to train on, where night vision and everything related to it seems more like a luxury. If you can get the equipment and the training hours in, then yes, it\u2019s great. You have an ability that other people don\u2019t have. If you look at the training required and the consequences of using this gear during a mission and failing, then you have to ask if it\u2019s worth getting into, given everything else we have to be able to do.\r\n
Have you discussed any of this with the Telluric Group or the other companies that specialize in training on night operations and equipment?<\/h3>\r\nMost of the people I\u2019ve learned from so far have been former military who have used them extensively. So far we haven\u2019t received any formal training from anyone but the National Guard. Once again, it costs money. Everyone\u2019s training money has been constrained over the last few years, and we have to move into this new facility that\u2019s taking up a lot of our time and money.\r\n
What types of operations do you foresee being suited to this type of equipment?<\/h3>\r\nAny time you have an extended situation like a hostage situation, it\u2019s always going to be to your advantage to get a listening device up close to the structure the hostage-taker is holding. Night-vision capability would allow you to approach the structure in darkness to plant a listening device. Or, when you\u2019re preparing for an assault, you can approach and place breaching charges\u2014things like that, where you can approach quietly in the dark without escalating the situation.\r\n\r\nAlso, just placing your team members. If your negotiator can talk the suspect into coming outside to show that the hostage is alive, you could potentially have officers in position without the suspect\u2019s knowledge in case the opportunity arises to end the situation. Also, everyone has night-vision security cameras around their houses now. Well, bad guys have them, too. If there are cameras, then they should be lit up like a spotlight when you\u2019re looking through night vision. You can spot the guy\u2019s cameras and either know what to avoid or where to go to disable the cameras.\r\n
So, you guys have NODs and some of the other equipment, but no formal training so far. Is that what\u2019s next?<\/h3>\r\nThat\u2019s part of it. In years past, we\u2019ve had very low turnover on the team. About two years ago, we found ourselves in the situation where 10 of the 16 team members had one year of experience or less. So, we\u2019ve really been struggling trying to make sure everyone is up to speed in daylight, much less trying to incorporate things at night. We have new guys still learning what they need to know. Then we hand them this new piece of gear and say, \u201cBy the way, you need to be competent with this, too.\u201d\r\n
Have you looked at this from the standpoint of reconnaissance, surveillance or pre-mission planning where the situation is still developing?<\/h3>\r\nThe Metro Narcotics Division used to do their own entries. As of about three years ago, the decision was made by both parent agencies that one agency\u2019s SWAT team or the other would do all narcotics entries going forward. Sometimes we get enough advance notice to go do surveillance beforehand, but a lot of times we don\u2019t. When we do get enough notice, it would be outstanding to use this equipment in that way. Sometimes, the National Guard\u2019s counter-drug unit is able to come out and do that surveillance and strictly inform and advise us on what they\u2019ve observed. We\u2019ve been able to get day and nighttime air assets in some cases as well.\r\n
Have you considered adding suppressors to your weapons?<\/h3>\r\nWe have. I definitely see a role for them, and it would be great to have them. Right now, we\u2019ve decided that there are other things that are more important. Our body armor needs to be replaced. It\u2019s reached its expiration date.\r\n
During the day, deputies recognize each other by their standard uniforms and marked patrol cars. Has there been any discussion of identification when working under NODs in low-light situations.<\/h3>\r\nThere has. We\u2019ve discussed the need for infrared-reflective patches for our uniforms. We\u2019ve not discussed anything for the vehicles yet. Right now, we don\u2019t have any sort of individual identification patches. As far as being on scene or in a stack, we all look the same. We\u2019ve discussed some way to recognize who is who. We do have some of the surplus infrared strobes. But that\u2019s going to alert the suspect if they happen to have cameras that see infrared light. The patches would be passive. We do have a couple of handheld thermal devices\u2014each patrol supervisor carries one. But it helps identify an individual that\u2019s hiding or if someone is injured in an area that\u2019s hard to see.\r\n\r\nThe Bottom Line on police using night vision: <\/strong>Though stealth guns and gear offer an opportunity to improve the safety and performance of law enforcement teams nationwide, tremendous improvements must be made to the availability of equipment and training required for officers, leaders and administrators to authorize and use them. Budget constraints, training priorities and knowledge deficiencies hamper the integration of stealth tools into law enforcement operations. But forward-thinking leaders such as Byrum keep pushing their departments\u2019 capabilities forward.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"What Are the Benefits and Challenges of Police Using Night Vision?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"benefits-police-using-night-vision","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:51","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/22\/benefits-police-using-night-vision\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129460,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-15 06:01:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-15 11:01:46","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOne of the issues every shooter must overcome when integrating stealth technology like image-intensification and thermal<\/a> devices into their inventory is how to mesh the tools used during daylight hours with the tools used during low-light hours. Rifles require optics and iron sights for redundant aiming systems during the day. When darkness falls, those same guns need white and infrared lights for searches and identifying people or objects, plus an infrared laser and either a dedicated night optic or what is referred to as a Clip On Night Vision device that attaches to the day scope for aiming once a target is found and identified. There are advantages and disadvantages to each setup. But the concept of a clip-on night sight that attaches to your existing day scope is tremendously appealing for a number of reasons.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"201553\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Pros & Cons<\/h3>\r\nClip-on night vision devices attach to the rifle in front of the day scope. Attachment is usually accomplished by placing the NVD on an extended Picatinny rail or on a forend bracket with a Picatinny rail. Some clip-on optics attach directly to the riflescope. Meanwhile, others attach to a special mount that replaces the top of the forward scope ring.\r\n\r\nUsing a clip-on in front of the day optic allows the shooter to use the same familiar scope, reticle, adjustment knobs and other controls he or she trained on during daylight hours for night operations as well. In this mode, there is no reticle in the clip-on optic, and all of the aiming is done with the reticle of the day optic. The clip-on merely presents the field of view and target image to the day optic. Some clip-ons are also capable of working in standalone mode where the clip-on becomes the sole optic. Here, it provides both the target image and the aiming point. The advantages of using the same day scope during night operations are lost in this configuration, however.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision in the Military<\/h3>\r\nPerhaps the most dominant use of the clip-on NVD is in long-range military observation and sniping roles. Our military snipers have successfully used clip-ons like the PVS-27 Magnum Universal Night Sight (MUNS)<\/a> for years. The training and proficiency benefits that come with maintaining one day-scope system for 24-hour use is significant. The same zero is maintained, the same ballistic data and resulting aiming corrections are maintained, and the controls required to make those corrections feel the same during day or night. The elevation-adjustment knob is always in the same place, always turns the same direction, and each adjustment increment always has the same \u201cclicks\u201d as it is turned. The same goes for the windage-adjustment knob. This facilitates rapid engagement and consistency of operation, which are both obvious benefits.\r\n
Using Clip On Night Vision Devices<\/h3>\r\nIf there is a downside to the most common clip-on NVDs, it is the use of image-intensification technology, which relies on available light to process and present an image to the day optic. As the amount of light increases, the performance of the clip-on increases. Conversely, on those dark, moonless, overcast nights, the range of the clip-on will be significantly limited and may require additional illumination from an infrared device. This also has advantages and disadvantages.\r\n\r\nFor the military sniper working against a night-vision-equipped adversary, using an infrared illuminator is like turning on a glowing beacon that says, \u201cDrop artillery here!\u201d On the other hand, the sniper\u2019s spotter, who often has a clip-on mounted in front of a spotting scope, or the sniper himself can watch the bullet fly to the target by observing the reflection of the infrared light off the base of the bullet. This makes spotting impacts and correcting for a follow-up shot easier than doing so during some daylight conditions when watching the trace of the bullet. If you\u2019re an enthusiast looking to ring some steel targets after hours, then using infrared illumination isn\u2019t a big deal.\r\n\r\nMounting a clip-on in front of your day scope also takes advantage of the day scope\u2019s magnification and ability to zoom in or out. Night-vision devices generally only have digital zooms that significantly degrade in quality as magnification increases. Since day scopes use optical zoom, there is no degradation or pixilation of the image as magnification is increased. Since the exit pupil decreases with increased magnification, there will be a reduction of light transmission, however. Some clip-on models will perform well only up to moderate magnification levels.\r\n
Going Thermal?<\/h3>\r\nThe ability to utilize the day scope\u2019s optical zoom ties into the primary benefit of an image-intensifying clip-on over a thermal clip-on: identification. There is no doubt that a thermal scope or thermal clip-on will make detection\u2014simply realizing the presence of a target\u2014easier. Identifying that target, however, is usually easier with an image-intensifying device due to the increased detail available through such an optic. When you are operating under the sort of rules of engagement or use-of-force criteria that our military snipers and law enforcement marksmen work with, positively identifying the guy who just walked up to the building you\u2019re observing is mandatory. There\u2019s a big difference between \u201ca tall guy with a beard and a funny hat just entered the building\u201d and \u201cOsama bin Laden just entered the building.\u201d The increased detail available through an image-intensifying device facilitates positive identification.\r\n\r\nIs there a place for a thermal clip-on? You bet. For the around-the-clock hunter, a thermal clip-on is a great option. You\u2019ve set up your stand during daylight hours. You\u2019ve zeroed and practiced with your day optic. You know the controls and are comfortable and confident in its use. After sunset, you simply clip on your thermal and the heat signatures from the animals are instantly visible. For that matter, you can use the thermal clip-on during the day as well.\r\n
Further Considerations on Clip On Night Vision<\/h3>\r\nTurn on your image-intensifying clip-on in broad daylight and you\u2019ll quickly ruin it. Points go to the thermal in this case. Another option is to use your thermal clip-on as a handheld monocular during daylight hours. You can detect heat signatures where animals may be hiding by using the thermal to scan. Once you locate the heat signature, use your day optic to zoom in. Then identify the target and take the shot if desired.\r\n\r\nKeep in mind that you won\u2019t be able to watch bullet trace or see your impacts unless there is some sort of thermal signature created by those impacts. Several years ago I spent a few days at Fort Riley, Kansas, with some soon-to-deploy snipers. Impacts on steel targets and misses into the surrounding gravel were easy to spot through the high-end thermal viewers. When we hit steel, there was an obvious thermal signature created as the bullet impacted the target. If missed (not that I<\/em> missed or anything) into the gravel, sparks flew and corrections were easy to make. When our rounds impacted into grassy areas, however, no thermal signature was created. Those misses were very hard to call precisely unless you were following the signature of the bullet itself.\r\n\r\nTo be fair, the same problems can exist with standard day optics in those conditions as well. One negative of the thermal clip-on is the reduced screen size of most units. If you want to use the optic in standalone mode or as a handheld scanner, you\u2019ll have a reduced screen. Not the end of the world, but a possible consideration.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Final Thoughts<\/h3>\r\nAs is often the case, the right tool for the job will be determined by your application and environment. If merely finding an animal or a person that is either well camouflaged or screened by light brush is adequate, the thermal excels during day or night. If detailed identification or long-range marksmanship with a spotter is your mission, an image-intensifying clip-on has some serious advantages.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"Why You Should Consider Adding a Clip On Night Vision Device","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"clip-on-night-vision-device","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/15\/clip-on-night-vision-device\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-09 06:03:31","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-09 11:03:31","post_content":"\r\n\r\nEntering the world of low-light endeavors can be daunting on many levels. One of the earliest challenges that new shooters encounter is the selection of their first night-vision device (NVD)<\/a>. The idea that you can simply buy a night-vision scope and perform every shooting task at night that you normally perform during the day soon evaporates with a little research, knowledge and experience.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"181479\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nSo how does a new shooter determine what type of NVD to start with? Applications and budget determine the need.\u00a0Keep in mind that there is some crossover. While one type of device may be best for a certain task, it may be acceptable, even with some limitations, for other tasks. Typically, once the stealth bug bites, we end up with multiple devices that are used together or enlisted for specific tasks as needed.\r\n
Owning The Night<\/h3>\r\nWhat most people think of when the term \u201cnight vision\u201d comes up is the green-image view from an image-intensified device like the PVS-14 or the older PVS-7. Hollywood has shown this view in movies for decades, and news broadcasts shown during the invasion of Iraq and many other military conflicts show a green, pixelated image of a darkened city with ribbons of anti-aircraft fire heading into the clouds in search of American bombers. This perception is not without merit. At this point, most U.S. service members engaged in direct ground combat are issued an image-intensifying night observation device (NOD). These image intensifier devices have reached the point of being almost ubiquitous.\r\n
Image Intensifier NODs<\/h3>\r\nAs their name suggests, image-intensifying NODs strengthen available light and present whatever the device \u201csees\u201d before it. There is no through-the-scope view of the actual object you\u2019re observing like there is through a riflescope or binoculars. Instead, a screen essentially plays a life feed from the NOD.\r\n\r\nOf course, to intensify light, there must first be light. If you close yourself inside a completely sealed room with no illumination source whatsoever, you will see only a murky black image with an image-intensifying device. Add even the smallest amount of illumination and your device will start to present a visible image. As available light increases, the image shown to the wearer becomes clearer and brighter. When an NOD receives too much light, it may be damaged, unless the unit features a control mechanism or \u201cgate\u201d to protect the image intensifier (the heart of the device) within.\r\n
Infrared<\/h3>\r\nIn addition to intensifying visible light like moonlight, streetlights or other forms of illumination that the human eye can see unaided, an NOD can see light in the infrared spectrum as well. Since infrared light is not normally visible to the human eye, this presents an opportunity for those with NODs to illuminate darkened areas without revealing themselves and their activities to an opponent who does not have night-vision technology.\r\n\r\nWith the aid of infrared light, a shooter equipped with an NOD can function on even the darkest of nights far from the spill of urban glow. Of course, if your adversary is equipped with an NOD, then he will also be able to see the infrared light just as well as you. For this reason, active infrared illumination is kept to a minimum when such a threat exists. As a note, most home security cameras feature a version of image-intensifying technology and will have multiple infrared illuminators.\r\n
Thermal Imaging<\/h3>\r\nThough most of us think of an image-intensifying device when we hear the term \u201cnight vision,\u201d there is another type of technology that fits within the category as well. Thermal-imaging devices (thermals) rely on the heat generated by objects instead of the light reflected by those same objects. This is a huge distinction and has a host of advantages and disadvantages. Anyone who has seen the movie Predator<\/em> has seen a depiction of what thermal imaging looks like to the shooter. The thermal detects the intensity of an object\u2019s heat and translates that into a shaded image that is presented to the viewer. As with an image-intensifying device, there is no through-the-scope view with a thermal. You\u2019re viewing a screen that\u2019s showing a translated representation of the heat signatures detected by the thermal.\r\n\r\nIn addition to the two main types of night-vision technology, there are multiple applications, or form factors, of each. Monoculars and binoculars feature attachments for a helmet. Dedicated riflescopes are also available in thermal and image-intensifying configuration. A dedicated scope eliminates a day scope mounted on the firearm. This has advantages and disadvantages. An alternative is the \u201cclip-on\u201d NVD that mounts in front of a standard day scope. The clip-on has no reticle but presents an image to the objective lens of the day scope. The reticle and all adjustments are inherent within the day scope. Finally, there are handheld devices with neither reticle nor mounting system. These would be similar to binoculars or monoculars used for viewing during daylight.\r\n
Image Intensifier and Thermal Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h3>\r\nSo do you need an image-intensifying device or a thermal? The short answer is yes, and here\u2019s why: image intensifying is best for navigation or tasks where details must be discernible, and thermal is best for locating warm things like wild boars across a field or a trespasser in the woods. You can certainly locate hogs with an image-intensifying device, but your range and detection capabilities will be noticeably less, especially on dark nights without much ambient lighting.\r\n\r\nYou can navigate in some cases with only a thermal device, but you\u2019ll have difficulty in others. Similar vegetation tends to take on a monotone look in a thermal. This vegetation can easily hide obstacles within, and things on the ground can trip you or impede your movement. Thermals can\u2019t see shadows or reflections, but an image-intensifying device can see both. Image-intensifying devices also perform similarly in varying atmospheric conditions. Thermals perform poorly when the temperature and humidity are high. At the same time, thermals can see warm objects through smoke, but an image-intensifying device cannot.\r\n\r\nThermals can\u2019t see infrared light, and therefore can\u2019t detect an infrared laser or illuminator. With an image intensifier, teammates can point out targets or signal each other with infrared lasers. Image-intensifying NODs can see through glass, assuming there\u2019s adequate lighting beyond that glass, while thermals cannot. As I said, you may need both.\r\n
Image Intensifier & Thermal Power Combos<\/h3>\r\nSince most image-intensifying devices are used for navigation, they are generally worn mounted in front of the shooter\u2019s eye. The most common mounting system combines a helmet-borne shroud, mount and swingarm that allows the NOD to be installed and removed from the helmet quickly, and to be flipped up and out of view when not in use. A typical execution of this would involve a SWAT team navigating from their last covered and concealed position to the target site using their helmet-mounted NODs, then flipping up their NODs before making entry into the structure with visible light. Another example is a hog hunter navigating along an old logging road using his image-intensifying NOD. One flips it up so that he can get his eye behind his weapon-mounted thermal riflescope to search for hogs beyond the brush as he nears the recently planted peanut field.\r\n\r\nAfter years of using image-intensifying and thermal-imaging devices for both professional and recreational purposes against both man and beast, here are the configurations that I believe offer the best combination of capabilities. For the tactical shooter, a helmet-mounted NOD like the PVS-14 or, better yet, a binocular NVD like the Sentinel is used for navigation purposes. An image-intensifying device calls for a weapon-mounted infrared laser to be used for aiming and signaling. For target detection, a handheld thermal monocular provides an additional capability that can\u2019t be overemphasized. Detecting targets is simply easier, quicker and more certain with a thermal in many circumstances.\r\n
In the Field<\/h3>\r\nFor pre-mission reconnaissance, team members should be equipped with both image-intensifying and thermal devices that are designed for longer-range target identification. This may include a clip-on image-intensifying optic in front of the marksman\u2019s magnified day scope and a thermal scope either mounted on a rifle or simply mounted on a tripod as an observation and detection tool. It is worth noting that most thermal scopes have the built-in capability of recording video and taking pictures. These can obviously be used as part of a briefing to mission planners and team members.\r\n\r\nFor the nocturnal hunter, I\u2019d similarly suggest a helmet-mounted or binocular NOD for navigation purposes. For target detection and as the primary engagement tool, a rifle-mounted thermal scope can\u2019t be beat. I recommend cause, of course, when using any weapon-mounted optic to detect targets.\u00a0If your budget allows, a handheld thermal monocular mitigates this safety issue completely. Finally, I\u2019d also suggest a weapon-mounted infrared laser.\r\n\r\nWhen things go perfectly and you\u2019re able to get within extremely close range of that big sounder of hogs, the added field of view of an unmagnified helmet-mounted NOD, combined with the quick-aiming capability of an infrared laser, is absolutely devastating. As the hogs flee beyond the range of the evening\u2019s illumination, you can quickly flip up that NOD and resume work with the thermal scope. This combination has proven unbeatable. So, whatever your individual needs happen to be, there is a night-vision solution for you.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em>","post_title":"Should You Choose an Image Intensifier or Thermal?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-image-intensifier","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/09\/night-vision-image-intensifier\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Answer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Police Night Vision Q&A<\/h3>\r\n
Where is your department in terms of stealth gear, and what obstacles have you faced so far?<\/h3>\r\nWe got our first NODs around 2010 or 2011 through a Homeland Security grant. That grant included six PVS-14s, which is obviously not enough to equip the entire 16-man team. Since we didn\u2019t have enough PVS-14s, we began looking for another source of equipment. The lease program we found is run through the Navy. Through that program, we were able to lease 16 PVS-18s for $4,800 per year, which is much better than having to buy that many units. But since we\u2019re taking what\u2019s available and don\u2019t get to pick, the NODs and accessories don\u2019t necessarily match. Some of the aftermarket accessories we\u2019ve tried have been problematic with the less-common dovetail mounting components of the PVS-18. While I\u2019ve had people tell me they prefer the dovetail, the mounts are less common, and we\u2019ve had to retrofit regular PVS-14 mounts to fit our helmets.\r\n\r\nWe have several deputies who are former military, but they were in units that didn\u2019t necessarily get to use this type of gear extensively. They\u2019ve used them a little on patrol or in training, so we don\u2019t have any in-house experts, so we\u2019re having to reach outside to get someone to get us squared away on it. The National Guard provided us a guy, but I think he was in the same situation, where he knew just enough that they made him an instructor. He gave us some classroom stuff, some PowerPoint presentations, but we didn\u2019t really have any practical exercises. Up to now, we\u2019ve been somewhat self-taught. So far, we\u2019ve only used them in training and have never been able to deploy them on an operation yet.\r\n
Police Night Vision: Training & Shooting<\/h3>\r\nWe don\u2019t really know the limitations until we discover them in training. Just to learn how to navigate takes time. You have to get used to the adjustments and where everything is. If you wanted to try to open a door, you have to change your focus to the doorknob instead of something 20 to 30 feet away, where your human eye does that automatically. Just trying to walk around with an NOD changes your depth perception. Then you have the whole perception that once you get this stuff, you\u2019re automatically like the guys in movies and can run around through here and shoot at stuff in the dark and all. Well, no, you can\u2019t.\r\n\r\nBefore you can shoot any kind of weapon system, you\u2019ve got to have some kind of sighting system to go along with it. Here you\u2019re looking at another accessory that, depending on what you get, is going to cost almost as much as your night-vision device itself. So you\u2019re looking at some sort of infrared laser coupled with a visible laser so you can easily sight it in. It has to be durable.\r\n
Police Night Vision Concerns<\/h3>\r\nSome of the less expensive lasers won\u2019t hold their zero just from firing a few rounds, so what do you do? Do you go through the time and expense to buy all these things and learn as you go, or do you reach out to other people? Sometimes you don\u2019t know who to reach out to. You have all that to go through to figure out what equipment you really need. Then, how do you justify the expense? How much are you really going to use this? The best application we\u2019ve found for this is to navigate up to your target and then assault the target with white light. That seems to be the smartest thing to do.\r\n
That seems like the only way for law enforcement to do it. Even the majority of our special operations troops will approach under NODs and then assault with white light.<\/h3>\r\nYeah, you hear about the guys that went in to kill bin Laden and did it under NODs. Well, how long did they train for just that mission?\r\n
The top 1 percent does that sort of mission.<\/h3>\r\nRight, and you have teams like that, if they\u2019re not on a mission, they\u2019re training for one. Most law enforcement teams, especially part-time teams like ours, don\u2019t get that. We\u2019re lucky enough to get two training days per month, but with patrol staffing, we don\u2019t get a full eight-hour day. We get four to six hours with the whole team there and then finish out with whoever can stay. There are a lot of teams that only get one training day per month, and they may not get a full eight hours.\r\n\r\nThere are a lot more important things that you have to train on, where night vision and everything related to it seems more like a luxury. If you can get the equipment and the training hours in, then yes, it\u2019s great. You have an ability that other people don\u2019t have. If you look at the training required and the consequences of using this gear during a mission and failing, then you have to ask if it\u2019s worth getting into, given everything else we have to be able to do.\r\n
Have you discussed any of this with the Telluric Group or the other companies that specialize in training on night operations and equipment?<\/h3>\r\nMost of the people I\u2019ve learned from so far have been former military who have used them extensively. So far we haven\u2019t received any formal training from anyone but the National Guard. Once again, it costs money. Everyone\u2019s training money has been constrained over the last few years, and we have to move into this new facility that\u2019s taking up a lot of our time and money.\r\n
What types of operations do you foresee being suited to this type of equipment?<\/h3>\r\nAny time you have an extended situation like a hostage situation, it\u2019s always going to be to your advantage to get a listening device up close to the structure the hostage-taker is holding. Night-vision capability would allow you to approach the structure in darkness to plant a listening device. Or, when you\u2019re preparing for an assault, you can approach and place breaching charges\u2014things like that, where you can approach quietly in the dark without escalating the situation.\r\n\r\nAlso, just placing your team members. If your negotiator can talk the suspect into coming outside to show that the hostage is alive, you could potentially have officers in position without the suspect\u2019s knowledge in case the opportunity arises to end the situation. Also, everyone has night-vision security cameras around their houses now. Well, bad guys have them, too. If there are cameras, then they should be lit up like a spotlight when you\u2019re looking through night vision. You can spot the guy\u2019s cameras and either know what to avoid or where to go to disable the cameras.\r\n
So, you guys have NODs and some of the other equipment, but no formal training so far. Is that what\u2019s next?<\/h3>\r\nThat\u2019s part of it. In years past, we\u2019ve had very low turnover on the team. About two years ago, we found ourselves in the situation where 10 of the 16 team members had one year of experience or less. So, we\u2019ve really been struggling trying to make sure everyone is up to speed in daylight, much less trying to incorporate things at night. We have new guys still learning what they need to know. Then we hand them this new piece of gear and say, \u201cBy the way, you need to be competent with this, too.\u201d\r\n
Have you looked at this from the standpoint of reconnaissance, surveillance or pre-mission planning where the situation is still developing?<\/h3>\r\nThe Metro Narcotics Division used to do their own entries. As of about three years ago, the decision was made by both parent agencies that one agency\u2019s SWAT team or the other would do all narcotics entries going forward. Sometimes we get enough advance notice to go do surveillance beforehand, but a lot of times we don\u2019t. When we do get enough notice, it would be outstanding to use this equipment in that way. Sometimes, the National Guard\u2019s counter-drug unit is able to come out and do that surveillance and strictly inform and advise us on what they\u2019ve observed. We\u2019ve been able to get day and nighttime air assets in some cases as well.\r\n
Have you considered adding suppressors to your weapons?<\/h3>\r\nWe have. I definitely see a role for them, and it would be great to have them. Right now, we\u2019ve decided that there are other things that are more important. Our body armor needs to be replaced. It\u2019s reached its expiration date.\r\n
During the day, deputies recognize each other by their standard uniforms and marked patrol cars. Has there been any discussion of identification when working under NODs in low-light situations.<\/h3>\r\nThere has. We\u2019ve discussed the need for infrared-reflective patches for our uniforms. We\u2019ve not discussed anything for the vehicles yet. Right now, we don\u2019t have any sort of individual identification patches. As far as being on scene or in a stack, we all look the same. We\u2019ve discussed some way to recognize who is who. We do have some of the surplus infrared strobes. But that\u2019s going to alert the suspect if they happen to have cameras that see infrared light. The patches would be passive. We do have a couple of handheld thermal devices\u2014each patrol supervisor carries one. But it helps identify an individual that\u2019s hiding or if someone is injured in an area that\u2019s hard to see.\r\n\r\nThe Bottom Line on police using night vision: <\/strong>Though stealth guns and gear offer an opportunity to improve the safety and performance of law enforcement teams nationwide, tremendous improvements must be made to the availability of equipment and training required for officers, leaders and administrators to authorize and use them. Budget constraints, training priorities and knowledge deficiencies hamper the integration of stealth tools into law enforcement operations. But forward-thinking leaders such as Byrum keep pushing their departments\u2019 capabilities forward.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"What Are the Benefits and Challenges of Police Using Night Vision?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"benefits-police-using-night-vision","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:51","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/22\/benefits-police-using-night-vision\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129460,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-15 06:01:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-15 11:01:46","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOne of the issues every shooter must overcome when integrating stealth technology like image-intensification and thermal<\/a> devices into their inventory is how to mesh the tools used during daylight hours with the tools used during low-light hours. Rifles require optics and iron sights for redundant aiming systems during the day. When darkness falls, those same guns need white and infrared lights for searches and identifying people or objects, plus an infrared laser and either a dedicated night optic or what is referred to as a Clip On Night Vision device that attaches to the day scope for aiming once a target is found and identified. There are advantages and disadvantages to each setup. But the concept of a clip-on night sight that attaches to your existing day scope is tremendously appealing for a number of reasons.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"201553\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Pros & Cons<\/h3>\r\nClip-on night vision devices attach to the rifle in front of the day scope. Attachment is usually accomplished by placing the NVD on an extended Picatinny rail or on a forend bracket with a Picatinny rail. Some clip-on optics attach directly to the riflescope. Meanwhile, others attach to a special mount that replaces the top of the forward scope ring.\r\n\r\nUsing a clip-on in front of the day optic allows the shooter to use the same familiar scope, reticle, adjustment knobs and other controls he or she trained on during daylight hours for night operations as well. In this mode, there is no reticle in the clip-on optic, and all of the aiming is done with the reticle of the day optic. The clip-on merely presents the field of view and target image to the day optic. Some clip-ons are also capable of working in standalone mode where the clip-on becomes the sole optic. Here, it provides both the target image and the aiming point. The advantages of using the same day scope during night operations are lost in this configuration, however.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision in the Military<\/h3>\r\nPerhaps the most dominant use of the clip-on NVD is in long-range military observation and sniping roles. Our military snipers have successfully used clip-ons like the PVS-27 Magnum Universal Night Sight (MUNS)<\/a> for years. The training and proficiency benefits that come with maintaining one day-scope system for 24-hour use is significant. The same zero is maintained, the same ballistic data and resulting aiming corrections are maintained, and the controls required to make those corrections feel the same during day or night. The elevation-adjustment knob is always in the same place, always turns the same direction, and each adjustment increment always has the same \u201cclicks\u201d as it is turned. The same goes for the windage-adjustment knob. This facilitates rapid engagement and consistency of operation, which are both obvious benefits.\r\n
Using Clip On Night Vision Devices<\/h3>\r\nIf there is a downside to the most common clip-on NVDs, it is the use of image-intensification technology, which relies on available light to process and present an image to the day optic. As the amount of light increases, the performance of the clip-on increases. Conversely, on those dark, moonless, overcast nights, the range of the clip-on will be significantly limited and may require additional illumination from an infrared device. This also has advantages and disadvantages.\r\n\r\nFor the military sniper working against a night-vision-equipped adversary, using an infrared illuminator is like turning on a glowing beacon that says, \u201cDrop artillery here!\u201d On the other hand, the sniper\u2019s spotter, who often has a clip-on mounted in front of a spotting scope, or the sniper himself can watch the bullet fly to the target by observing the reflection of the infrared light off the base of the bullet. This makes spotting impacts and correcting for a follow-up shot easier than doing so during some daylight conditions when watching the trace of the bullet. If you\u2019re an enthusiast looking to ring some steel targets after hours, then using infrared illumination isn\u2019t a big deal.\r\n\r\nMounting a clip-on in front of your day scope also takes advantage of the day scope\u2019s magnification and ability to zoom in or out. Night-vision devices generally only have digital zooms that significantly degrade in quality as magnification increases. Since day scopes use optical zoom, there is no degradation or pixilation of the image as magnification is increased. Since the exit pupil decreases with increased magnification, there will be a reduction of light transmission, however. Some clip-on models will perform well only up to moderate magnification levels.\r\n
Going Thermal?<\/h3>\r\nThe ability to utilize the day scope\u2019s optical zoom ties into the primary benefit of an image-intensifying clip-on over a thermal clip-on: identification. There is no doubt that a thermal scope or thermal clip-on will make detection\u2014simply realizing the presence of a target\u2014easier. Identifying that target, however, is usually easier with an image-intensifying device due to the increased detail available through such an optic. When you are operating under the sort of rules of engagement or use-of-force criteria that our military snipers and law enforcement marksmen work with, positively identifying the guy who just walked up to the building you\u2019re observing is mandatory. There\u2019s a big difference between \u201ca tall guy with a beard and a funny hat just entered the building\u201d and \u201cOsama bin Laden just entered the building.\u201d The increased detail available through an image-intensifying device facilitates positive identification.\r\n\r\nIs there a place for a thermal clip-on? You bet. For the around-the-clock hunter, a thermal clip-on is a great option. You\u2019ve set up your stand during daylight hours. You\u2019ve zeroed and practiced with your day optic. You know the controls and are comfortable and confident in its use. After sunset, you simply clip on your thermal and the heat signatures from the animals are instantly visible. For that matter, you can use the thermal clip-on during the day as well.\r\n
Further Considerations on Clip On Night Vision<\/h3>\r\nTurn on your image-intensifying clip-on in broad daylight and you\u2019ll quickly ruin it. Points go to the thermal in this case. Another option is to use your thermal clip-on as a handheld monocular during daylight hours. You can detect heat signatures where animals may be hiding by using the thermal to scan. Once you locate the heat signature, use your day optic to zoom in. Then identify the target and take the shot if desired.\r\n\r\nKeep in mind that you won\u2019t be able to watch bullet trace or see your impacts unless there is some sort of thermal signature created by those impacts. Several years ago I spent a few days at Fort Riley, Kansas, with some soon-to-deploy snipers. Impacts on steel targets and misses into the surrounding gravel were easy to spot through the high-end thermal viewers. When we hit steel, there was an obvious thermal signature created as the bullet impacted the target. If missed (not that I<\/em> missed or anything) into the gravel, sparks flew and corrections were easy to make. When our rounds impacted into grassy areas, however, no thermal signature was created. Those misses were very hard to call precisely unless you were following the signature of the bullet itself.\r\n\r\nTo be fair, the same problems can exist with standard day optics in those conditions as well. One negative of the thermal clip-on is the reduced screen size of most units. If you want to use the optic in standalone mode or as a handheld scanner, you\u2019ll have a reduced screen. Not the end of the world, but a possible consideration.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Final Thoughts<\/h3>\r\nAs is often the case, the right tool for the job will be determined by your application and environment. If merely finding an animal or a person that is either well camouflaged or screened by light brush is adequate, the thermal excels during day or night. If detailed identification or long-range marksmanship with a spotter is your mission, an image-intensifying clip-on has some serious advantages.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"Why You Should Consider Adding a Clip On Night Vision Device","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"clip-on-night-vision-device","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/15\/clip-on-night-vision-device\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-09 06:03:31","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-09 11:03:31","post_content":"\r\n\r\nEntering the world of low-light endeavors can be daunting on many levels. One of the earliest challenges that new shooters encounter is the selection of their first night-vision device (NVD)<\/a>. The idea that you can simply buy a night-vision scope and perform every shooting task at night that you normally perform during the day soon evaporates with a little research, knowledge and experience.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"181479\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nSo how does a new shooter determine what type of NVD to start with? Applications and budget determine the need.\u00a0Keep in mind that there is some crossover. While one type of device may be best for a certain task, it may be acceptable, even with some limitations, for other tasks. Typically, once the stealth bug bites, we end up with multiple devices that are used together or enlisted for specific tasks as needed.\r\n
Owning The Night<\/h3>\r\nWhat most people think of when the term \u201cnight vision\u201d comes up is the green-image view from an image-intensified device like the PVS-14 or the older PVS-7. Hollywood has shown this view in movies for decades, and news broadcasts shown during the invasion of Iraq and many other military conflicts show a green, pixelated image of a darkened city with ribbons of anti-aircraft fire heading into the clouds in search of American bombers. This perception is not without merit. At this point, most U.S. service members engaged in direct ground combat are issued an image-intensifying night observation device (NOD). These image intensifier devices have reached the point of being almost ubiquitous.\r\n
Image Intensifier NODs<\/h3>\r\nAs their name suggests, image-intensifying NODs strengthen available light and present whatever the device \u201csees\u201d before it. There is no through-the-scope view of the actual object you\u2019re observing like there is through a riflescope or binoculars. Instead, a screen essentially plays a life feed from the NOD.\r\n\r\nOf course, to intensify light, there must first be light. If you close yourself inside a completely sealed room with no illumination source whatsoever, you will see only a murky black image with an image-intensifying device. Add even the smallest amount of illumination and your device will start to present a visible image. As available light increases, the image shown to the wearer becomes clearer and brighter. When an NOD receives too much light, it may be damaged, unless the unit features a control mechanism or \u201cgate\u201d to protect the image intensifier (the heart of the device) within.\r\n
Infrared<\/h3>\r\nIn addition to intensifying visible light like moonlight, streetlights or other forms of illumination that the human eye can see unaided, an NOD can see light in the infrared spectrum as well. Since infrared light is not normally visible to the human eye, this presents an opportunity for those with NODs to illuminate darkened areas without revealing themselves and their activities to an opponent who does not have night-vision technology.\r\n\r\nWith the aid of infrared light, a shooter equipped with an NOD can function on even the darkest of nights far from the spill of urban glow. Of course, if your adversary is equipped with an NOD, then he will also be able to see the infrared light just as well as you. For this reason, active infrared illumination is kept to a minimum when such a threat exists. As a note, most home security cameras feature a version of image-intensifying technology and will have multiple infrared illuminators.\r\n
Thermal Imaging<\/h3>\r\nThough most of us think of an image-intensifying device when we hear the term \u201cnight vision,\u201d there is another type of technology that fits within the category as well. Thermal-imaging devices (thermals) rely on the heat generated by objects instead of the light reflected by those same objects. This is a huge distinction and has a host of advantages and disadvantages. Anyone who has seen the movie Predator<\/em> has seen a depiction of what thermal imaging looks like to the shooter. The thermal detects the intensity of an object\u2019s heat and translates that into a shaded image that is presented to the viewer. As with an image-intensifying device, there is no through-the-scope view with a thermal. You\u2019re viewing a screen that\u2019s showing a translated representation of the heat signatures detected by the thermal.\r\n\r\nIn addition to the two main types of night-vision technology, there are multiple applications, or form factors, of each. Monoculars and binoculars feature attachments for a helmet. Dedicated riflescopes are also available in thermal and image-intensifying configuration. A dedicated scope eliminates a day scope mounted on the firearm. This has advantages and disadvantages. An alternative is the \u201cclip-on\u201d NVD that mounts in front of a standard day scope. The clip-on has no reticle but presents an image to the objective lens of the day scope. The reticle and all adjustments are inherent within the day scope. Finally, there are handheld devices with neither reticle nor mounting system. These would be similar to binoculars or monoculars used for viewing during daylight.\r\n
Image Intensifier and Thermal Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h3>\r\nSo do you need an image-intensifying device or a thermal? The short answer is yes, and here\u2019s why: image intensifying is best for navigation or tasks where details must be discernible, and thermal is best for locating warm things like wild boars across a field or a trespasser in the woods. You can certainly locate hogs with an image-intensifying device, but your range and detection capabilities will be noticeably less, especially on dark nights without much ambient lighting.\r\n\r\nYou can navigate in some cases with only a thermal device, but you\u2019ll have difficulty in others. Similar vegetation tends to take on a monotone look in a thermal. This vegetation can easily hide obstacles within, and things on the ground can trip you or impede your movement. Thermals can\u2019t see shadows or reflections, but an image-intensifying device can see both. Image-intensifying devices also perform similarly in varying atmospheric conditions. Thermals perform poorly when the temperature and humidity are high. At the same time, thermals can see warm objects through smoke, but an image-intensifying device cannot.\r\n\r\nThermals can\u2019t see infrared light, and therefore can\u2019t detect an infrared laser or illuminator. With an image intensifier, teammates can point out targets or signal each other with infrared lasers. Image-intensifying NODs can see through glass, assuming there\u2019s adequate lighting beyond that glass, while thermals cannot. As I said, you may need both.\r\n
Image Intensifier & Thermal Power Combos<\/h3>\r\nSince most image-intensifying devices are used for navigation, they are generally worn mounted in front of the shooter\u2019s eye. The most common mounting system combines a helmet-borne shroud, mount and swingarm that allows the NOD to be installed and removed from the helmet quickly, and to be flipped up and out of view when not in use. A typical execution of this would involve a SWAT team navigating from their last covered and concealed position to the target site using their helmet-mounted NODs, then flipping up their NODs before making entry into the structure with visible light. Another example is a hog hunter navigating along an old logging road using his image-intensifying NOD. One flips it up so that he can get his eye behind his weapon-mounted thermal riflescope to search for hogs beyond the brush as he nears the recently planted peanut field.\r\n\r\nAfter years of using image-intensifying and thermal-imaging devices for both professional and recreational purposes against both man and beast, here are the configurations that I believe offer the best combination of capabilities. For the tactical shooter, a helmet-mounted NOD like the PVS-14 or, better yet, a binocular NVD like the Sentinel is used for navigation purposes. An image-intensifying device calls for a weapon-mounted infrared laser to be used for aiming and signaling. For target detection, a handheld thermal monocular provides an additional capability that can\u2019t be overemphasized. Detecting targets is simply easier, quicker and more certain with a thermal in many circumstances.\r\n
In the Field<\/h3>\r\nFor pre-mission reconnaissance, team members should be equipped with both image-intensifying and thermal devices that are designed for longer-range target identification. This may include a clip-on image-intensifying optic in front of the marksman\u2019s magnified day scope and a thermal scope either mounted on a rifle or simply mounted on a tripod as an observation and detection tool. It is worth noting that most thermal scopes have the built-in capability of recording video and taking pictures. These can obviously be used as part of a briefing to mission planners and team members.\r\n\r\nFor the nocturnal hunter, I\u2019d similarly suggest a helmet-mounted or binocular NOD for navigation purposes. For target detection and as the primary engagement tool, a rifle-mounted thermal scope can\u2019t be beat. I recommend cause, of course, when using any weapon-mounted optic to detect targets.\u00a0If your budget allows, a handheld thermal monocular mitigates this safety issue completely. Finally, I\u2019d also suggest a weapon-mounted infrared laser.\r\n\r\nWhen things go perfectly and you\u2019re able to get within extremely close range of that big sounder of hogs, the added field of view of an unmagnified helmet-mounted NOD, combined with the quick-aiming capability of an infrared laser, is absolutely devastating. As the hogs flee beyond the range of the evening\u2019s illumination, you can quickly flip up that NOD and resume work with the thermal scope. This combination has proven unbeatable. So, whatever your individual needs happen to be, there is a night-vision solution for you.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em>","post_title":"Should You Choose an Image Intensifier or Thermal?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-image-intensifier","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/09\/night-vision-image-intensifier\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Answer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Police Night Vision Q&A<\/h3>\r\n
Where is your department in terms of stealth gear, and what obstacles have you faced so far?<\/h3>\r\nWe got our first NODs around 2010 or 2011 through a Homeland Security grant. That grant included six PVS-14s, which is obviously not enough to equip the entire 16-man team. Since we didn\u2019t have enough PVS-14s, we began looking for another source of equipment. The lease program we found is run through the Navy. Through that program, we were able to lease 16 PVS-18s for $4,800 per year, which is much better than having to buy that many units. But since we\u2019re taking what\u2019s available and don\u2019t get to pick, the NODs and accessories don\u2019t necessarily match. Some of the aftermarket accessories we\u2019ve tried have been problematic with the less-common dovetail mounting components of the PVS-18. While I\u2019ve had people tell me they prefer the dovetail, the mounts are less common, and we\u2019ve had to retrofit regular PVS-14 mounts to fit our helmets.\r\n\r\nWe have several deputies who are former military, but they were in units that didn\u2019t necessarily get to use this type of gear extensively. They\u2019ve used them a little on patrol or in training, so we don\u2019t have any in-house experts, so we\u2019re having to reach outside to get someone to get us squared away on it. The National Guard provided us a guy, but I think he was in the same situation, where he knew just enough that they made him an instructor. He gave us some classroom stuff, some PowerPoint presentations, but we didn\u2019t really have any practical exercises. Up to now, we\u2019ve been somewhat self-taught. So far, we\u2019ve only used them in training and have never been able to deploy them on an operation yet.\r\n
Police Night Vision: Training & Shooting<\/h3>\r\nWe don\u2019t really know the limitations until we discover them in training. Just to learn how to navigate takes time. You have to get used to the adjustments and where everything is. If you wanted to try to open a door, you have to change your focus to the doorknob instead of something 20 to 30 feet away, where your human eye does that automatically. Just trying to walk around with an NOD changes your depth perception. Then you have the whole perception that once you get this stuff, you\u2019re automatically like the guys in movies and can run around through here and shoot at stuff in the dark and all. Well, no, you can\u2019t.\r\n\r\nBefore you can shoot any kind of weapon system, you\u2019ve got to have some kind of sighting system to go along with it. Here you\u2019re looking at another accessory that, depending on what you get, is going to cost almost as much as your night-vision device itself. So you\u2019re looking at some sort of infrared laser coupled with a visible laser so you can easily sight it in. It has to be durable.\r\n
Police Night Vision Concerns<\/h3>\r\nSome of the less expensive lasers won\u2019t hold their zero just from firing a few rounds, so what do you do? Do you go through the time and expense to buy all these things and learn as you go, or do you reach out to other people? Sometimes you don\u2019t know who to reach out to. You have all that to go through to figure out what equipment you really need. Then, how do you justify the expense? How much are you really going to use this? The best application we\u2019ve found for this is to navigate up to your target and then assault the target with white light. That seems to be the smartest thing to do.\r\n
That seems like the only way for law enforcement to do it. Even the majority of our special operations troops will approach under NODs and then assault with white light.<\/h3>\r\nYeah, you hear about the guys that went in to kill bin Laden and did it under NODs. Well, how long did they train for just that mission?\r\n
The top 1 percent does that sort of mission.<\/h3>\r\nRight, and you have teams like that, if they\u2019re not on a mission, they\u2019re training for one. Most law enforcement teams, especially part-time teams like ours, don\u2019t get that. We\u2019re lucky enough to get two training days per month, but with patrol staffing, we don\u2019t get a full eight-hour day. We get four to six hours with the whole team there and then finish out with whoever can stay. There are a lot of teams that only get one training day per month, and they may not get a full eight hours.\r\n\r\nThere are a lot more important things that you have to train on, where night vision and everything related to it seems more like a luxury. If you can get the equipment and the training hours in, then yes, it\u2019s great. You have an ability that other people don\u2019t have. If you look at the training required and the consequences of using this gear during a mission and failing, then you have to ask if it\u2019s worth getting into, given everything else we have to be able to do.\r\n
Have you discussed any of this with the Telluric Group or the other companies that specialize in training on night operations and equipment?<\/h3>\r\nMost of the people I\u2019ve learned from so far have been former military who have used them extensively. So far we haven\u2019t received any formal training from anyone but the National Guard. Once again, it costs money. Everyone\u2019s training money has been constrained over the last few years, and we have to move into this new facility that\u2019s taking up a lot of our time and money.\r\n
What types of operations do you foresee being suited to this type of equipment?<\/h3>\r\nAny time you have an extended situation like a hostage situation, it\u2019s always going to be to your advantage to get a listening device up close to the structure the hostage-taker is holding. Night-vision capability would allow you to approach the structure in darkness to plant a listening device. Or, when you\u2019re preparing for an assault, you can approach and place breaching charges\u2014things like that, where you can approach quietly in the dark without escalating the situation.\r\n\r\nAlso, just placing your team members. If your negotiator can talk the suspect into coming outside to show that the hostage is alive, you could potentially have officers in position without the suspect\u2019s knowledge in case the opportunity arises to end the situation. Also, everyone has night-vision security cameras around their houses now. Well, bad guys have them, too. If there are cameras, then they should be lit up like a spotlight when you\u2019re looking through night vision. You can spot the guy\u2019s cameras and either know what to avoid or where to go to disable the cameras.\r\n
So, you guys have NODs and some of the other equipment, but no formal training so far. Is that what\u2019s next?<\/h3>\r\nThat\u2019s part of it. In years past, we\u2019ve had very low turnover on the team. About two years ago, we found ourselves in the situation where 10 of the 16 team members had one year of experience or less. So, we\u2019ve really been struggling trying to make sure everyone is up to speed in daylight, much less trying to incorporate things at night. We have new guys still learning what they need to know. Then we hand them this new piece of gear and say, \u201cBy the way, you need to be competent with this, too.\u201d\r\n
Have you looked at this from the standpoint of reconnaissance, surveillance or pre-mission planning where the situation is still developing?<\/h3>\r\nThe Metro Narcotics Division used to do their own entries. As of about three years ago, the decision was made by both parent agencies that one agency\u2019s SWAT team or the other would do all narcotics entries going forward. Sometimes we get enough advance notice to go do surveillance beforehand, but a lot of times we don\u2019t. When we do get enough notice, it would be outstanding to use this equipment in that way. Sometimes, the National Guard\u2019s counter-drug unit is able to come out and do that surveillance and strictly inform and advise us on what they\u2019ve observed. We\u2019ve been able to get day and nighttime air assets in some cases as well.\r\n
Have you considered adding suppressors to your weapons?<\/h3>\r\nWe have. I definitely see a role for them, and it would be great to have them. Right now, we\u2019ve decided that there are other things that are more important. Our body armor needs to be replaced. It\u2019s reached its expiration date.\r\n
During the day, deputies recognize each other by their standard uniforms and marked patrol cars. Has there been any discussion of identification when working under NODs in low-light situations.<\/h3>\r\nThere has. We\u2019ve discussed the need for infrared-reflective patches for our uniforms. We\u2019ve not discussed anything for the vehicles yet. Right now, we don\u2019t have any sort of individual identification patches. As far as being on scene or in a stack, we all look the same. We\u2019ve discussed some way to recognize who is who. We do have some of the surplus infrared strobes. But that\u2019s going to alert the suspect if they happen to have cameras that see infrared light. The patches would be passive. We do have a couple of handheld thermal devices\u2014each patrol supervisor carries one. But it helps identify an individual that\u2019s hiding or if someone is injured in an area that\u2019s hard to see.\r\n\r\nThe Bottom Line on police using night vision: <\/strong>Though stealth guns and gear offer an opportunity to improve the safety and performance of law enforcement teams nationwide, tremendous improvements must be made to the availability of equipment and training required for officers, leaders and administrators to authorize and use them. Budget constraints, training priorities and knowledge deficiencies hamper the integration of stealth tools into law enforcement operations. But forward-thinking leaders such as Byrum keep pushing their departments\u2019 capabilities forward.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"What Are the Benefits and Challenges of Police Using Night Vision?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"benefits-police-using-night-vision","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:51","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/22\/benefits-police-using-night-vision\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129460,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-15 06:01:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-15 11:01:46","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOne of the issues every shooter must overcome when integrating stealth technology like image-intensification and thermal<\/a> devices into their inventory is how to mesh the tools used during daylight hours with the tools used during low-light hours. Rifles require optics and iron sights for redundant aiming systems during the day. When darkness falls, those same guns need white and infrared lights for searches and identifying people or objects, plus an infrared laser and either a dedicated night optic or what is referred to as a Clip On Night Vision device that attaches to the day scope for aiming once a target is found and identified. There are advantages and disadvantages to each setup. But the concept of a clip-on night sight that attaches to your existing day scope is tremendously appealing for a number of reasons.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"201553\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Pros & Cons<\/h3>\r\nClip-on night vision devices attach to the rifle in front of the day scope. Attachment is usually accomplished by placing the NVD on an extended Picatinny rail or on a forend bracket with a Picatinny rail. Some clip-on optics attach directly to the riflescope. Meanwhile, others attach to a special mount that replaces the top of the forward scope ring.\r\n\r\nUsing a clip-on in front of the day optic allows the shooter to use the same familiar scope, reticle, adjustment knobs and other controls he or she trained on during daylight hours for night operations as well. In this mode, there is no reticle in the clip-on optic, and all of the aiming is done with the reticle of the day optic. The clip-on merely presents the field of view and target image to the day optic. Some clip-ons are also capable of working in standalone mode where the clip-on becomes the sole optic. Here, it provides both the target image and the aiming point. The advantages of using the same day scope during night operations are lost in this configuration, however.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision in the Military<\/h3>\r\nPerhaps the most dominant use of the clip-on NVD is in long-range military observation and sniping roles. Our military snipers have successfully used clip-ons like the PVS-27 Magnum Universal Night Sight (MUNS)<\/a> for years. The training and proficiency benefits that come with maintaining one day-scope system for 24-hour use is significant. The same zero is maintained, the same ballistic data and resulting aiming corrections are maintained, and the controls required to make those corrections feel the same during day or night. The elevation-adjustment knob is always in the same place, always turns the same direction, and each adjustment increment always has the same \u201cclicks\u201d as it is turned. The same goes for the windage-adjustment knob. This facilitates rapid engagement and consistency of operation, which are both obvious benefits.\r\n
Using Clip On Night Vision Devices<\/h3>\r\nIf there is a downside to the most common clip-on NVDs, it is the use of image-intensification technology, which relies on available light to process and present an image to the day optic. As the amount of light increases, the performance of the clip-on increases. Conversely, on those dark, moonless, overcast nights, the range of the clip-on will be significantly limited and may require additional illumination from an infrared device. This also has advantages and disadvantages.\r\n\r\nFor the military sniper working against a night-vision-equipped adversary, using an infrared illuminator is like turning on a glowing beacon that says, \u201cDrop artillery here!\u201d On the other hand, the sniper\u2019s spotter, who often has a clip-on mounted in front of a spotting scope, or the sniper himself can watch the bullet fly to the target by observing the reflection of the infrared light off the base of the bullet. This makes spotting impacts and correcting for a follow-up shot easier than doing so during some daylight conditions when watching the trace of the bullet. If you\u2019re an enthusiast looking to ring some steel targets after hours, then using infrared illumination isn\u2019t a big deal.\r\n\r\nMounting a clip-on in front of your day scope also takes advantage of the day scope\u2019s magnification and ability to zoom in or out. Night-vision devices generally only have digital zooms that significantly degrade in quality as magnification increases. Since day scopes use optical zoom, there is no degradation or pixilation of the image as magnification is increased. Since the exit pupil decreases with increased magnification, there will be a reduction of light transmission, however. Some clip-on models will perform well only up to moderate magnification levels.\r\n
Going Thermal?<\/h3>\r\nThe ability to utilize the day scope\u2019s optical zoom ties into the primary benefit of an image-intensifying clip-on over a thermal clip-on: identification. There is no doubt that a thermal scope or thermal clip-on will make detection\u2014simply realizing the presence of a target\u2014easier. Identifying that target, however, is usually easier with an image-intensifying device due to the increased detail available through such an optic. When you are operating under the sort of rules of engagement or use-of-force criteria that our military snipers and law enforcement marksmen work with, positively identifying the guy who just walked up to the building you\u2019re observing is mandatory. There\u2019s a big difference between \u201ca tall guy with a beard and a funny hat just entered the building\u201d and \u201cOsama bin Laden just entered the building.\u201d The increased detail available through an image-intensifying device facilitates positive identification.\r\n\r\nIs there a place for a thermal clip-on? You bet. For the around-the-clock hunter, a thermal clip-on is a great option. You\u2019ve set up your stand during daylight hours. You\u2019ve zeroed and practiced with your day optic. You know the controls and are comfortable and confident in its use. After sunset, you simply clip on your thermal and the heat signatures from the animals are instantly visible. For that matter, you can use the thermal clip-on during the day as well.\r\n
Further Considerations on Clip On Night Vision<\/h3>\r\nTurn on your image-intensifying clip-on in broad daylight and you\u2019ll quickly ruin it. Points go to the thermal in this case. Another option is to use your thermal clip-on as a handheld monocular during daylight hours. You can detect heat signatures where animals may be hiding by using the thermal to scan. Once you locate the heat signature, use your day optic to zoom in. Then identify the target and take the shot if desired.\r\n\r\nKeep in mind that you won\u2019t be able to watch bullet trace or see your impacts unless there is some sort of thermal signature created by those impacts. Several years ago I spent a few days at Fort Riley, Kansas, with some soon-to-deploy snipers. Impacts on steel targets and misses into the surrounding gravel were easy to spot through the high-end thermal viewers. When we hit steel, there was an obvious thermal signature created as the bullet impacted the target. If missed (not that I<\/em> missed or anything) into the gravel, sparks flew and corrections were easy to make. When our rounds impacted into grassy areas, however, no thermal signature was created. Those misses were very hard to call precisely unless you were following the signature of the bullet itself.\r\n\r\nTo be fair, the same problems can exist with standard day optics in those conditions as well. One negative of the thermal clip-on is the reduced screen size of most units. If you want to use the optic in standalone mode or as a handheld scanner, you\u2019ll have a reduced screen. Not the end of the world, but a possible consideration.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Final Thoughts<\/h3>\r\nAs is often the case, the right tool for the job will be determined by your application and environment. If merely finding an animal or a person that is either well camouflaged or screened by light brush is adequate, the thermal excels during day or night. If detailed identification or long-range marksmanship with a spotter is your mission, an image-intensifying clip-on has some serious advantages.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"Why You Should Consider Adding a Clip On Night Vision Device","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"clip-on-night-vision-device","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/15\/clip-on-night-vision-device\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-09 06:03:31","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-09 11:03:31","post_content":"\r\n\r\nEntering the world of low-light endeavors can be daunting on many levels. One of the earliest challenges that new shooters encounter is the selection of their first night-vision device (NVD)<\/a>. The idea that you can simply buy a night-vision scope and perform every shooting task at night that you normally perform during the day soon evaporates with a little research, knowledge and experience.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"181479\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nSo how does a new shooter determine what type of NVD to start with? Applications and budget determine the need.\u00a0Keep in mind that there is some crossover. While one type of device may be best for a certain task, it may be acceptable, even with some limitations, for other tasks. Typically, once the stealth bug bites, we end up with multiple devices that are used together or enlisted for specific tasks as needed.\r\n
Owning The Night<\/h3>\r\nWhat most people think of when the term \u201cnight vision\u201d comes up is the green-image view from an image-intensified device like the PVS-14 or the older PVS-7. Hollywood has shown this view in movies for decades, and news broadcasts shown during the invasion of Iraq and many other military conflicts show a green, pixelated image of a darkened city with ribbons of anti-aircraft fire heading into the clouds in search of American bombers. This perception is not without merit. At this point, most U.S. service members engaged in direct ground combat are issued an image-intensifying night observation device (NOD). These image intensifier devices have reached the point of being almost ubiquitous.\r\n
Image Intensifier NODs<\/h3>\r\nAs their name suggests, image-intensifying NODs strengthen available light and present whatever the device \u201csees\u201d before it. There is no through-the-scope view of the actual object you\u2019re observing like there is through a riflescope or binoculars. Instead, a screen essentially plays a life feed from the NOD.\r\n\r\nOf course, to intensify light, there must first be light. If you close yourself inside a completely sealed room with no illumination source whatsoever, you will see only a murky black image with an image-intensifying device. Add even the smallest amount of illumination and your device will start to present a visible image. As available light increases, the image shown to the wearer becomes clearer and brighter. When an NOD receives too much light, it may be damaged, unless the unit features a control mechanism or \u201cgate\u201d to protect the image intensifier (the heart of the device) within.\r\n
Infrared<\/h3>\r\nIn addition to intensifying visible light like moonlight, streetlights or other forms of illumination that the human eye can see unaided, an NOD can see light in the infrared spectrum as well. Since infrared light is not normally visible to the human eye, this presents an opportunity for those with NODs to illuminate darkened areas without revealing themselves and their activities to an opponent who does not have night-vision technology.\r\n\r\nWith the aid of infrared light, a shooter equipped with an NOD can function on even the darkest of nights far from the spill of urban glow. Of course, if your adversary is equipped with an NOD, then he will also be able to see the infrared light just as well as you. For this reason, active infrared illumination is kept to a minimum when such a threat exists. As a note, most home security cameras feature a version of image-intensifying technology and will have multiple infrared illuminators.\r\n
Thermal Imaging<\/h3>\r\nThough most of us think of an image-intensifying device when we hear the term \u201cnight vision,\u201d there is another type of technology that fits within the category as well. Thermal-imaging devices (thermals) rely on the heat generated by objects instead of the light reflected by those same objects. This is a huge distinction and has a host of advantages and disadvantages. Anyone who has seen the movie Predator<\/em> has seen a depiction of what thermal imaging looks like to the shooter. The thermal detects the intensity of an object\u2019s heat and translates that into a shaded image that is presented to the viewer. As with an image-intensifying device, there is no through-the-scope view with a thermal. You\u2019re viewing a screen that\u2019s showing a translated representation of the heat signatures detected by the thermal.\r\n\r\nIn addition to the two main types of night-vision technology, there are multiple applications, or form factors, of each. Monoculars and binoculars feature attachments for a helmet. Dedicated riflescopes are also available in thermal and image-intensifying configuration. A dedicated scope eliminates a day scope mounted on the firearm. This has advantages and disadvantages. An alternative is the \u201cclip-on\u201d NVD that mounts in front of a standard day scope. The clip-on has no reticle but presents an image to the objective lens of the day scope. The reticle and all adjustments are inherent within the day scope. Finally, there are handheld devices with neither reticle nor mounting system. These would be similar to binoculars or monoculars used for viewing during daylight.\r\n
Image Intensifier and Thermal Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h3>\r\nSo do you need an image-intensifying device or a thermal? The short answer is yes, and here\u2019s why: image intensifying is best for navigation or tasks where details must be discernible, and thermal is best for locating warm things like wild boars across a field or a trespasser in the woods. You can certainly locate hogs with an image-intensifying device, but your range and detection capabilities will be noticeably less, especially on dark nights without much ambient lighting.\r\n\r\nYou can navigate in some cases with only a thermal device, but you\u2019ll have difficulty in others. Similar vegetation tends to take on a monotone look in a thermal. This vegetation can easily hide obstacles within, and things on the ground can trip you or impede your movement. Thermals can\u2019t see shadows or reflections, but an image-intensifying device can see both. Image-intensifying devices also perform similarly in varying atmospheric conditions. Thermals perform poorly when the temperature and humidity are high. At the same time, thermals can see warm objects through smoke, but an image-intensifying device cannot.\r\n\r\nThermals can\u2019t see infrared light, and therefore can\u2019t detect an infrared laser or illuminator. With an image intensifier, teammates can point out targets or signal each other with infrared lasers. Image-intensifying NODs can see through glass, assuming there\u2019s adequate lighting beyond that glass, while thermals cannot. As I said, you may need both.\r\n
Image Intensifier & Thermal Power Combos<\/h3>\r\nSince most image-intensifying devices are used for navigation, they are generally worn mounted in front of the shooter\u2019s eye. The most common mounting system combines a helmet-borne shroud, mount and swingarm that allows the NOD to be installed and removed from the helmet quickly, and to be flipped up and out of view when not in use. A typical execution of this would involve a SWAT team navigating from their last covered and concealed position to the target site using their helmet-mounted NODs, then flipping up their NODs before making entry into the structure with visible light. Another example is a hog hunter navigating along an old logging road using his image-intensifying NOD. One flips it up so that he can get his eye behind his weapon-mounted thermal riflescope to search for hogs beyond the brush as he nears the recently planted peanut field.\r\n\r\nAfter years of using image-intensifying and thermal-imaging devices for both professional and recreational purposes against both man and beast, here are the configurations that I believe offer the best combination of capabilities. For the tactical shooter, a helmet-mounted NOD like the PVS-14 or, better yet, a binocular NVD like the Sentinel is used for navigation purposes. An image-intensifying device calls for a weapon-mounted infrared laser to be used for aiming and signaling. For target detection, a handheld thermal monocular provides an additional capability that can\u2019t be overemphasized. Detecting targets is simply easier, quicker and more certain with a thermal in many circumstances.\r\n
In the Field<\/h3>\r\nFor pre-mission reconnaissance, team members should be equipped with both image-intensifying and thermal devices that are designed for longer-range target identification. This may include a clip-on image-intensifying optic in front of the marksman\u2019s magnified day scope and a thermal scope either mounted on a rifle or simply mounted on a tripod as an observation and detection tool. It is worth noting that most thermal scopes have the built-in capability of recording video and taking pictures. These can obviously be used as part of a briefing to mission planners and team members.\r\n\r\nFor the nocturnal hunter, I\u2019d similarly suggest a helmet-mounted or binocular NOD for navigation purposes. For target detection and as the primary engagement tool, a rifle-mounted thermal scope can\u2019t be beat. I recommend cause, of course, when using any weapon-mounted optic to detect targets.\u00a0If your budget allows, a handheld thermal monocular mitigates this safety issue completely. Finally, I\u2019d also suggest a weapon-mounted infrared laser.\r\n\r\nWhen things go perfectly and you\u2019re able to get within extremely close range of that big sounder of hogs, the added field of view of an unmagnified helmet-mounted NOD, combined with the quick-aiming capability of an infrared laser, is absolutely devastating. As the hogs flee beyond the range of the evening\u2019s illumination, you can quickly flip up that NOD and resume work with the thermal scope. This combination has proven unbeatable. So, whatever your individual needs happen to be, there is a night-vision solution for you.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em>","post_title":"Should You Choose an Image Intensifier or Thermal?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-image-intensifier","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/09\/night-vision-image-intensifier\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Answer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Police Night Vision Q&A<\/h3>\r\n
Where is your department in terms of stealth gear, and what obstacles have you faced so far?<\/h3>\r\nWe got our first NODs around 2010 or 2011 through a Homeland Security grant. That grant included six PVS-14s, which is obviously not enough to equip the entire 16-man team. Since we didn\u2019t have enough PVS-14s, we began looking for another source of equipment. The lease program we found is run through the Navy. Through that program, we were able to lease 16 PVS-18s for $4,800 per year, which is much better than having to buy that many units. But since we\u2019re taking what\u2019s available and don\u2019t get to pick, the NODs and accessories don\u2019t necessarily match. Some of the aftermarket accessories we\u2019ve tried have been problematic with the less-common dovetail mounting components of the PVS-18. While I\u2019ve had people tell me they prefer the dovetail, the mounts are less common, and we\u2019ve had to retrofit regular PVS-14 mounts to fit our helmets.\r\n\r\nWe have several deputies who are former military, but they were in units that didn\u2019t necessarily get to use this type of gear extensively. They\u2019ve used them a little on patrol or in training, so we don\u2019t have any in-house experts, so we\u2019re having to reach outside to get someone to get us squared away on it. The National Guard provided us a guy, but I think he was in the same situation, where he knew just enough that they made him an instructor. He gave us some classroom stuff, some PowerPoint presentations, but we didn\u2019t really have any practical exercises. Up to now, we\u2019ve been somewhat self-taught. So far, we\u2019ve only used them in training and have never been able to deploy them on an operation yet.\r\n
Police Night Vision: Training & Shooting<\/h3>\r\nWe don\u2019t really know the limitations until we discover them in training. Just to learn how to navigate takes time. You have to get used to the adjustments and where everything is. If you wanted to try to open a door, you have to change your focus to the doorknob instead of something 20 to 30 feet away, where your human eye does that automatically. Just trying to walk around with an NOD changes your depth perception. Then you have the whole perception that once you get this stuff, you\u2019re automatically like the guys in movies and can run around through here and shoot at stuff in the dark and all. Well, no, you can\u2019t.\r\n\r\nBefore you can shoot any kind of weapon system, you\u2019ve got to have some kind of sighting system to go along with it. Here you\u2019re looking at another accessory that, depending on what you get, is going to cost almost as much as your night-vision device itself. So you\u2019re looking at some sort of infrared laser coupled with a visible laser so you can easily sight it in. It has to be durable.\r\n
Police Night Vision Concerns<\/h3>\r\nSome of the less expensive lasers won\u2019t hold their zero just from firing a few rounds, so what do you do? Do you go through the time and expense to buy all these things and learn as you go, or do you reach out to other people? Sometimes you don\u2019t know who to reach out to. You have all that to go through to figure out what equipment you really need. Then, how do you justify the expense? How much are you really going to use this? The best application we\u2019ve found for this is to navigate up to your target and then assault the target with white light. That seems to be the smartest thing to do.\r\n
That seems like the only way for law enforcement to do it. Even the majority of our special operations troops will approach under NODs and then assault with white light.<\/h3>\r\nYeah, you hear about the guys that went in to kill bin Laden and did it under NODs. Well, how long did they train for just that mission?\r\n
The top 1 percent does that sort of mission.<\/h3>\r\nRight, and you have teams like that, if they\u2019re not on a mission, they\u2019re training for one. Most law enforcement teams, especially part-time teams like ours, don\u2019t get that. We\u2019re lucky enough to get two training days per month, but with patrol staffing, we don\u2019t get a full eight-hour day. We get four to six hours with the whole team there and then finish out with whoever can stay. There are a lot of teams that only get one training day per month, and they may not get a full eight hours.\r\n\r\nThere are a lot more important things that you have to train on, where night vision and everything related to it seems more like a luxury. If you can get the equipment and the training hours in, then yes, it\u2019s great. You have an ability that other people don\u2019t have. If you look at the training required and the consequences of using this gear during a mission and failing, then you have to ask if it\u2019s worth getting into, given everything else we have to be able to do.\r\n
Have you discussed any of this with the Telluric Group or the other companies that specialize in training on night operations and equipment?<\/h3>\r\nMost of the people I\u2019ve learned from so far have been former military who have used them extensively. So far we haven\u2019t received any formal training from anyone but the National Guard. Once again, it costs money. Everyone\u2019s training money has been constrained over the last few years, and we have to move into this new facility that\u2019s taking up a lot of our time and money.\r\n
What types of operations do you foresee being suited to this type of equipment?<\/h3>\r\nAny time you have an extended situation like a hostage situation, it\u2019s always going to be to your advantage to get a listening device up close to the structure the hostage-taker is holding. Night-vision capability would allow you to approach the structure in darkness to plant a listening device. Or, when you\u2019re preparing for an assault, you can approach and place breaching charges\u2014things like that, where you can approach quietly in the dark without escalating the situation.\r\n\r\nAlso, just placing your team members. If your negotiator can talk the suspect into coming outside to show that the hostage is alive, you could potentially have officers in position without the suspect\u2019s knowledge in case the opportunity arises to end the situation. Also, everyone has night-vision security cameras around their houses now. Well, bad guys have them, too. If there are cameras, then they should be lit up like a spotlight when you\u2019re looking through night vision. You can spot the guy\u2019s cameras and either know what to avoid or where to go to disable the cameras.\r\n
So, you guys have NODs and some of the other equipment, but no formal training so far. Is that what\u2019s next?<\/h3>\r\nThat\u2019s part of it. In years past, we\u2019ve had very low turnover on the team. About two years ago, we found ourselves in the situation where 10 of the 16 team members had one year of experience or less. So, we\u2019ve really been struggling trying to make sure everyone is up to speed in daylight, much less trying to incorporate things at night. We have new guys still learning what they need to know. Then we hand them this new piece of gear and say, \u201cBy the way, you need to be competent with this, too.\u201d\r\n
Have you looked at this from the standpoint of reconnaissance, surveillance or pre-mission planning where the situation is still developing?<\/h3>\r\nThe Metro Narcotics Division used to do their own entries. As of about three years ago, the decision was made by both parent agencies that one agency\u2019s SWAT team or the other would do all narcotics entries going forward. Sometimes we get enough advance notice to go do surveillance beforehand, but a lot of times we don\u2019t. When we do get enough notice, it would be outstanding to use this equipment in that way. Sometimes, the National Guard\u2019s counter-drug unit is able to come out and do that surveillance and strictly inform and advise us on what they\u2019ve observed. We\u2019ve been able to get day and nighttime air assets in some cases as well.\r\n
Have you considered adding suppressors to your weapons?<\/h3>\r\nWe have. I definitely see a role for them, and it would be great to have them. Right now, we\u2019ve decided that there are other things that are more important. Our body armor needs to be replaced. It\u2019s reached its expiration date.\r\n
During the day, deputies recognize each other by their standard uniforms and marked patrol cars. Has there been any discussion of identification when working under NODs in low-light situations.<\/h3>\r\nThere has. We\u2019ve discussed the need for infrared-reflective patches for our uniforms. We\u2019ve not discussed anything for the vehicles yet. Right now, we don\u2019t have any sort of individual identification patches. As far as being on scene or in a stack, we all look the same. We\u2019ve discussed some way to recognize who is who. We do have some of the surplus infrared strobes. But that\u2019s going to alert the suspect if they happen to have cameras that see infrared light. The patches would be passive. We do have a couple of handheld thermal devices\u2014each patrol supervisor carries one. But it helps identify an individual that\u2019s hiding or if someone is injured in an area that\u2019s hard to see.\r\n\r\nThe Bottom Line on police using night vision: <\/strong>Though stealth guns and gear offer an opportunity to improve the safety and performance of law enforcement teams nationwide, tremendous improvements must be made to the availability of equipment and training required for officers, leaders and administrators to authorize and use them. Budget constraints, training priorities and knowledge deficiencies hamper the integration of stealth tools into law enforcement operations. But forward-thinking leaders such as Byrum keep pushing their departments\u2019 capabilities forward.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"What Are the Benefits and Challenges of Police Using Night Vision?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"benefits-police-using-night-vision","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:51","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/22\/benefits-police-using-night-vision\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129460,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-15 06:01:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-15 11:01:46","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOne of the issues every shooter must overcome when integrating stealth technology like image-intensification and thermal<\/a> devices into their inventory is how to mesh the tools used during daylight hours with the tools used during low-light hours. Rifles require optics and iron sights for redundant aiming systems during the day. When darkness falls, those same guns need white and infrared lights for searches and identifying people or objects, plus an infrared laser and either a dedicated night optic or what is referred to as a Clip On Night Vision device that attaches to the day scope for aiming once a target is found and identified. There are advantages and disadvantages to each setup. But the concept of a clip-on night sight that attaches to your existing day scope is tremendously appealing for a number of reasons.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"201553\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Pros & Cons<\/h3>\r\nClip-on night vision devices attach to the rifle in front of the day scope. Attachment is usually accomplished by placing the NVD on an extended Picatinny rail or on a forend bracket with a Picatinny rail. Some clip-on optics attach directly to the riflescope. Meanwhile, others attach to a special mount that replaces the top of the forward scope ring.\r\n\r\nUsing a clip-on in front of the day optic allows the shooter to use the same familiar scope, reticle, adjustment knobs and other controls he or she trained on during daylight hours for night operations as well. In this mode, there is no reticle in the clip-on optic, and all of the aiming is done with the reticle of the day optic. The clip-on merely presents the field of view and target image to the day optic. Some clip-ons are also capable of working in standalone mode where the clip-on becomes the sole optic. Here, it provides both the target image and the aiming point. The advantages of using the same day scope during night operations are lost in this configuration, however.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision in the Military<\/h3>\r\nPerhaps the most dominant use of the clip-on NVD is in long-range military observation and sniping roles. Our military snipers have successfully used clip-ons like the PVS-27 Magnum Universal Night Sight (MUNS)<\/a> for years. The training and proficiency benefits that come with maintaining one day-scope system for 24-hour use is significant. The same zero is maintained, the same ballistic data and resulting aiming corrections are maintained, and the controls required to make those corrections feel the same during day or night. The elevation-adjustment knob is always in the same place, always turns the same direction, and each adjustment increment always has the same \u201cclicks\u201d as it is turned. The same goes for the windage-adjustment knob. This facilitates rapid engagement and consistency of operation, which are both obvious benefits.\r\n
Using Clip On Night Vision Devices<\/h3>\r\nIf there is a downside to the most common clip-on NVDs, it is the use of image-intensification technology, which relies on available light to process and present an image to the day optic. As the amount of light increases, the performance of the clip-on increases. Conversely, on those dark, moonless, overcast nights, the range of the clip-on will be significantly limited and may require additional illumination from an infrared device. This also has advantages and disadvantages.\r\n\r\nFor the military sniper working against a night-vision-equipped adversary, using an infrared illuminator is like turning on a glowing beacon that says, \u201cDrop artillery here!\u201d On the other hand, the sniper\u2019s spotter, who often has a clip-on mounted in front of a spotting scope, or the sniper himself can watch the bullet fly to the target by observing the reflection of the infrared light off the base of the bullet. This makes spotting impacts and correcting for a follow-up shot easier than doing so during some daylight conditions when watching the trace of the bullet. If you\u2019re an enthusiast looking to ring some steel targets after hours, then using infrared illumination isn\u2019t a big deal.\r\n\r\nMounting a clip-on in front of your day scope also takes advantage of the day scope\u2019s magnification and ability to zoom in or out. Night-vision devices generally only have digital zooms that significantly degrade in quality as magnification increases. Since day scopes use optical zoom, there is no degradation or pixilation of the image as magnification is increased. Since the exit pupil decreases with increased magnification, there will be a reduction of light transmission, however. Some clip-on models will perform well only up to moderate magnification levels.\r\n
Going Thermal?<\/h3>\r\nThe ability to utilize the day scope\u2019s optical zoom ties into the primary benefit of an image-intensifying clip-on over a thermal clip-on: identification. There is no doubt that a thermal scope or thermal clip-on will make detection\u2014simply realizing the presence of a target\u2014easier. Identifying that target, however, is usually easier with an image-intensifying device due to the increased detail available through such an optic. When you are operating under the sort of rules of engagement or use-of-force criteria that our military snipers and law enforcement marksmen work with, positively identifying the guy who just walked up to the building you\u2019re observing is mandatory. There\u2019s a big difference between \u201ca tall guy with a beard and a funny hat just entered the building\u201d and \u201cOsama bin Laden just entered the building.\u201d The increased detail available through an image-intensifying device facilitates positive identification.\r\n\r\nIs there a place for a thermal clip-on? You bet. For the around-the-clock hunter, a thermal clip-on is a great option. You\u2019ve set up your stand during daylight hours. You\u2019ve zeroed and practiced with your day optic. You know the controls and are comfortable and confident in its use. After sunset, you simply clip on your thermal and the heat signatures from the animals are instantly visible. For that matter, you can use the thermal clip-on during the day as well.\r\n
Further Considerations on Clip On Night Vision<\/h3>\r\nTurn on your image-intensifying clip-on in broad daylight and you\u2019ll quickly ruin it. Points go to the thermal in this case. Another option is to use your thermal clip-on as a handheld monocular during daylight hours. You can detect heat signatures where animals may be hiding by using the thermal to scan. Once you locate the heat signature, use your day optic to zoom in. Then identify the target and take the shot if desired.\r\n\r\nKeep in mind that you won\u2019t be able to watch bullet trace or see your impacts unless there is some sort of thermal signature created by those impacts. Several years ago I spent a few days at Fort Riley, Kansas, with some soon-to-deploy snipers. Impacts on steel targets and misses into the surrounding gravel were easy to spot through the high-end thermal viewers. When we hit steel, there was an obvious thermal signature created as the bullet impacted the target. If missed (not that I<\/em> missed or anything) into the gravel, sparks flew and corrections were easy to make. When our rounds impacted into grassy areas, however, no thermal signature was created. Those misses were very hard to call precisely unless you were following the signature of the bullet itself.\r\n\r\nTo be fair, the same problems can exist with standard day optics in those conditions as well. One negative of the thermal clip-on is the reduced screen size of most units. If you want to use the optic in standalone mode or as a handheld scanner, you\u2019ll have a reduced screen. Not the end of the world, but a possible consideration.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Final Thoughts<\/h3>\r\nAs is often the case, the right tool for the job will be determined by your application and environment. If merely finding an animal or a person that is either well camouflaged or screened by light brush is adequate, the thermal excels during day or night. If detailed identification or long-range marksmanship with a spotter is your mission, an image-intensifying clip-on has some serious advantages.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"Why You Should Consider Adding a Clip On Night Vision Device","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"clip-on-night-vision-device","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/15\/clip-on-night-vision-device\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-09 06:03:31","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-09 11:03:31","post_content":"\r\n\r\nEntering the world of low-light endeavors can be daunting on many levels. One of the earliest challenges that new shooters encounter is the selection of their first night-vision device (NVD)<\/a>. The idea that you can simply buy a night-vision scope and perform every shooting task at night that you normally perform during the day soon evaporates with a little research, knowledge and experience.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"181479\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nSo how does a new shooter determine what type of NVD to start with? Applications and budget determine the need.\u00a0Keep in mind that there is some crossover. While one type of device may be best for a certain task, it may be acceptable, even with some limitations, for other tasks. Typically, once the stealth bug bites, we end up with multiple devices that are used together or enlisted for specific tasks as needed.\r\n
Owning The Night<\/h3>\r\nWhat most people think of when the term \u201cnight vision\u201d comes up is the green-image view from an image-intensified device like the PVS-14 or the older PVS-7. Hollywood has shown this view in movies for decades, and news broadcasts shown during the invasion of Iraq and many other military conflicts show a green, pixelated image of a darkened city with ribbons of anti-aircraft fire heading into the clouds in search of American bombers. This perception is not without merit. At this point, most U.S. service members engaged in direct ground combat are issued an image-intensifying night observation device (NOD). These image intensifier devices have reached the point of being almost ubiquitous.\r\n
Image Intensifier NODs<\/h3>\r\nAs their name suggests, image-intensifying NODs strengthen available light and present whatever the device \u201csees\u201d before it. There is no through-the-scope view of the actual object you\u2019re observing like there is through a riflescope or binoculars. Instead, a screen essentially plays a life feed from the NOD.\r\n\r\nOf course, to intensify light, there must first be light. If you close yourself inside a completely sealed room with no illumination source whatsoever, you will see only a murky black image with an image-intensifying device. Add even the smallest amount of illumination and your device will start to present a visible image. As available light increases, the image shown to the wearer becomes clearer and brighter. When an NOD receives too much light, it may be damaged, unless the unit features a control mechanism or \u201cgate\u201d to protect the image intensifier (the heart of the device) within.\r\n
Infrared<\/h3>\r\nIn addition to intensifying visible light like moonlight, streetlights or other forms of illumination that the human eye can see unaided, an NOD can see light in the infrared spectrum as well. Since infrared light is not normally visible to the human eye, this presents an opportunity for those with NODs to illuminate darkened areas without revealing themselves and their activities to an opponent who does not have night-vision technology.\r\n\r\nWith the aid of infrared light, a shooter equipped with an NOD can function on even the darkest of nights far from the spill of urban glow. Of course, if your adversary is equipped with an NOD, then he will also be able to see the infrared light just as well as you. For this reason, active infrared illumination is kept to a minimum when such a threat exists. As a note, most home security cameras feature a version of image-intensifying technology and will have multiple infrared illuminators.\r\n
Thermal Imaging<\/h3>\r\nThough most of us think of an image-intensifying device when we hear the term \u201cnight vision,\u201d there is another type of technology that fits within the category as well. Thermal-imaging devices (thermals) rely on the heat generated by objects instead of the light reflected by those same objects. This is a huge distinction and has a host of advantages and disadvantages. Anyone who has seen the movie Predator<\/em> has seen a depiction of what thermal imaging looks like to the shooter. The thermal detects the intensity of an object\u2019s heat and translates that into a shaded image that is presented to the viewer. As with an image-intensifying device, there is no through-the-scope view with a thermal. You\u2019re viewing a screen that\u2019s showing a translated representation of the heat signatures detected by the thermal.\r\n\r\nIn addition to the two main types of night-vision technology, there are multiple applications, or form factors, of each. Monoculars and binoculars feature attachments for a helmet. Dedicated riflescopes are also available in thermal and image-intensifying configuration. A dedicated scope eliminates a day scope mounted on the firearm. This has advantages and disadvantages. An alternative is the \u201cclip-on\u201d NVD that mounts in front of a standard day scope. The clip-on has no reticle but presents an image to the objective lens of the day scope. The reticle and all adjustments are inherent within the day scope. Finally, there are handheld devices with neither reticle nor mounting system. These would be similar to binoculars or monoculars used for viewing during daylight.\r\n
Image Intensifier and Thermal Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h3>\r\nSo do you need an image-intensifying device or a thermal? The short answer is yes, and here\u2019s why: image intensifying is best for navigation or tasks where details must be discernible, and thermal is best for locating warm things like wild boars across a field or a trespasser in the woods. You can certainly locate hogs with an image-intensifying device, but your range and detection capabilities will be noticeably less, especially on dark nights without much ambient lighting.\r\n\r\nYou can navigate in some cases with only a thermal device, but you\u2019ll have difficulty in others. Similar vegetation tends to take on a monotone look in a thermal. This vegetation can easily hide obstacles within, and things on the ground can trip you or impede your movement. Thermals can\u2019t see shadows or reflections, but an image-intensifying device can see both. Image-intensifying devices also perform similarly in varying atmospheric conditions. Thermals perform poorly when the temperature and humidity are high. At the same time, thermals can see warm objects through smoke, but an image-intensifying device cannot.\r\n\r\nThermals can\u2019t see infrared light, and therefore can\u2019t detect an infrared laser or illuminator. With an image intensifier, teammates can point out targets or signal each other with infrared lasers. Image-intensifying NODs can see through glass, assuming there\u2019s adequate lighting beyond that glass, while thermals cannot. As I said, you may need both.\r\n
Image Intensifier & Thermal Power Combos<\/h3>\r\nSince most image-intensifying devices are used for navigation, they are generally worn mounted in front of the shooter\u2019s eye. The most common mounting system combines a helmet-borne shroud, mount and swingarm that allows the NOD to be installed and removed from the helmet quickly, and to be flipped up and out of view when not in use. A typical execution of this would involve a SWAT team navigating from their last covered and concealed position to the target site using their helmet-mounted NODs, then flipping up their NODs before making entry into the structure with visible light. Another example is a hog hunter navigating along an old logging road using his image-intensifying NOD. One flips it up so that he can get his eye behind his weapon-mounted thermal riflescope to search for hogs beyond the brush as he nears the recently planted peanut field.\r\n\r\nAfter years of using image-intensifying and thermal-imaging devices for both professional and recreational purposes against both man and beast, here are the configurations that I believe offer the best combination of capabilities. For the tactical shooter, a helmet-mounted NOD like the PVS-14 or, better yet, a binocular NVD like the Sentinel is used for navigation purposes. An image-intensifying device calls for a weapon-mounted infrared laser to be used for aiming and signaling. For target detection, a handheld thermal monocular provides an additional capability that can\u2019t be overemphasized. Detecting targets is simply easier, quicker and more certain with a thermal in many circumstances.\r\n
In the Field<\/h3>\r\nFor pre-mission reconnaissance, team members should be equipped with both image-intensifying and thermal devices that are designed for longer-range target identification. This may include a clip-on image-intensifying optic in front of the marksman\u2019s magnified day scope and a thermal scope either mounted on a rifle or simply mounted on a tripod as an observation and detection tool. It is worth noting that most thermal scopes have the built-in capability of recording video and taking pictures. These can obviously be used as part of a briefing to mission planners and team members.\r\n\r\nFor the nocturnal hunter, I\u2019d similarly suggest a helmet-mounted or binocular NOD for navigation purposes. For target detection and as the primary engagement tool, a rifle-mounted thermal scope can\u2019t be beat. I recommend cause, of course, when using any weapon-mounted optic to detect targets.\u00a0If your budget allows, a handheld thermal monocular mitigates this safety issue completely. Finally, I\u2019d also suggest a weapon-mounted infrared laser.\r\n\r\nWhen things go perfectly and you\u2019re able to get within extremely close range of that big sounder of hogs, the added field of view of an unmagnified helmet-mounted NOD, combined with the quick-aiming capability of an infrared laser, is absolutely devastating. As the hogs flee beyond the range of the evening\u2019s illumination, you can quickly flip up that NOD and resume work with the thermal scope. This combination has proven unbeatable. So, whatever your individual needs happen to be, there is a night-vision solution for you.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em>","post_title":"Should You Choose an Image Intensifier or Thermal?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-image-intensifier","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/09\/night-vision-image-intensifier\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Answer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Police Night Vision Q&A<\/h3>\r\n
Where is your department in terms of stealth gear, and what obstacles have you faced so far?<\/h3>\r\nWe got our first NODs around 2010 or 2011 through a Homeland Security grant. That grant included six PVS-14s, which is obviously not enough to equip the entire 16-man team. Since we didn\u2019t have enough PVS-14s, we began looking for another source of equipment. The lease program we found is run through the Navy. Through that program, we were able to lease 16 PVS-18s for $4,800 per year, which is much better than having to buy that many units. But since we\u2019re taking what\u2019s available and don\u2019t get to pick, the NODs and accessories don\u2019t necessarily match. Some of the aftermarket accessories we\u2019ve tried have been problematic with the less-common dovetail mounting components of the PVS-18. While I\u2019ve had people tell me they prefer the dovetail, the mounts are less common, and we\u2019ve had to retrofit regular PVS-14 mounts to fit our helmets.\r\n\r\nWe have several deputies who are former military, but they were in units that didn\u2019t necessarily get to use this type of gear extensively. They\u2019ve used them a little on patrol or in training, so we don\u2019t have any in-house experts, so we\u2019re having to reach outside to get someone to get us squared away on it. The National Guard provided us a guy, but I think he was in the same situation, where he knew just enough that they made him an instructor. He gave us some classroom stuff, some PowerPoint presentations, but we didn\u2019t really have any practical exercises. Up to now, we\u2019ve been somewhat self-taught. So far, we\u2019ve only used them in training and have never been able to deploy them on an operation yet.\r\n
Police Night Vision: Training & Shooting<\/h3>\r\nWe don\u2019t really know the limitations until we discover them in training. Just to learn how to navigate takes time. You have to get used to the adjustments and where everything is. If you wanted to try to open a door, you have to change your focus to the doorknob instead of something 20 to 30 feet away, where your human eye does that automatically. Just trying to walk around with an NOD changes your depth perception. Then you have the whole perception that once you get this stuff, you\u2019re automatically like the guys in movies and can run around through here and shoot at stuff in the dark and all. Well, no, you can\u2019t.\r\n\r\nBefore you can shoot any kind of weapon system, you\u2019ve got to have some kind of sighting system to go along with it. Here you\u2019re looking at another accessory that, depending on what you get, is going to cost almost as much as your night-vision device itself. So you\u2019re looking at some sort of infrared laser coupled with a visible laser so you can easily sight it in. It has to be durable.\r\n
Police Night Vision Concerns<\/h3>\r\nSome of the less expensive lasers won\u2019t hold their zero just from firing a few rounds, so what do you do? Do you go through the time and expense to buy all these things and learn as you go, or do you reach out to other people? Sometimes you don\u2019t know who to reach out to. You have all that to go through to figure out what equipment you really need. Then, how do you justify the expense? How much are you really going to use this? The best application we\u2019ve found for this is to navigate up to your target and then assault the target with white light. That seems to be the smartest thing to do.\r\n
That seems like the only way for law enforcement to do it. Even the majority of our special operations troops will approach under NODs and then assault with white light.<\/h3>\r\nYeah, you hear about the guys that went in to kill bin Laden and did it under NODs. Well, how long did they train for just that mission?\r\n
The top 1 percent does that sort of mission.<\/h3>\r\nRight, and you have teams like that, if they\u2019re not on a mission, they\u2019re training for one. Most law enforcement teams, especially part-time teams like ours, don\u2019t get that. We\u2019re lucky enough to get two training days per month, but with patrol staffing, we don\u2019t get a full eight-hour day. We get four to six hours with the whole team there and then finish out with whoever can stay. There are a lot of teams that only get one training day per month, and they may not get a full eight hours.\r\n\r\nThere are a lot more important things that you have to train on, where night vision and everything related to it seems more like a luxury. If you can get the equipment and the training hours in, then yes, it\u2019s great. You have an ability that other people don\u2019t have. If you look at the training required and the consequences of using this gear during a mission and failing, then you have to ask if it\u2019s worth getting into, given everything else we have to be able to do.\r\n
Have you discussed any of this with the Telluric Group or the other companies that specialize in training on night operations and equipment?<\/h3>\r\nMost of the people I\u2019ve learned from so far have been former military who have used them extensively. So far we haven\u2019t received any formal training from anyone but the National Guard. Once again, it costs money. Everyone\u2019s training money has been constrained over the last few years, and we have to move into this new facility that\u2019s taking up a lot of our time and money.\r\n
What types of operations do you foresee being suited to this type of equipment?<\/h3>\r\nAny time you have an extended situation like a hostage situation, it\u2019s always going to be to your advantage to get a listening device up close to the structure the hostage-taker is holding. Night-vision capability would allow you to approach the structure in darkness to plant a listening device. Or, when you\u2019re preparing for an assault, you can approach and place breaching charges\u2014things like that, where you can approach quietly in the dark without escalating the situation.\r\n\r\nAlso, just placing your team members. If your negotiator can talk the suspect into coming outside to show that the hostage is alive, you could potentially have officers in position without the suspect\u2019s knowledge in case the opportunity arises to end the situation. Also, everyone has night-vision security cameras around their houses now. Well, bad guys have them, too. If there are cameras, then they should be lit up like a spotlight when you\u2019re looking through night vision. You can spot the guy\u2019s cameras and either know what to avoid or where to go to disable the cameras.\r\n
So, you guys have NODs and some of the other equipment, but no formal training so far. Is that what\u2019s next?<\/h3>\r\nThat\u2019s part of it. In years past, we\u2019ve had very low turnover on the team. About two years ago, we found ourselves in the situation where 10 of the 16 team members had one year of experience or less. So, we\u2019ve really been struggling trying to make sure everyone is up to speed in daylight, much less trying to incorporate things at night. We have new guys still learning what they need to know. Then we hand them this new piece of gear and say, \u201cBy the way, you need to be competent with this, too.\u201d\r\n
Have you looked at this from the standpoint of reconnaissance, surveillance or pre-mission planning where the situation is still developing?<\/h3>\r\nThe Metro Narcotics Division used to do their own entries. As of about three years ago, the decision was made by both parent agencies that one agency\u2019s SWAT team or the other would do all narcotics entries going forward. Sometimes we get enough advance notice to go do surveillance beforehand, but a lot of times we don\u2019t. When we do get enough notice, it would be outstanding to use this equipment in that way. Sometimes, the National Guard\u2019s counter-drug unit is able to come out and do that surveillance and strictly inform and advise us on what they\u2019ve observed. We\u2019ve been able to get day and nighttime air assets in some cases as well.\r\n
Have you considered adding suppressors to your weapons?<\/h3>\r\nWe have. I definitely see a role for them, and it would be great to have them. Right now, we\u2019ve decided that there are other things that are more important. Our body armor needs to be replaced. It\u2019s reached its expiration date.\r\n
During the day, deputies recognize each other by their standard uniforms and marked patrol cars. Has there been any discussion of identification when working under NODs in low-light situations.<\/h3>\r\nThere has. We\u2019ve discussed the need for infrared-reflective patches for our uniforms. We\u2019ve not discussed anything for the vehicles yet. Right now, we don\u2019t have any sort of individual identification patches. As far as being on scene or in a stack, we all look the same. We\u2019ve discussed some way to recognize who is who. We do have some of the surplus infrared strobes. But that\u2019s going to alert the suspect if they happen to have cameras that see infrared light. The patches would be passive. We do have a couple of handheld thermal devices\u2014each patrol supervisor carries one. But it helps identify an individual that\u2019s hiding or if someone is injured in an area that\u2019s hard to see.\r\n\r\nThe Bottom Line on police using night vision: <\/strong>Though stealth guns and gear offer an opportunity to improve the safety and performance of law enforcement teams nationwide, tremendous improvements must be made to the availability of equipment and training required for officers, leaders and administrators to authorize and use them. Budget constraints, training priorities and knowledge deficiencies hamper the integration of stealth tools into law enforcement operations. But forward-thinking leaders such as Byrum keep pushing their departments\u2019 capabilities forward.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"What Are the Benefits and Challenges of Police Using Night Vision?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"benefits-police-using-night-vision","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:51","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/22\/benefits-police-using-night-vision\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129460,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-15 06:01:46","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-15 11:01:46","post_content":"\r\n\r\nOne of the issues every shooter must overcome when integrating stealth technology like image-intensification and thermal<\/a> devices into their inventory is how to mesh the tools used during daylight hours with the tools used during low-light hours. Rifles require optics and iron sights for redundant aiming systems during the day. When darkness falls, those same guns need white and infrared lights for searches and identifying people or objects, plus an infrared laser and either a dedicated night optic or what is referred to as a Clip On Night Vision device that attaches to the day scope for aiming once a target is found and identified. There are advantages and disadvantages to each setup. But the concept of a clip-on night sight that attaches to your existing day scope is tremendously appealing for a number of reasons.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"201553\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Pros & Cons<\/h3>\r\nClip-on night vision devices attach to the rifle in front of the day scope. Attachment is usually accomplished by placing the NVD on an extended Picatinny rail or on a forend bracket with a Picatinny rail. Some clip-on optics attach directly to the riflescope. Meanwhile, others attach to a special mount that replaces the top of the forward scope ring.\r\n\r\nUsing a clip-on in front of the day optic allows the shooter to use the same familiar scope, reticle, adjustment knobs and other controls he or she trained on during daylight hours for night operations as well. In this mode, there is no reticle in the clip-on optic, and all of the aiming is done with the reticle of the day optic. The clip-on merely presents the field of view and target image to the day optic. Some clip-ons are also capable of working in standalone mode where the clip-on becomes the sole optic. Here, it provides both the target image and the aiming point. The advantages of using the same day scope during night operations are lost in this configuration, however.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision in the Military<\/h3>\r\nPerhaps the most dominant use of the clip-on NVD is in long-range military observation and sniping roles. Our military snipers have successfully used clip-ons like the PVS-27 Magnum Universal Night Sight (MUNS)<\/a> for years. The training and proficiency benefits that come with maintaining one day-scope system for 24-hour use is significant. The same zero is maintained, the same ballistic data and resulting aiming corrections are maintained, and the controls required to make those corrections feel the same during day or night. The elevation-adjustment knob is always in the same place, always turns the same direction, and each adjustment increment always has the same \u201cclicks\u201d as it is turned. The same goes for the windage-adjustment knob. This facilitates rapid engagement and consistency of operation, which are both obvious benefits.\r\n
Using Clip On Night Vision Devices<\/h3>\r\nIf there is a downside to the most common clip-on NVDs, it is the use of image-intensification technology, which relies on available light to process and present an image to the day optic. As the amount of light increases, the performance of the clip-on increases. Conversely, on those dark, moonless, overcast nights, the range of the clip-on will be significantly limited and may require additional illumination from an infrared device. This also has advantages and disadvantages.\r\n\r\nFor the military sniper working against a night-vision-equipped adversary, using an infrared illuminator is like turning on a glowing beacon that says, \u201cDrop artillery here!\u201d On the other hand, the sniper\u2019s spotter, who often has a clip-on mounted in front of a spotting scope, or the sniper himself can watch the bullet fly to the target by observing the reflection of the infrared light off the base of the bullet. This makes spotting impacts and correcting for a follow-up shot easier than doing so during some daylight conditions when watching the trace of the bullet. If you\u2019re an enthusiast looking to ring some steel targets after hours, then using infrared illumination isn\u2019t a big deal.\r\n\r\nMounting a clip-on in front of your day scope also takes advantage of the day scope\u2019s magnification and ability to zoom in or out. Night-vision devices generally only have digital zooms that significantly degrade in quality as magnification increases. Since day scopes use optical zoom, there is no degradation or pixilation of the image as magnification is increased. Since the exit pupil decreases with increased magnification, there will be a reduction of light transmission, however. Some clip-on models will perform well only up to moderate magnification levels.\r\n
Going Thermal?<\/h3>\r\nThe ability to utilize the day scope\u2019s optical zoom ties into the primary benefit of an image-intensifying clip-on over a thermal clip-on: identification. There is no doubt that a thermal scope or thermal clip-on will make detection\u2014simply realizing the presence of a target\u2014easier. Identifying that target, however, is usually easier with an image-intensifying device due to the increased detail available through such an optic. When you are operating under the sort of rules of engagement or use-of-force criteria that our military snipers and law enforcement marksmen work with, positively identifying the guy who just walked up to the building you\u2019re observing is mandatory. There\u2019s a big difference between \u201ca tall guy with a beard and a funny hat just entered the building\u201d and \u201cOsama bin Laden just entered the building.\u201d The increased detail available through an image-intensifying device facilitates positive identification.\r\n\r\nIs there a place for a thermal clip-on? You bet. For the around-the-clock hunter, a thermal clip-on is a great option. You\u2019ve set up your stand during daylight hours. You\u2019ve zeroed and practiced with your day optic. You know the controls and are comfortable and confident in its use. After sunset, you simply clip on your thermal and the heat signatures from the animals are instantly visible. For that matter, you can use the thermal clip-on during the day as well.\r\n
Further Considerations on Clip On Night Vision<\/h3>\r\nTurn on your image-intensifying clip-on in broad daylight and you\u2019ll quickly ruin it. Points go to the thermal in this case. Another option is to use your thermal clip-on as a handheld monocular during daylight hours. You can detect heat signatures where animals may be hiding by using the thermal to scan. Once you locate the heat signature, use your day optic to zoom in. Then identify the target and take the shot if desired.\r\n\r\nKeep in mind that you won\u2019t be able to watch bullet trace or see your impacts unless there is some sort of thermal signature created by those impacts. Several years ago I spent a few days at Fort Riley, Kansas, with some soon-to-deploy snipers. Impacts on steel targets and misses into the surrounding gravel were easy to spot through the high-end thermal viewers. When we hit steel, there was an obvious thermal signature created as the bullet impacted the target. If missed (not that I<\/em> missed or anything) into the gravel, sparks flew and corrections were easy to make. When our rounds impacted into grassy areas, however, no thermal signature was created. Those misses were very hard to call precisely unless you were following the signature of the bullet itself.\r\n\r\nTo be fair, the same problems can exist with standard day optics in those conditions as well. One negative of the thermal clip-on is the reduced screen size of most units. If you want to use the optic in standalone mode or as a handheld scanner, you\u2019ll have a reduced screen. Not the end of the world, but a possible consideration.\r\n
Clip On Night Vision Final Thoughts<\/h3>\r\nAs is often the case, the right tool for the job will be determined by your application and environment. If merely finding an animal or a person that is either well camouflaged or screened by light brush is adequate, the thermal excels during day or night. If detailed identification or long-range marksmanship with a spotter is your mission, an image-intensifying clip-on has some serious advantages.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.","post_title":"Why You Should Consider Adding a Clip On Night Vision Device","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"clip-on-night-vision-device","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/15\/clip-on-night-vision-device\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":129504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2019-01-09 06:03:31","post_date_gmt":"2019-01-09 11:03:31","post_content":"\r\n\r\nEntering the world of low-light endeavors can be daunting on many levels. One of the earliest challenges that new shooters encounter is the selection of their first night-vision device (NVD)<\/a>. The idea that you can simply buy a night-vision scope and perform every shooting task at night that you normally perform during the day soon evaporates with a little research, knowledge and experience.\r\n\r\n[in_content post=\"181479\" alignment=\"align-left\" \/]\r\n\r\nSo how does a new shooter determine what type of NVD to start with? Applications and budget determine the need.\u00a0Keep in mind that there is some crossover. While one type of device may be best for a certain task, it may be acceptable, even with some limitations, for other tasks. Typically, once the stealth bug bites, we end up with multiple devices that are used together or enlisted for specific tasks as needed.\r\n
Owning The Night<\/h3>\r\nWhat most people think of when the term \u201cnight vision\u201d comes up is the green-image view from an image-intensified device like the PVS-14 or the older PVS-7. Hollywood has shown this view in movies for decades, and news broadcasts shown during the invasion of Iraq and many other military conflicts show a green, pixelated image of a darkened city with ribbons of anti-aircraft fire heading into the clouds in search of American bombers. This perception is not without merit. At this point, most U.S. service members engaged in direct ground combat are issued an image-intensifying night observation device (NOD). These image intensifier devices have reached the point of being almost ubiquitous.\r\n
Image Intensifier NODs<\/h3>\r\nAs their name suggests, image-intensifying NODs strengthen available light and present whatever the device \u201csees\u201d before it. There is no through-the-scope view of the actual object you\u2019re observing like there is through a riflescope or binoculars. Instead, a screen essentially plays a life feed from the NOD.\r\n\r\nOf course, to intensify light, there must first be light. If you close yourself inside a completely sealed room with no illumination source whatsoever, you will see only a murky black image with an image-intensifying device. Add even the smallest amount of illumination and your device will start to present a visible image. As available light increases, the image shown to the wearer becomes clearer and brighter. When an NOD receives too much light, it may be damaged, unless the unit features a control mechanism or \u201cgate\u201d to protect the image intensifier (the heart of the device) within.\r\n
Infrared<\/h3>\r\nIn addition to intensifying visible light like moonlight, streetlights or other forms of illumination that the human eye can see unaided, an NOD can see light in the infrared spectrum as well. Since infrared light is not normally visible to the human eye, this presents an opportunity for those with NODs to illuminate darkened areas without revealing themselves and their activities to an opponent who does not have night-vision technology.\r\n\r\nWith the aid of infrared light, a shooter equipped with an NOD can function on even the darkest of nights far from the spill of urban glow. Of course, if your adversary is equipped with an NOD, then he will also be able to see the infrared light just as well as you. For this reason, active infrared illumination is kept to a minimum when such a threat exists. As a note, most home security cameras feature a version of image-intensifying technology and will have multiple infrared illuminators.\r\n
Thermal Imaging<\/h3>\r\nThough most of us think of an image-intensifying device when we hear the term \u201cnight vision,\u201d there is another type of technology that fits within the category as well. Thermal-imaging devices (thermals) rely on the heat generated by objects instead of the light reflected by those same objects. This is a huge distinction and has a host of advantages and disadvantages. Anyone who has seen the movie Predator<\/em> has seen a depiction of what thermal imaging looks like to the shooter. The thermal detects the intensity of an object\u2019s heat and translates that into a shaded image that is presented to the viewer. As with an image-intensifying device, there is no through-the-scope view with a thermal. You\u2019re viewing a screen that\u2019s showing a translated representation of the heat signatures detected by the thermal.\r\n\r\nIn addition to the two main types of night-vision technology, there are multiple applications, or form factors, of each. Monoculars and binoculars feature attachments for a helmet. Dedicated riflescopes are also available in thermal and image-intensifying configuration. A dedicated scope eliminates a day scope mounted on the firearm. This has advantages and disadvantages. An alternative is the \u201cclip-on\u201d NVD that mounts in front of a standard day scope. The clip-on has no reticle but presents an image to the objective lens of the day scope. The reticle and all adjustments are inherent within the day scope. Finally, there are handheld devices with neither reticle nor mounting system. These would be similar to binoculars or monoculars used for viewing during daylight.\r\n
Image Intensifier and Thermal Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h3>\r\nSo do you need an image-intensifying device or a thermal? The short answer is yes, and here\u2019s why: image intensifying is best for navigation or tasks where details must be discernible, and thermal is best for locating warm things like wild boars across a field or a trespasser in the woods. You can certainly locate hogs with an image-intensifying device, but your range and detection capabilities will be noticeably less, especially on dark nights without much ambient lighting.\r\n\r\nYou can navigate in some cases with only a thermal device, but you\u2019ll have difficulty in others. Similar vegetation tends to take on a monotone look in a thermal. This vegetation can easily hide obstacles within, and things on the ground can trip you or impede your movement. Thermals can\u2019t see shadows or reflections, but an image-intensifying device can see both. Image-intensifying devices also perform similarly in varying atmospheric conditions. Thermals perform poorly when the temperature and humidity are high. At the same time, thermals can see warm objects through smoke, but an image-intensifying device cannot.\r\n\r\nThermals can\u2019t see infrared light, and therefore can\u2019t detect an infrared laser or illuminator. With an image intensifier, teammates can point out targets or signal each other with infrared lasers. Image-intensifying NODs can see through glass, assuming there\u2019s adequate lighting beyond that glass, while thermals cannot. As I said, you may need both.\r\n
Image Intensifier & Thermal Power Combos<\/h3>\r\nSince most image-intensifying devices are used for navigation, they are generally worn mounted in front of the shooter\u2019s eye. The most common mounting system combines a helmet-borne shroud, mount and swingarm that allows the NOD to be installed and removed from the helmet quickly, and to be flipped up and out of view when not in use. A typical execution of this would involve a SWAT team navigating from their last covered and concealed position to the target site using their helmet-mounted NODs, then flipping up their NODs before making entry into the structure with visible light. Another example is a hog hunter navigating along an old logging road using his image-intensifying NOD. One flips it up so that he can get his eye behind his weapon-mounted thermal riflescope to search for hogs beyond the brush as he nears the recently planted peanut field.\r\n\r\nAfter years of using image-intensifying and thermal-imaging devices for both professional and recreational purposes against both man and beast, here are the configurations that I believe offer the best combination of capabilities. For the tactical shooter, a helmet-mounted NOD like the PVS-14 or, better yet, a binocular NVD like the Sentinel is used for navigation purposes. An image-intensifying device calls for a weapon-mounted infrared laser to be used for aiming and signaling. For target detection, a handheld thermal monocular provides an additional capability that can\u2019t be overemphasized. Detecting targets is simply easier, quicker and more certain with a thermal in many circumstances.\r\n
In the Field<\/h3>\r\nFor pre-mission reconnaissance, team members should be equipped with both image-intensifying and thermal devices that are designed for longer-range target identification. This may include a clip-on image-intensifying optic in front of the marksman\u2019s magnified day scope and a thermal scope either mounted on a rifle or simply mounted on a tripod as an observation and detection tool. It is worth noting that most thermal scopes have the built-in capability of recording video and taking pictures. These can obviously be used as part of a briefing to mission planners and team members.\r\n\r\nFor the nocturnal hunter, I\u2019d similarly suggest a helmet-mounted or binocular NOD for navigation purposes. For target detection and as the primary engagement tool, a rifle-mounted thermal scope can\u2019t be beat. I recommend cause, of course, when using any weapon-mounted optic to detect targets.\u00a0If your budget allows, a handheld thermal monocular mitigates this safety issue completely. Finally, I\u2019d also suggest a weapon-mounted infrared laser.\r\n\r\nWhen things go perfectly and you\u2019re able to get within extremely close range of that big sounder of hogs, the added field of view of an unmagnified helmet-mounted NOD, combined with the quick-aiming capability of an infrared laser, is absolutely devastating. As the hogs flee beyond the range of the evening\u2019s illumination, you can quickly flip up that NOD and resume work with the thermal scope. This combination has proven unbeatable. So, whatever your individual needs happen to be, there is a night-vision solution for you.\r\n\r\nThis article is from the 2019 issue of Stealth magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em>","post_title":"Should You Choose an Image Intensifier or Thermal?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"night-vision-image-intensifier","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-31 22:56:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-11-01 02:56:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.athlonoutdoors.com\/2019\/01\/09\/night-vision-image-intensifier\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};