AR Optics

The price of a Top AR can be low compared to what you can spend on a scope or sight.  For this reason, it is important that you make informed choices.  There are a large number of low cost options, too many to properly test, so our focus here will be on products with established reputations for Quality.

IRMK3-60

Like the many different types of Firearms, there are may different optics for different needs. A long range scope is not good for Close Quarters Combat (CQC). Products suitable for Night Vision may not work in daylight. While there is no one best product, some combinations work well together.

1. Trijicon ACOG Scope - This is a popular civilian version of a scope that the US Military uses. It has a optic tube that captures light and illuminates the reticle, with out the need for batteries.  It also has a holographic  Reflex sight for CQC.  This is a good combination optic for day and low light use.
2. Aimpoint Red Dot Sight - A CQC sight with an amazing battery life (years) and is Night Vision compatible, providing you have a night vision monocle.  This low power system is a good Prepper choice along with some Rechargable batteries for a SHTF scenario.
3. Laser - A laser sight is a good addition to any firearm for the fastest target acquisition, even when shooting from the hip. Unfortunately, most of them are cheap and will not stay on target. The DBAL-A3, another quality US Military product, has IR and Visible laser beams.
4. Holographic - The EO Tech is another US Military choice for CQC and the model 552 is Night Vision compatible.  There is a magnifier available that extends the range beyond 100 yards.
5. Thermal Scope - This is the ultimate day & night scope performance wise and cost wise.  It also takes a lot of batteries.  Rechargable batteries and Solar Power to charge them would be necessary in a SHTF or EMP situation.
6. Night Vision -  Any NV is better than nothing at all, but a Generation III is the best.
7. Iron Battle Sights - Last but not least, these are simple, affordable, reliable and never have the batteries go dead.  For this reason, every AR should have a set of these available, at least as a back up.  If you want to use them as an installed backup, then consider the 45 degree offset AR sight design.  The flip up sights are the most popular but may be slightly less accurate. This would be my first purchase.

A31F-RMR: Trijicon ACOG 4x32 Scope

Aimpoint Micro T-1 2 MOA

DBAL-A3 Laser sight

EO Tech 552

Over time, you can spend more buying different budget optics, so I recommend getting good ones from the beginning.  If I was only going to have one Optic after the Battle sight, my second purchase would be the IRMK3-60, followed by a laser.  The down side for an illuminated scope with a screen is that it illuminates and highlights your face.

If I couldn't afford the Thermal Scope, I'd probably go with the ACOG or Aimpoint and a hand held Thermal Monocular.

For additional information see the following links: 
Blog Table of Contents;
Top 10 Lists
Top ARs
Prepper Weapons 
Ballistic Tip AR Ammo 

Or click on a label below for similar topics.

Night Vision vs Thermal Vision

Photo from Trijicon.com

Quality is improving and prices are coming down for tools that provide a critical tactical advantage for night time security. Every Prepper needs either Night Vision or Thermal Vision to protect his home and family from well prepared night time Home Invaders.  With out Intruder Detection, you could just be building up supplies for thieves and murderers.  Granted you can Salvage for supplies and obtain lots of things, but something like this will be a rare find.

Experienced military personnel wear their Vision Enhancement on their Helmet.Having it on your weapon or a hand held model means you need to hold it up to your face to scan for threats.

Here are a few options you might consider based on your budget:

1. Hand held Night Vision Monocular for under $175.  This is an excellent, top rated, low budget starter tool. As you can afford it, you will want something better later, but someone on your Security Watch can still use this while you use your new one or you can keep one in your Security Pack
2. Flir Thermal Vision (handheld) for under $600.  With this, I can see large game moving at 200 yards and identify them at 75 to 100 yards.  I can see and identify rabbits, skunks and other small game at 50 to 75 yards much better than even night vision costing five times more.  There are many types of Thermal Vision that allow you to see with varying clarity and at different distances.  This Flir Link shows some good examples along with the IR Hunter link under the picture above.
3. Yukon offers a low cost head mount Night Vision Monocular for under $300.  Its not the best, but is a good starter one.
4. The top of the line Night Vision is the PVS -14.  It comes with a weapons and helmet mount for well under $4,000. 00
5. The top of the line Thermal Scopes are the Flir RS 64 starting at $5,500 and IR Hunter Mark II for about $6,500.
6. There lower cost models like the Flir RS 32 starting at $3,800. 
7. Also recommended with each of these are a number of rechargeable batteries and a Solar Battery Charger or a small solar system and a regular battery charger.

Most well planned modern attacks are likely to occur under the cover of darkness making night vision critical for Security and for Actionable Intelligence.

For additional information see the following links: 
Blog Table of Contents

Or click on a label below for similar topics.
 

Thermal Imaging Scopes: Facts vs. Fiction

Most well planned modern attacks are likely to occur at night, under the cover of darkness making night vision critical for security. Thermal or digital imaging along with Gen I, II or III night vision are both necessary tools to have. However, each has their strengths and weaknesses. Click on the word night vision to learn more about the light intensification method of seeing in partial darkness and click HERE to read an excellent article on Thermal Vision which uses heat to see in total darkness but that also has its limits. 

Here are some links to good video's and pictures:

https://jagerpro.com/store/equipment-demo-videos/
http://pr-infrared.com/thermal-imaging-videos/
http://www.flir.com/home/
http://flir.com/thermoSightR-Series/ Specifications tab - good table comparing models.
http://flir.com/thermoSightR-Series/rangeTest.html Good pictures at different ranges.

For additional information from the Prepper Handbook Block, see:

Blog Table of Contents
Night Vision vs Thermal

Prepper Handbook Table of Contents
  

Night Vision – essential for security

We attack at dawn! 

For centuries, this was the strategy for attackers who wanted to surprise their sleeping enemy. Attacking from the east also had the sun to their back and in their enemies’ eyes. But times have changed with the invention of night vision.  Now the time to attack is near the darkest point, with silencers or bows and arrows.  With out night vision, it is your most vulnerable time.

 
There are a few good options on Night Vision, and many cheap ones, so it is important to check around. Most people start with a cheap one and wish either they had bought a better one, or later they do buy a better one. Here is my advice.

Check with people you know and trust but also look at the ratings on places like Amazon who publishes the good and bad ratings alike. I only buy products with 4 star ratings or higher (5 star system) , that have been rated by 10 or more buyers, and have less than 10% of their ratings as only 1 star.

The same company makes many of the inexpensive brands so again trusted ratings are important. The main classification system is Generation 1, 2, 3 & 4. Four is latest and best but only available to the military. There is a big step up in cost and notable step in performance with each newer Generation. The Gen 1 sells typically for less than $1,000 and prices have gotten lower over time with some down around two hundred dollars. The Gen 2 is roughly from slightly under $1,000 to $2,000 and Gen 3 is 2,000 and higher. This is rough pricing, there are wide ranges on all of them, and in time, they should get lower. It is important to remember that you pay for what you get although you do not always “get what you pay for.” Some times, you pay high prices for good quality but get junk if you are not careful.

This link shows some dark night examples of the G1, G2 & G3 differences:

http://www.eotechinc.com/night-vision-technology

After considering the different Generations, there is Thermal like the FLIR, which is the best for seeing warm-blooded creatures with prices down just under $2,000 now for the least inexpensive models.

You can buy several types of NV (Night Vision) equipment:

1. Monocles (lowest cost)
2. Binoculars
3. Scopes, with sights, cross hairs, dots, etc.

These different types have different ways to use them.

1. Hand held only (lowest cost)
2. Hand held &/or head &/or helmet mount
3. Rifle Mount

Obviously, the most flexible mounting is one that does it all.
Using a low cost Gen 1 Monocle hand held, it sees OK out to about 75 yards in an open field on a star lit night, but only 25 – 50 yards in heavy woods or a dark over cast night. It is a good starter tool and can be used by a sentry or guard post observing the area, but you cannot hardly aim or shoot a rifle with it at all.

I like the Gen 3 PVS-14. It does not have any type of sighting like a scope does, but it is small and will mount in line with many scopes or sighting systems and will see 100 to 200  yards in most conditions except fog which favors a thermal sight. Here is a 100-yard example for the PVS-14:

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?58392-Purchasing-a-PVS-14-(things-to-know)

It usually comes with a head mounting harness and a rail mount that will fit behind your scope and you can buy a Mitch helmet mount for about a hundred dollars. A very important feature is that the PVS is GATED. It switches off when exposed to light, protecting if from washing out like less expensive brands do. I have heard that being exposed to light a few times can render them useless.

Using the head mount, you can wear it and look around in all directions, with out having to point your gun (an act of aggression), and then aim through your gun sight to fire. This is easier to look around and an advantage as opposed to pointing your rifle everywhere, especially if you are in a snipers sight and he sees you point your rifle at him when just looking around.

Several sights like the EOTech 558
http://www.eotechinc.com/holographic-weapon-sights/model-558

and Aimpoint Micro T1 are night vision compatible. They light up their sight with a NV visible only dot, so others do not see it and it does not illuminate your face like sights might. In addition, the T1 has a five-year battery life if left on full time. The EOTech battery life is about 600 hours on AA batteries, which is what I like about it along with many other excellent features.

Another consideration is the ACOG TA31 low light Scope (not NV).
http://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/product3.php?pid=TA31-D-100288
or
www.trijicon.com

It is the most popular with the military and has been for many years. They have one of the most versatile AR reticle aiming systems available for close range (Chevron) AND longer distance cross hairs for “large” targets. It also has a clever built-in ranging system. The cross hairs cover a 19″ wide target at their intended range. So you raise the scope up until the cross hairs width covers the width of an enemy soldier and fire as that is the correct range to use. They have a light gathering fiber optic tube that works well even in low light conditions and they have Tritium lighted cross hairs for use in semi-darkness although it will not be as good as a PVS 14 in total darkness or beyond 100 yards, and cannot be worn on a head mount like a mono or the PVS.

My preferred set up would be a Head / Helmet mount PVS-14 with a Micro T1 Aimpoint red dot sight for night (or the EOTech) and the ACOG TA31 for day time. This is a low/no battery consumption set up, with the night vision being the highest battery consumption, lasting about 40 hours. Normally, I like tools that use common AA batteries, which is not the case here, but rechargeable batteries are available although fully charged they run only about ½ as long.

There are obviously people who would disagree and that prefer other set-ups, but you cannot go wrong with these quality products and are unlikely to regret your purchase. Their only down side is they are expensive, but you pay for what you get, and remember your life could depend on these some day.

For more information on Security, see Passive Layered Security for your home and property or read the Prepper Handbook. on Amazon.  It is too large to publish in one paper book but you can down load the free reader on your computer, iPad or iPhone, order the book and read it with out a Kindle.

For additional information see the following links:

Blog Table of Contents

Beginners:

Beginner Prepper List

The Rule of 3 (set priorities by this)

US Government Recommended Preparations

Why we are ALL Preppers (for skeptics)

Investing for Preppers

Advanced Prepper Resource

Prepper Handbook Table of Contents

Oath Keepers, true protectors of freedom

Group Security Drills

Bees for Prepping

Food and water:

Building your food stores the right way

Getting Started (Water)

Green House for year-round food supply

Prepper Handbook  

Gardening101 – Soil Basics

Best Prepper Chicken Breed

Bees for Prepping

Edible Wild Plants:

Chickweed & Hackberries

Natural Disaster Preparations

Natural & Man Made Disaster Preparations  

Hurricanes

Firearms and security:

NRA Gun Safety Rules

Beginner Prepper List

Survival Pack

Passive Layered Security

Night Vision

Red flag warnings its time to Bug Out

Bug Out Warning

Investing for Preppers (Financial Security)

The Best Gun

Group Security Drills

Urban Survival Perspective

Urban Survival Plan

Shelter:

Concrete Bunker Plans

Solar Power System

Wilderness Survival:

Survival Pack (Security Patrol or Bug Out pack)

Wilderness Survival Pack (Video) 

Wilderness Survival