Night vision/thermal optics for $500ish?

[Bacpacker]

Good discussion I'm in the market for something myself. Just not sure what and don't want to mortgage the house for it

 

[Sourdough]

All things considered........one might look at the usefulness of "Large" objective lens Binoculars, the highest quality you can afford. I just sold my $2,450.00 15X56 Swarovski Binoculars. I loved them for Night and Day. It sucks to be going blind.
If someone asked me about post SHTF defense, and they had $3,000.00 to spend, I would suggest a good used bolt action rifle, with good used scope for $495.00 and spend the rest on binoculars and spotting scope. Yes......I full realize no one would take that advise......other then a retired professional hunter.

 

[Aerindel]

All things considered........one might look at the usefulness of "Large" objective lens Binoculars, the highest quality you can afford. I just sold my $2,450.00 15X56 Swarovski Binoculars. I loved them for Night and Day. It sucks to be going blind.
If someone asked me about post SHTF defense, and they had $3,000.00 to spend, I would suggest a good used bolt action rifle, with good used scope for $495.00 and spend the rest on binoculars and spotting scope. Yes......I full realize no one would take that advise......other then a retired professional hunter.

I really like discussions with a budget cap.

I usually tell people not to even worry about guns for home defense until they have fortified their doors and windows. There are countless videos of home invasions on youtube that start out with the bad guys simply kicking their way through the front door. Wether you win the gunfight afterwards or not, its an incredibly failure of defense to spend thousands on guns when a few hundred could secure your doors and render the issue moot.

 

[Hardcalibres]

All things considered........one might look at the usefulness of "Large" objective lens Binoculars, the highest quality you can afford. I just sold my $2,450.00 15X56 Swarovski Binoculars. I loved them for Night and Day. It sucks to be going blind.
If someone asked me about post SHTF defense, and they had $3,000.00 to spend, I would suggest a good used bolt action rifle, with good used scope for $495.00 and spend the rest on binoculars and spotting scope. Yes......I full realize no one would take that advise......other then a retired professional hunter.

Agreed. Quality Binos and Spotting scopes (particularly with big objective lenses) are great assets.

An interesting gadget that is available is this:

https://www.badgerordnance.com/obse...ocket-snap-pvs-14-to-m151-spotting-scope.html
That adaptor allows a PVS14 NVD to be fitted to the ocular lens of an M151 military spotting scope........making a night vision spotting scope

The M151 is also sold as the Leupold 12-40x60 spotting scope:

https://www.leupold.com/mark-4-12-40x60mm-mil-dot-spotting-scope

 

[SheepDog]

windows are the easiest entry into a house. Doors are second and the walls are third.
A gun will stop all of them given notice and practice. 4 cameras do a decent job of watching the exterior of your home but a clear well lit path is even better.

 

[Aerindel]

I would say a standard door is easier. A window is easier to break, but most are a least 3-4' off the ground and once broken, present sharp spikes, dividers, etc in the way.

And it looks like it takes very little effort to break through some doors:

Notice, huge window in the door, he doesn't even bother breaking it, the door is easier.

A gun will stop all of them given notice and practice.

A gun could stop them...every gun fight can be lost too. And 'winning' a gunfight still creates a lot of trouble that you could have easily avoided with a few screws.

 

[SoJer]

FLIR Scout Handheld for $479 looks like an option.
Any thoughts?

Ehh, Fwiw, I went thru 2x 'consumer-end' FLIRs - before returning them.. Tried out the 'Scout TK' and that was really Just Too Small (see Hardcalibres comments on sensor-size.. Yep..) to be of any use - at any 'Contact Safe' Ranges - People looked like a 'transient' blob, at best and animals (ie: a dog) barely registered at All, so.. Went back..

..Then 'broke it off a bit', and tried the 'Scout III 320' (~1700.ish) And, while it was a "little better" - I just could not see the 'ROI' on that (and didn't feel going for the 'next bump' to nearly $2400. was gonna really 'pay off', either, so.. Back It went..

..Was saving for a 'clip on' Thermal by AGM, but.. They seem to have 'pulled it' from the market, I can't even find 'refs' to the exact model online anymore, so.. *sigh* Oh well.. Figured I could make some sort of 'adapter' to use it as an off-rifle monoc, etc..

Overall, sure, as Aerindel points out, it's Good to be able to see Something (vs little-to-nothing, in pitch-black circumstances..) but again, Distance is where even that will fail ya (at least with the 'within civvie-reach Budgets' / non-Mil stuff..) as seeing "something" still does not help you distinguish between something To risk 'going out to check out'.. Expecially if you're talking 300-500 yds or more, out..

Have not Tried these (and they're more expensive than the 'low-end Scouts', but.. Seems you'd get More (sensor-size) for Less (than the Higher-end Scouts..) https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/agm-taipan-tm15-384-thermal-monocular?a=2252998 ...Fwiw..

To be sure, short of True Mil-grade Thermal, it's hard to really Get the 'ROI' for us civvies... But for NV, there's a Much wider gamut of - "Decent" / usable - options for us.. On the 'low end', I got a pair of these: X-Vision Digital Zoom 2X Deluxe Night Vision Binoculars ..and while I expected them to be cheap 'ChiCrap' - they actually perform pretty well (for what they "Are") within ~100 yds - 'Good enough' that I was able to successfully 'hunt' / shoot (possums) in pitch-blackness at around 30 yds a couple times..

..And, owing to the 'unibody style' (vs a 'true Binoc') I was able to fab / adapt some 'GoPro' mounts, for a flip-down helmet mount ('Adaptation', heh that actually works pretty well.. 'Con's tho, are that it's somewhat heavy, and takes 8x AAs, ouch..

In the 'scope arena', Fwiw, I have heard quite a few good reviews of the 'Wraith': https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...ith-hd-4-32x50mm-digital-riflescope?a=2209141 (have not tried it yet, personally, but if/when I do, will report-back

Also (and sorry to Ref to the "Other site" but this is Just Too-Good of experience-seasoned info / thoughts to Not post.. https://www.survivalistboards.com/threads/night-vision-civilian-use.20381/page-2#post-6798673
https://www.survivalistboards.com/t...e-of-night-vision.574665/page-4#post-11422721
https://www.survivalistboards.com/t...e-of-night-vision.574665/page-4#post-11428385
https://www.survivalistboards.com/threads/night-vision-or-thermal-imaging.336999/page-2#post-6258494 Fwiw..

jd

 

[SheepDog]

I would say a standard door is easier. A window is easier to break, but most are a least 3-4' off the ground and once broken, present sharp spikes, dividers, etc in the way.

And it looks like it takes very little effort to break through some doors:

Notice, huge window in the door, he doesn't even bother breaking it, the door is easier.

Notice he broke the hinge side of the door from the wall. I think the photo is faked by and for the news. The three hinges and the 9 screws are a lot harder to open than the latch side with only two screws that are 3/4 inch long into a 5/8 inch thick board. There are no splits or shattered pieces of frame. It actually looks like he is trying to hang the door not breaking in.