Brat:
Even though this is known to most I will give a short review on what NVGs are to set up the answer:
NVGs are what they used to call "Starlight Scopes" back in the day when the technology was new.
Unlike FLIR, it doesnt look for heat differences, it amplifies the little light that always remains even when it's night out.
All generations of NVG do that exact thing.
The difference among the generations is primarily in their sensitivity, their resistance to "blooming" and their ease of operation/weight/size.
So it is one of nuances albeit non trivial ones.
A Gen 1 unit may on all but moonlit nights need a Illuminator.
These will use IR light which the unit can amplify into visible light for you in the ocular (but cannot be seen by those in your vicinity who do not wear NVG)
IR illuminators are often built into the early units, but rifle mounted IR light can be a powertool to dramatically improve the performance of the early generation NVGs (even late generation NVGs very much benefit from this on darker nights .. I've experienced this myself when looking from a not quite perfectly dark road to pitch black underbrush.)
A late model NVG such as a PVS14 properly adjusted will give you a vision that IMO is roughly equivalent to deep twilight with the naked eye.
Which means good enough to see most folks and engage most folks but not nearly as good as a bright day.
Even with these limitations they are an incredibly powerful tool and I encourage folks to buy them.
HOWEVER I do not agree with the school of thought that says " Dont bother buying anything less than a PVS14" .
The argument that is most often used by those folks is "If you buy an older unit you need to use IR illum most of the time and that cna light you up to the bad guys who also wear NVGs especially if they use NVGs that dont generally need Illum."
This argument presupposes that you are operating gen1 units in a situation that minimizes its abilities while maximizing its weakness.
Could this happen? Sure but there is a reason they were used for many years to great effect by US military. They are by no means useless.
IMO Gen 1 units are MUCH better than having nothing.
If in the much quoted worst case that you are facing PVS 14 equipped guys gen1 NVG IMHO can still be very useful.
For one if you are facing such a team they will likely be very confident. almost certainly overconfident facing a "mere" prepper.
Any team thats well enough equipped to run PVS14 will be well equipped enough to run weapons mounted IR Illum as helper...So... as a result they will use their own IR Illum at times.
(Heck some fools may leave them permanent on if they are overconfident or feel the dark woods/bushes closing in on them.. dont underestimate the effect of fear on even say a rogue SWAT team that's gone evil)
Even a good PVS 14 can benefit from the use of weapons mounted IR when looking into brush and into dark rooms from the streets of a black outed city.
And when this happens they just illuminated themselves to you just as big as if u were using your IR illum. Kinda like using a powerful flashlight in the middle of night when both parties are using naked eye.
Same effect.
Also What is your primary sensor at night?
Your hearing isnt it (more on this later)...
Remember even the best NVGs can be defeated.
Even good PVS14 and even 15 as issued to the .mil cannot see you where a naked eye would fail to spot you in daytime.
So let me spin an example where a gen1 unit could still be VERY effective even in the worst case scenario of facing a PVS14 equipped Team.
Say you have Gen 1 and were to hide behind a bush that you know will hide you in broad daylight...
And then you wait... eventually they come close you can hear them.
You and your buddy dont talk and dont move a muscle (noise discipline!!!!!!!!!)
-If you applied some discipline and elbow grease as they come down they cannot hear you and cannot see you despite moving under use of PVS 14.
If they get suspicious and you get unlucky they might decide to illum your bush with a rifle mounted light... but guess what yes then they might see you.. but you also can see them and its ON and the ensuing firefight is at a much more level playing field. They will still have better target acquisition but you picked this spot for a reason right? you should have great field of fire and maybe even a bit of cover....
-Or another example they are moving past you.. you and your buddy wear gen 1 with an Otal on your rifle and/or an IR light for Illum (but neither are on as you wait!).
When they are in the killzone you turn on both .. Now you can see them. and they can see you.. Again visual (near ) parity is established but you have the edge of surprise and
again they are in a killzone and you are not...
So in summary I do NOT discourage anyone from quipping themselves with a PVS14 and a DBAL or OTAL. Its possible to skip the helmet and wear a airsoft plastic helmet with built in PVS mounts. Not as good as milspec but still fairly robust and WILL work.
This
might keep the total expense to 3500 bucks
BUT the point I am making above.. even though a PVS 14 especially in combination with a IR laser is the superior gear that many strive to own...it does not mean that lesser gear has no utility...especially to those who train with it.
It also does not mean that even if you have the more affordable gear this cant be made up by smart tactics and good fieldcraft even against a lavishly equipped foe.
AND I think its a bit of a strawman argument anyway to disregard gen 1 Stuff for that reason.... because who is to say that pVS14 guys will be your primary opponent?
What about the gang of thugs from town? The starving entitlement zombies?
All the limitations of gen1 will be fairly trivial against such opponents.
So if you absolutely cannot swing a PVS14 and IR laser such as OTAL or DBAL for your rifle then
don't despair!
There ARE affordable units out there that will give you a lot of utility.
If I was in your shoes I would buy a Gen1 unit that I can mount on a helmet (mounts not included)
(On sale)
https://www.botach.com/lancer-tactical-ca-725-pj-type-fast-helmet-w-rails-velcro/And a IR capable light thats also an awesome white light (switchable) :
Also on sale:
http://www.brownells.com/shooting-accessories/flashlights-accessories/gun-mounted-flashlights/wml-white-ir-led-weapon-light-flat-dark-earth-sku100015377-53896-146525.aspx?cm_mmc=cse-_-Itwine-_-shoppingpla-_-Led%20Weapon%20Lights&gdffi=4c10f1ff40354714b834b0032f76348a&gdfms=FB73F94393D24510B967ACF799B6B053And a gen1 unit thats mountable on helmet w/ a mount.
Why do I not link such a unit?
Because I have little personal experience beyond old army units with gen 1 and do not consider myself qualified to make specific buy recommendations..
But with a bit of elbow grease it should be doable to put together a credible night capability with a Gen1 unit + helmet above + light above for approx 500-600 dollars total (depending on where you source your mount).
This will enable you to see at night fairly well and also engage in point shooting at very short engagement distances.
(Which is all that can be expected in dense woods or in urban area anyhow)
Adding an OTAL will double your cost ,adding a DBAL will more than double it, but both should enable you to engage in aimed fire at night even when only using a gen 1 unit (The DBAL also has a visible laser component that the OTAL Lacks)
Also most components on this list (OTAL/DBAL, Lancer Helmet, Inforce IR capable WML) are 100% compatible with PVS 14 employment should you ever find yourself able to upgrade in the future.
