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Night Vision For Dummies / Ratting

ristac

ristac

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We have a very large garden, we’re quite rural, I know we have rats scurrying across the garden when it’s dark, we’re surrounded by fields, and we have a septic tank so I don’t want the rats getting into it.

I enjoy target shooting HFT 500 and a HW 97 .22 I’ve never been into hunting, a shameful waste for some as wood pigeons and rabbits are in abundance in the garden (over 500ft long, woodland style).

That’s the scenario, I want to get the rats so will use the 97

I’m a bit confused on the night vision stuff, some need torches, others don’t, can someone guide me on what I should be looking to get on a lower end budget

If the scope could double up for daytime target shooing 25m that would be all the better. I don’t need to record anything so built in cameras not required
 
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Night Stalker Mini 👍
 
If you don't want to spend much money then try old school rat shooting style.
A red torch with a pressure switch (Rat tail) mounted on the rifle. Most of us have a few of these in a draw. Total cost next to nothing! Older gen NV scopes anything from about £100 upwards.
 
ristac said:
Does that do the lot then, no torch required
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It does, I bought one last week, so far so good, still getting used to it, no LRF or usual whistles and bells which cost more obviously, it will record if required, it’s quite easy to set up, price is the same across the board, I also have a Zulus which cost twice as much, this is up there with it for half the price 👍
 
SHW said:
What you looking to spend ? .. the sales section is always a good place to start
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Open minded, I’m happy to wait for something more expensive, or if it’s under £300 I could take the plunge very soon. I’ll be using the rifle more in the daytime, it has an £80 Hawke on it at the moment.

Another option would be to swap between two scopes but I’d prefer not to have to keep zeroing and messing about

I’ve seen the torch you are selling, would need a decent scope to go with it. At the moment, there isn’t a lot of choice in the classifieds, several adverts are actually missing the sold status
 
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Hello, There is plenty of choice in Night Vision these days with some good second hand bargains as people move up to Thermal scopes, Although a good red torch can work well, That is what i use on my P 15 until the clocks change
 
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The price of the older DNT Zulus is coming down now the version 2 is out. I swear by mine. It's like cheating
 
A couple of observations: You say you "know" there's rats rather than you've seen them... The first thing is to find out where they are and when they come out. Next you want to stop them scurrying so put out a bait station and let them get used to it. TBH, unless you really want to play with a proper NV system, I'd use red or green light at first. If you can rig up a very dim light around the bait that would be better than turning a torch on and off.
Be prepared to change tactics though, they're wily creatures and learn very fast.
My only knowledge of current NV is the DNT Zulus which is a cracking bit of kit and as someone else has said, is almost cheating! If I was only shooting a few in the garden though, I probably wouldn't have invested in one.
 
SHW said:
What you looking to spend ? .. the sales section is always a good place to start
Click to expand...
Indeed, there's 4 in there at the moment from £45 for a no name, £180ish for a Pard 007, £400 Hik Cheetah and £750 for a DNT Thermnite
 
I'd probably suggest a Pard 007 add on, 12mm version. It will obviously move your head back when shooting with it on, but you get used to it, it is not so bad. I use one on my Kral NP02 for garden rats at 20yds, and one on my 17hmr for 100yd foxes at my permission. They work really well, as long as your scope has adjustable focus, preferably by side focus know. They can be picked up quite cheaply second hand.
 
When I had a rat problem I started with a springer. It made such a loud bang I only got in one shot per night.

After going through the pard NV007 on a scope and selling it all I got a Sytong ST60. It's self contained and is a day night scope at the very budget end of the market. Not so good during the day but perfectly adequate for occasional ratting.

I have a picatinny rail on a HW100 so I can switch between scopes very easily so the gun can be multipurpose in seconds.
 
Perlogalism said:
A couple of observations: You say you "know" there's rats rather than you've seen them... The first thing is to find out where they are and when they come out. Next you want to stop them scurrying so put out a bait station and let them get used to it. TBH, unless you really want to play with a proper NV system, I'd use red or green light at first. If you can rig up a very dim light around the bait that would be better than turning a torch on and off.
Be prepared to change tactics though, they're wily creatures and learn very fast.
My only knowledge of current NV is the DNT Zulus which is a cracking bit of kit and as someone else has said, is almost cheating! If I was only shooting a few in the garden though, I probably wouldn't have invested in one.
Click to expand...
As per everyone else on here, thanks for all the advice, it is appreciated. “Know there are rats” just a figure of speech, I’ve seen them (hence I know) and my German Shepherds have chased them (sadly if they caught them they’d probably lick them)
 
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