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 SHOOTING SPORTS / April 2006
POWER GEN
by Pete Wadeson
Pete Wadeson tests the Yukon NVRS-F Tactical Rail Gen 1 Nightvision Rifle scope and discovers a night sight ideally suited to airgun use at close to medium ranges.
Early night vision scopes were far from ideal, being in the main ex-military items that offered little to the hunter requiring a precise optic for night work. I mention this as prelude to the review of the Yukon NVRS-F as, over the years, certain companies listened to the feedback from end users and refined their products to be more suited to the specific performance required by the airgun hunter. None more so, it seems than Yukon - who've constantly upgraded and modified their units to suit the sport shooter and that applies to Gen 1 and beyond.
Looks familiar The NVRS has been used as a base unit and is known under several names, the most familiar being the Mini-Osprey or Titanium. Basically it has evolved in respect of having a mount suitable for direct air rifle fitting, more precise turret adjustment and improved reticule as well as now having options to fit a doubler lens and additional IR torch or gun lamp with IR filter. The Yukon NVRS-F is the pinnacle of this line and the first Gen 1 NV scope to have an adjustable fine focus ring for the objective that can get in as close as three yards. This means that you can easily use it for close range ratting and similarly adjust for medium range night shooting. The NVRS-F is one of the easiest of scopes to operate, having a single, 3-position lever on the right of the body casing. This turns it one and powers up the on board IR unit. Forward of this is the rheostat for reticule illumination; this large, ridged edge dial is easy to use. The ret itself is a sort of floating Dual-X in red, set against that odd green/sparkly glow common to all NV units. Power comes from two AA Alkaline batteries that slip into a compartment under the IR projector. The windage and elevation adjusters sit on a block (rear right) and the turrets are finger- adjustable with removable waterproof caps. Magnification is a fixed X2.5 but fitting the optical extra, can up this. This screws into the objective housing and, despite what you might think, ups the mag to X4. I feel this item is a very useful addition. Typically of NV sights there are two focusing system; one around the eyepiece, which sorts out your end and the reticule, and a second for the objective, which brings the target into focus. This is positioned a third of the way back from the front and shows a nicely sized raised lever to help with adjustment. It is smooth and easy to operate and even with the doubler fitted you can still focus down to three or four yards. The sight mounts lower than most other NV units as it can be fitted directly to the dovetails of most air rifles. Pleasingly, it fits behind most protruding magazine feed multi-shot PCP's as well. TO complete the package there's a remote pressure switch that can be fitted to the rifle anywhere that suits and when pressed it operates the power and IR simultaneously.
In Use The scope comes with a flip-up front lens cover with a pinhole in the centre for daytime zeroing. A word of warning here, don't open this up in the day when the unit is on, as it will damage the intensifier tube... Once daylight zeroed I always check and fine-tune in the dark - with the cover up, of course - before hunting. The unit has an effective observation/detection range of approximately 60 - 80 yards depending on size of quarry, ambient light and intensity of the IR unit used. The on board IR illuminator is powerful enough for ratting out to 25 yards or so, but for targeting rabbits I'd advise you fit an extra IR torch to the side on the weaver rail that runs along the left side of the body casing, or better still a compact gun lamp with a IR filter. (The Deben Atom is by far the most appropriate of these due to its size, weight and impressive power output).
Conclusions The Yukon NVRS-F Tactical Rail Gen 1 Nightvision Rifle scope is by far one of the best value for money Gen 1 units available for the air rifle hunter who is looking to get into Nightvision shooting without having to rob a bank. The sight picture is good, meaning the intensifier tubes fitted are top grade, but a double lens is a distinct advantage should you be targeting rabbits, and fitting an extra IR is similarly advantageous. Personally I feel there's never been a better time to make a decision to try shooting with Nightvision. Yukon offer a three-year warranty on all NV equipment and that's something else you'll not find anywhere on the market. Take some advice from an airgun hunter who uses this kit - buy one now, get out in the dark and enjoy it ! |
