And the DTNVG has a built in IR Illuminator for short distances, whereas the PVS-31 does not have a built in Illuminator. Does it matter? That’s up for the consumer to decide. Nice review.
Honestly forgot about that, I never use the built in IR on any goggles if they have them so it never crossed my mind. Thanks for bringing it up! Pinned your comment. - Dominick
@SEAL CYCLE because its super weak. It barely provides enough illumination to be useful. Chances are you have an illuminator on your bump or your rifle that will be way better than the onboard illuminator. Saves weight and in the infantry, I literally never used the onboard illuminator because it sucks ass anyway.
In my opinion pvs31 are popular because they have good tubes and are used by special forces so I wouldn’t expect any clone/copy/real thing to have an illuminator on goggles. One because of accidents and two because the troops most likely have equipment to illuminate that is a lot better suited for that specific task basically. Pvs31 are soccom spec, if I was on a mission and my nods had an illuminator I’d be scared I’d leave it on and give away my position. I’m smooth brained though. If they made a pvs31a civillian it’d probably be better to include an illuminator for flood and close up kinda like a reading light. TLDR: if I was in a life or death situation I wouldn’t want to have the ability to accidentally give away my position with a giant “here I am” light on my forehead.
Forgot to mention the auto turn off on the DTNVG. When rotated out of the way, each pod individually turns off automatically or when the unit is flipped up the entire unit automatically shuts off. 31s do not have an automatic shutoff feature. Depending on your intended use that can be a very helpful feature to have. As already mentioned in another comment DTNVGs have a built in illuminator while the 31s do not. The illuminator is helpful when communicating between members of teams while under nods and radio communications are down.
Ole You’re right. I must’ve been issued an older model that didn’t have auto off. Or at least they wouldn’t turn off when I just rotated the tubes out of the way. Flipping the whole unit up might have shut them off though.
Love the comparison! I'm at about 90% on getting the DTNVGs. I'm going to wait till after Shot Show to purchase but Is the Auto gain on the DTNVG ever annoying? Thats about the only thing that I'm still on the fence about. Keep the videos coming!
I only have experience with the dtnvg. I have Harder WP AG 1900FOM tubes in them (cost around 15k), but the echo + tubes (they can have some small blems) are much cheaper (10-12k) amd are really worth the price. Depending on the tubes act dtnvgs can also reach up to 32k
Has anyone 3d printed a block or stopper of some kind to set the inward adjustment of the dtnvg system to create the "inter pupilary stop" like the 31s?
I’d probably buy that if I were drunk enough and be like “oops” and wait 2 months for it to arrive while feeling guilty, then not regret it at all when I put it on to stargaze at night, and realize how it’s worth the purchase.
I’ve only ever used the PVS-31A when I was fighting overseas. Do you think I’d like the ACT in Black DTNVG-14 in white phosphorus? Where can I buy PVS-31A now that I am no longer active military or LEO?
