Chatted him up about this a few nights ago....
Evidently he actually fired this rig "in desperation" at least a few times, sighting through the scope. And he was happy to have any glimpse of the guys attacking them on the perimeter. Sorta OK on moonless nights, so it didn't get washed out and result in the procedure I mentioned in my OP.
I need to get his shooting notes on the Minigun and Stoner LMG. 😎 (chopped down trees with the former, think he may have had a little range time with the latter, guy attached to his unit had one)