Originally Posted by
Sanch
I was thinking about buying a second set of NODs, possibly a single tube PVS14 with the remaining budget rather than a laser. I don't know what I don't know and I've never used an IR laser. So if IR lasers make sense for civilians and there's no concern of an outfitted adversary nailing you because of your IR laser, then I'll get an IR laser.
I'm not opposed to it, I just don't understand it and am trying to make sense of scenarios I'd be using NODs. I'm not planning to fight the government. The most likely threat I perceive that might have NODs is in a post-disaster world a roving band of mauranders/gangs under a warlord, and they have NODs and other liberated national guard / PD equipment. Or perhaps Antifa using their stimmy checks and Gamestop profits to buying NODs for when they peacefully protest next.
And me using a laser might invite incoming fire. Although maybe the scenario is ridiculous because I think you only activate the laser just before you're going to shoot and they'll recognize the gunfire. Not sure how much a suppressor helps. I do guess an IR laser would be much more of a "LOOK, HE'S EXACTLY THERE" kind of thing, but I don't know what I don't know.
And perhaps if the decision is made to engage, and they don't know I'm there, then activating the IR laser a few seconds before I shoot, would let them know what's about to happen and give them time to return fire or take cover. All ridiculous as a civilian, I know, but perhaps owning NODs and IR lasers/illum is ridiculous as a civilian anyway.
In my naive brain without experience to this stuff, it would seem to me that going passive would be far better for someone like me. But maybe the answer is both. Maybe in that hypothetical defensive ambush, you start off using passive aimpoint IR reticle, and once you start shooting, switch to IR since it's (maybe?) faster to shoot with and they already know where you are?
I'm down to buy an IR laser, but I wasn't sure if it was ARFCOM type silliness for someone like me to own that or if it made actual sense. Or if none of it makes any sense so just go full retard and get the MAWL.