Dagben77 Posted December 29, 2012 Report Share Posted December 29, 2012 Hi Folks, I have wanted a NS200 for about a year now and with the sale of my R10 done, I was at last (financially) in a position to buy one. Sod's law. I rang all my local RFD's to find they either don't sell them or they were out of stock! ******. I found an RFD in Cirencester that had them, so I went and picked it up that day. Just like to add that Cotswold Country Living were a pleasure to deal with. Any way, on with the review. I'm not going to go on about the supplied kit as this is available more visually elsewhere (the Tube etc.), however, I will add that they no supply a tinted screen cover which I will explain later. As I have seen these being set up on many rifles before on various on-line video websites, so setting it up for the first time took less than 3 minutes, mating it to my CZ 452 22LR. The only thing I had to faff with is the focusing of the ocular camera which takes only seconds. After I was happy with my set up, I packed it away and headed out to one of my permissions. I'm using a budget scope on the CZ at the moment which is the Hawke Eclipse 3-12x50 AO IR. Setting up in the dark is a doddle (although it was full moon), especially when you leave the mounting bracket on your scope : ). Within minutes, I was up and running and had the company of one of my work colleagues with me to spectate. I switched on the NS200 and within minutes spotted a rabbit at about 70 yards out. Crept in another 20 yards, got comfy with a kneeling shot and bang! My mate wasn't convinced I got it (he was using my Bresser NV monocular) and when we walked up to where the rabbits was, bingo! There he was. precise clean head shot. 10 minutes later we spotted another 2 rabbits feeding, out at what I thought was about 75 yards. I get prone for this one, take a breath and bang. Once again, bingo! This time I paced it out and was actually 87 (ish) yards. but still somehow a clean headshot. All in all very impressed with the NS200. The Bad points!!! Whilst spotting, 3x magnification is great and picks up a lot of detail, however, when you zoom in to a higher mag, the light transmitted through is reduced heavily and I'm not convinced I have the focus quite right on the NS200. I don't think this reduction in quality is purely down to the NS200, but may be a result of me using a lower end scope, but just something you need to be prepared for all the same. For you boys and girls have S&B's, Zeiss or Leupold's this may improve things. The shooting position hasn't been a problem for me apart from my arms tiring quite early on and having to try a variety of grips to prevent further fatigue. To be fair though, as my permission is so quiet, I have to do a lot of walking to find anything. The rifle still fit on my shoulder with it's sling just fine without any problems of knocking screen and cameras off The screen glare is immense when on full power! My natural night vision isn't great and whilst looking at a hugely bright screen for more than a few seconds, I can't see much else immediately afterwards. To help remedy this, NiteSite are now supplying a screen filter which works a treat. It's nice to see a manufacturer listening to their customers as I know there have been comments about this previously. Clicky rotary power switch. It has a 6 position switch starting off with screen only with 4 subsequent IR power output modes. I found I had it on IR no 2 (out of 4) most of the time as I could see a healthy 80-90 yards along hedgerows etc. The problem with this switch is that it's too bloody loud! To return the NS200 to the desired setting from off, the switch would need to click 3 times, which is really annoying. I'm sure there could be another way. I read somewhere that someone had used an inline rocker type switch on the 12v power lead. The worst thing about my nights experience with the NS200 has to be the wiring harness at the battery end. Cheap or brittle cables. In the first night of use (1 hour), the cable to the positive spade connector snapped of without (knowingly) subjecting it to any great force. Whilst trying to make a connection with what was left of the cable, the other end of the cable inside the fuse holder then also snapped! ******. So that halted my nights shooting! I will contact NiteSite for a replacement but as it's Christmas and they are on holiday, I crimped some new connections on for the time being. All is good again. I will just add that these cables at the battery end are the only ones that appear to be of anything other than great quality. The rest of the unit is very well made and put together, even the annoying clicky switch feels quality, just bloody noisy. To sum up, despite the niggles, I have spotted foxes at 185 yards on 3x scope mag using a lower end scope with no problems whatsoever. Used 2 rounds to bag 2 rabbits within the first 15 minutes of me leaving my car and my permission isn't particularly busy with rabbits. In fact most nights I go out there, I draw a blank and come home pee'd off. If you were at all tempted and have the money, GET ONE!!! They're great. Hope you found this useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis2012 Posted December 29, 2012 Report Share Posted December 29, 2012 Hi Folks, I have wanted a NS200 for about a year now and with the sale of my R10 done, I was at last (financially) in a position to buy one. Sod's law. I rang all my local RFD's to find they either don't sell them or they were out of stock! ******. I found an RFD in Cirencester that had them, so I went and picked it up that day. Just like to add that Cotswold Country Living were a pleasure to deal with. Any way, on with the review. I'm not going to go on about the supplied kit as this is available more visually elsewhere (the Tube etc.), however, I will add that they no supply a tinted screen cover which I will explain later. As I have seen these being set up on many rifles before on various on-line video websites, so setting it up for the first time took less than 3 minutes, mating it to my CZ 452 22LR. The only thing I had to faff with is the focusing of the ocular camera which takes only seconds. After I was happy with my set up, I packed it away and headed out to one of my permissions. I'm using a budget scope on the CZ at the moment which is the Hawke Eclipse 3-12x50 AO IR. Setting up in the dark is a doddle (although it was full moon), especially when you leave the mounting bracket on your scope : ). Within minutes, I was up and running and had the company of one of my work colleagues with me to spectate. I switched on the NS200 and within minutes spotted a rabbit at about 70 yards out. Crept in another 20 yards, got comfy with a kneeling shot and bang! My mate wasn't convinced I got it (he was using my Bresser NV monocular) and when we walked up to where the rabbits was, bingo! There he was. precise clean head shot. 10 minutes later we spotted another 2 rabbits feeding, out at what I thought was about 75 yards. I get prone for this one, take a breath and bang. Once again, bingo! This time I paced it out and was actually 87 (ish) yards. but still somehow a clean headshot. All in all very impressed with the NS200. The Bad points!!! Whilst spotting, 3x magnification is great and picks up a lot of detail, however, when you zoom in to a higher mag, the light transmitted through is reduced heavily and I'm not convinced I have the focus quite right on the NS200. I don't think this reduction in quality is purely down to the NS200, but may be a result of me using a lower end scope, but just something you need to be prepared for all the same. For you boys and girls have S&B's, Zeiss or Leupold's this may improve things. The shooting position hasn't been a problem for me apart from my arms tiring quite early on and having to try a variety of grips to prevent further fatigue. To be fair though, as my permission is so quiet, I have to do a lot of walking to find anything. The rifle still fit on my shoulder with it's sling just fine without any problems of knocking screen and cameras off The screen glare is immense when on full power! My natural night vision isn't great and whilst looking at a hugely bright screen for more than a few seconds, I can't see much else immediately afterwards. To help remedy this, NiteSite are now supplying a screen filter which works a treat. It's nice to see a manufacturer listening to their customers as I know there have been comments about this previously. Clicky rotary power switch. It has a 6 position switch starting off with screen only with 4 subsequent IR power output modes. I found I had it on IR no 2 (out of 4) most of the time as I could see a healthy 80-90 yards along hedgerows etc. The problem with this switch is that it's too bloody loud! To return the NS200 to the desired setting from off, the switch would need to click 3 times, which is really annoying. I'm sure there could be another way. I read somewhere that someone had used an inline rocker type switch on the 12v power lead. The worst thing about my nights experience with the NS200 has to be the wiring harness at the battery end. Cheap or brittle cables. In the first night of use (1 hour), the cable to the positive spade connector snapped of without (knowingly) subjecting it to any great force. Whilst trying to make a connection with what was left of the cable, the other end of the cable inside the fuse holder then also snapped! ******. So that halted my nights shooting! I will contact NiteSite for a replacement but as it's Christmas and they are on holiday, I crimped some new connections on for the time being. All is good again. I will just add that these cables at the battery end are the only ones that appear to be of anything other than great quality. The rest of the unit is very well made and put together, even the annoying clicky switch feels quality, just bloody noisy. To sum up, despite the niggles, I have spotted foxes at 185 yards on 3x scope mag using a lower end scope with no problems whatsoever. Used 2 rounds to bag 2 rabbits within the first 15 minutes of me leaving my car and my permission isn't particularly busy with rabbits. In fact most nights I go out there, I draw a blank and come home pee'd off. If you were at all tempted and have the money, GET ONE!!! They're great. Hope you found this useful. Great review!! I have been looking at purchasing 1 for myself to use on my CZ452 .17Hmr, same boat as you not many rabbits but the odd few. The only problem is i have a Nikko Sterling Platinum Nighteater 10x50-60 scope with paralex adjustment. Would using it on the minimum which would be x10 be a problem with the nite site? Or wouldit still be very clear at 100yds +? Also the other reason is thatm thiking £600 is alot of money I could get myself a nice semi auto 12 g as I only have a crappy essex sbs Thanks lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagben77 Posted December 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2012 Hi Lewis, You have 2 potential problems with that scope. Firstly, as you say, light transmission might be low due to the high mag but also your field of view at that mag would be tight, trying to use it for spotting could be tricky. On the plus side though, you have a large objective lens and (I believe) a 30mm tube. Both of which would ordinarily help light transmission. If you're ever over south Birmingham way, you would be more than welcome to try it out. As someone else mentioned on another forum, the higher end scopes tend to block out more IR than cheaper ones. Something to do with the lens coatings, which would also reduce quality so I wouldn't get too hung up on scope quality as such. As long as it holds zero and has a low magnification, all should be good. I have got another scope that I've yet to try as I'm hoping Hawke will replace due to issues which is a Panorama EV 4-12x50 AO IR. Now that scope is great at night and a wider FOV than most. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim c Posted December 30, 2012 Report Share Posted December 30, 2012 Yet another post tempting me to buy one. What kind of distance are you clearly identifying rabbits ? How long does battery last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagben77 Posted December 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2012 Hi, that's a tough one. There are a number of factors that affect it's performance. Moisture in the air can knock down the range a bit. Ambient light and as we have already mentioned of course, the scope you use. Put it this way, the few rabbits I've taken were spotted before being within 22lr range (that's my range of capability which is about 100 yds in the dark ). When you get comfy (prone in my case), and fiddle with your scopes focus, you can clearly make it out to be a rabbit up to about 150/160 I suppose and not had much opportunity beyond that. The first time I took it out, I was struggling to get a good focus at high levels of zoom, but I now have moved the camera further away from the ocular and this has improved things a lot. Eye shine on rabbits is definitely close on to the 200m claimed range, but haven't as yet been able to get down and prone without the grass obscuring my view to try and zoom in. I have quite small and awkward shaped fields on my permissions. I have tried to whilst standing but trying to cock about with the focus, zoom, brightness one handed is quite tricky and by the time you've got all done, you've lost the target (small FOV) . I'm sure I'll get better with it as the outings continue. Maybe next Christmas . Hope this helps, they are good. Oh, sorry. The Battery! Don't know. The most I have used it is a few hours with no problems. I always stick it back on charge once I return as the lead acid types don't like being discharged and left. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted December 30, 2012 Report Share Posted December 30, 2012 good write up, I know its been said before, but I'll say it again, so glad I made my own, not only is the finish, then as good as you want to make it, ie the wiring harness, but in its actual use, it doesn't sound any different to my home made jobby, just around £548 dearer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim c Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Cheers mate. What's involved making your own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtailhawk1 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Would like to make my own, but when following threads the parts change and I get lost on what bits to actually buy. Also a clear sight range has not been confirmed. This is the reason why I am leaning to buying one built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Would like to make my own, but when following threads the parts change and I get lost on what bits to actually buy. Also a clear sight range has not been confirmed. This is the reason why I am leaning to buying one built. you don't need to buy exactly what someone else has, prices change, that's why parts do simply put a car reversing lcd screen a cctv camera a 16mm lens a power source (many different ones out there) a infra red lamp/laser, again many different types http://youtu.be/7Haioaq56wY at the end of day, its either take a chance on £50, or pay £500 plus, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 yup, one you get a guarantee and you can take lamping the next night, the other is a hobby with fairly variable results and you might get it working well enough to use some point in 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtailhawk1 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 you don't need to buy exactly what someone else has, prices change, that's why parts do simply put a car reversing lcd screen a cctv camera a 16mm lens a power source (many different ones out there) a infra red lamp/laser, again many different types http://youtu.be/7Haioaq56wYi at the end of day, its either take a chance on £50, or pay £500 plus, For example not knowing anything about CCTV cameras how do you know what to buy to get the furthest range? What range do you get with yours? ATB Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDW Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Hey Ben just a quick shout out to say I have now got the aforementioned R-10 setup and am loving it. really great rifle and great doing business with you. JW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagben77 Posted January 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Hey Ben just a quick shout out to say I have now got the aforementioned R-10 setup and am loving it. really great rifle and great doing business with you. JW Excellent. You stuck your own scope on it? How's she shooting? All good I trust. Pleasure doing business with you. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDW Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Yeah I swapped the Nite Eye off the air ranger onto it. Shoots like a dream really well balanced and comfortable to shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.