What is one of the biggest hassles of trying to use a monocular as a night vision rifle scope?
Rigging the system to mount it.
It goes without saying that monoculars usually don’t have reticles, so it must be paired with some sort of aiming device, day optic, or red dot sight.
The Bering Optics eXact Precision monocular is one such optic that lacks a reticle, so it must be paired with a red dot, but it solves the issue of dealing with mounting hassles.
It comes with a kit that is rifle scope ready to get mounted and paired to provide night vision right off your barrel.
Now, that’s a cheap night vision scope setup that gets it done.
Update: Unfortunately the Bering Optics eXact Precision monocular is no longer available. For more great options, check out the best night vision monoculars here.
Quick Overview...
What We Like: Price
What We Don’t Like: Limited recoil-resistance
Best Uses: Night Shooting, Tactical Use, Hunting, Scouting, Varmint Control, Close-Range Detection
- IIT: Gen 1
- Magnification: 2.6x
- FOV: 20-degrees (162 ft/200 yds)
- Resolution: 35-40 lp/mm
- Eye Relief: 12 mm
- Color Modes: Green Phosphor
- Battery: 2x AA
- Dimensions: 7.1 x 3.94 x 2.56”/0.93 lbs
Our Verdict: The Bering Optics eXact Precision monocular is incredibly lightweight, has a genuine Gen 1 IIT, and it comes with a Weaver mount in the package. It checks all the boxes and affordably provides the sight in the dark you need.
Who is the Bering Optics eXact Precision Monocular NV Kit Best Suited to?
Night vision monoculars being mounted on weapon systems should only be considered if you’re putting it onto a light-recoil rifle. They have limited eye relief and are usually not designed to handle recoil. But, when you’re backed into a corner, thanks to a tight budget, a monocular may be what gets you night vision, even if it’s temporary.
Bering Optics put together a kit to turn the eXact Precision monocular into a high-functioning rifle scope system. What’s the catch? You’ll need a compatible open dot sight of your own to pair it with, and it needs to be mounted on an air or rimfire rifle.
So, who is the Bering Optics Night Vision Monocular for? Tight budgets, shooters who need a temporary solution to see in the dark, and those who want a functioning night vision tool after the fact.
How Does the Bering Optics eXact Precision Monocular NV Kit Perform?
Don’t be deceived – this is not a rifle scope. The eXact Precision 2.6x44 scope is a monocular. It’s a monocular that comes with a Weaver mount that allows mounting to a rifle to use as a supplementary optic to acquire night vision.
What’s great about it is that it’s a night vision optic with an image intensifier tube (IIT). It is a Gen 1, so resolution is naturally limiting. However, buyers say that it’s exceptionally clean for its type with little imaging noise. Just be ready to use the IR – a lot.
It has the essentials for an IIT device such as auto shut-off to bright light, long-lasting battery life, and good detection range. While 220 yards is quite the distance to achieve in the dark from a Gen 1, it’s the recognition range. Excellent identification will be closer to 100 yards.
While the eXact comes with the necessary components to get it mounted for night vision benefits on your rifle, it should only be as a temporary setup. Consider a night vison scope under $500 if you can stretch the budget that much. But for right now and for the price, the eXact is an instant solution to a money problem for the moment.
Features & Benefits
Price
Gen 1 for under $300 – it’s unreal. This is a monocular by design, but still, it’s night vision that you can mount to your rifle.
To put this in perspective, what you’re left to for under $300 are camera scope systems and monoculars. Most monoculars are not intended to double as a rifle scope, and a camera scope system is digital. These are your only options when you want to spend as little as possible.
For a monocular to not only have a Gen 1 IIT, but a low price and come with a mounting kit, it’s a steal.
Gen 1 IIT
There are CMOS sensor digital monoculars and IIT monoculars. The Bering Optics eXact Precision monocular has a Gen 1 IIT. It’s “real” night vision that provides analog use in ambient light without an IR. Of course, how far you can see with excellent clarity and detail will depend on how much ambient light is available.
Like IIT night vision scopes, it has a bright light cut-off feature that triggers the monocular to automatically shut-off after two seconds of exposure to excessive bright light. So, it can’t be used during the day.
However, it’s still going to need IR illumination to extend distances and light up the scene – it’s Gen 1 after all. The included IR provides up to 50-yard extended range. With Gen 1, you should also expect to see the typical night vision green phosphor display.
Imaging Quality
The Bering Optics eXact Precision scope is good. There is some visible fish-eye lens effect around the edges of the field of view, and with the IR, there is some whiteout at very close distances.
Fortunately, it does perform out to 200 yards which is excellent - again, you must run the IR. Bering Optics claims it’s good for out to 220-275 yards, but the inherent flaw of Gen 1 IITs is the inability to provide adequate identification at these distances.
The eXact has resolution of 35-40 lp/mm that is now the standard for budget night vision. It also has fully multi-coated optics that increases light transmission, and with a 44 mm objective lens aperture, that sure helps too.
Right off the bat, this isn’t your stealth scope if you’re concerned about being seen by other NVD users, but you will get by to take care of pests. Plus, you have a great field of view of 20-degrees – this is really good compared to budget digital NV.
Rifle Scope Kit
A lot of the interest in the eXact precision monocular comes from its package deal as a rifle scope mounting kit. The eXact comes with a 2-bolt Weaver mount that attaches to a Weaver rail. It should be placed behind a HUD (Heads-Up Display) red dot or holographic sight. Be aware though, you may need a riser block or riser mount for your red dot sight.
You also have an integrated Weaver rail on the body of the monocular for attaching an additional accessory… perhaps an IR laser or external IR light would be an appropriate attachment? Those accessories will need to be purchased separately.
Good Battery Life
IIT NVDs have better battery life than digital alternatives. This is apparent with Bering Optic’s eXact Precision scope. It requires 2x AA batteries for operation. With use of the IR, you’ll have a minimum of 25 hours, and without use of the internal IR, you’ll be able to stretch operation to 70 hours out of one set of batteries.
Limitations
Limited Recoil-Resistance
The eXact Precision monocular is not weapon-rated, but since it’s designed to double as a weapon-mounted optic, it’s likely that the body and tube can handle recoil, although limited amounts of it.
However, with its mounting position and limited eye relief, you’ll need to mount this to what is essentially a zero recoil rifle. So, rimfire cartridges are good to go and .223 centerfire cartridge would be the max recommendation. A scope kiss is inevitable on anything more powerful.
Popular Questions
The Bering Optics eXact Precision Monocular is not waterproof and is only water-resistant. It has an IPX4 rating.
You have a diopter to adjust the eyepiece for your vision. The monocular also has a manual focus lens and can be adjusted for focus by rotating the objective lens.
The eXact Precision monocular does not have any digital features and lacks a built-in recorder.
The eXact Precision is a good varmint hunting night vision scope when used on a rifle system. However, it’s only suitable for light recoil rifles such as rimfires, pellet and airsoft guns, and paintball markers.
The eXact Precision Night Vision Monocular has a 2-year manufacturer warranty on the image intensifier tube.
Conclusion
There are obvious limitations to using a monocular as a rifle scope, but it can be done.
If you’re on a budget and don’t want to waste money on a temporary system that will be binned once you upgrade, invest in a monocular that will still have a purpose afterwards.
Bering Optics produces high quality products. You’re lucky they even have such a product in this price range and with Gen 1 tech you can afford. To get the most out of your buy, stick with a brand you can trust and an optic you’ll forever find use for.
Update: Unfortunately the Bering Optics eXact Precision monocular is no longer available. For more great options, check out the best night vision monoculars here.
Further Reading
