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I recently ran the Armasight Watchman IR Illuminator through night vision goggles while helmet-mounted and came away impressed. This is a dedicated IR tool that cannot be seen without NV gear. The beam can be adjusted from a tight spot, around 3 degrees, to a wide flood, near 14 degrees. In narrow mode, it easily reached past 1000 yards. Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell that in the video (below). In wide mode, it illuminates an outstanding field of view evenly with no blotchy hotspots. The light was clean and consistent throughout the range.
Video
Battery
The Watchman operates on a single 18650 rechargeable battery and features three adjustable brightness levels. It is built from aircraft-grade aluminum, carries an IP67 waterproof rating, and includes a 30 mm ring mount. The MSRP is approximately $199, making it one of the more budget-conscious and accessible quality VCSEL-based illuminators available today.
VCSEL
The VCSEL (vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser) source is what distinguishes this from most IR illuminators on the market. Older edge-emitting diodes push light from the edge of the wafer and tend to produce uneven beams with speckle and hot spots. VCSELs emit light perpendicular to the wafer surface, which results in a more uniform, collimated, and efficient beam. In practice, this means the Watchman gives smooth IR illumination with less wasted light and fewer artifacts. The result is a beam that looks natural through night vision and reduces eye fatigue over time.
VCSELs are only starting to appear in consumer-level units. The very highest-end military and enthusiast options, such as the B.E. Meyers KIJI series, already use VCSEL technology for exactly these reasons. The Watchman brings some of that same performance at a fraction of the cost. After testing it, I see the benefit. The beam is adjustable, consistent, and useful in a range of real conditions. For anyone running night vision, the Watchman is a strong and affordable way to step into modern VCSEL illumination.
Visit Armasight for more information.
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As the Editor-in-Chief of GunsAmerica, Hunt365, Decoding Darkness, and Suppressor Academy, True Pearce brings a rare blend of legal expertise, competitive shooting credentials, and deep hunting knowledge to the forefront of the firearms world. A former professional sponsored 3-Gun and Multigun competitor with multiple championships and titles, True’s shooting career began in long-range and tactical sniper matches—and he still burns powder in precision competitions, now branching into Hunter NRL.
A certified firearms instructor who has trained over 10,000 students face-to-face, True has also served on both sides of the courtroom as an attorney and currently as an elected Prosecuting Attorney. He has prosecuted and defended high-profile self-defense and firearms cases, giving him a unique, real-world perspective on the Second Amendment.
Outside the courtroom and off the range, True is a true western outdoorsman. A lifelong hunter and rancher, he rides and hunts off his own string of horses and pack animals, chasing elk, mule deer, wolves, coyotes, and anything else in season. He’s a longtime reloader, producing both precision rifle ammo and, back in the day, handloading over 40,000 rounds of 9mm and 5.56 annually for competition.
He’s also a thermal and night vision expert, known for his obsession with high-end optics, and is rarely found without a camera or a guitar nearby. Whether he’s glassing a distant ridge, reviewing cutting-edge gear, or deep in legal research, True brings passion, precision, and grit to everything he does.
Experience:
– Professional Shooter – Sponsored 3-Gun & Multigun competitor with multiple titles and a foundation in long-range and sniper/tactical matches.– Firearms Instructor – Certified instructor with over 10,000 students trained face-to-face.– Elected Prosecuting Attorney – Attorney with real-world experience defending and prosecuting self-defense and gun-related cases.– Hunter & Rancher – Horseback hunter with a working ranch, passionate about elk, deer, predator, and backcountry hunting.– Reloading & Ballistics Expert – Precision reloader and former high-volume competition handloader.– Optics Authority – Known for his deep knowledge and unrelenting standards in optics, thermal, and night vision gear.– Outdoor Creative – Avid photographer, guitar player, and outdoorsman with a sharp eye for gear and storytelling.– 2A Advocate – Committed to protecting the Second Amendment and educating Americans about their rights and responsibilities.