SUIT Scope Questions

wayne in boca · October 08, 2007, 04:48

Looking at buying a SUIT scope for the L1A1,and I see that Gunthings lists them with an LED illuminator.But I also hear about people installing new tritium vials in them to replace the original depleted one.Which is better and why?And,could I still change one back to tritium from LED,or is the conversion non-reversible?The LED sounds like it must use batteries,and I'd kinda like to stay away from that if possible.

**indy_Muaddib** · October 08, 2007, 04:53

i remember a discussion awhile back about this.

someone made a mount for the tritium vials, was waiting on the vials to come in so he could start selling them.

could try the search, see if you come up with it before i find it.

Edit: http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...l&pagenumber=4

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...t=tritium+vial

hey brownknees got any of those vials left and wanna do a one-off build?

brownknees · October 08, 2007, 07:29

indy_Muaddib : Sure, PM me.
I've done a few on a one-off basis, and they've worked well. The big problem is still a steady supply of the vials. They come & go, so it's a crap shoot wether or not there is one available NOW.

wayne in boca:
The main difference is durability & reliability. The battery powered LED works, it just isn't really tough, or dependable. Water (even heavy rain) will kill the electrics, and the battery is going to be dead when you need it. To replace the battery you need a watchmakers screwdriver.

The change is reversable, and you can even have both at the same time by installing the vial in the LED housing as a backup.

Gazz · October 08, 2007, 07:44

Somewhere I read about using the tritium vials from some kind of archery sight. I do not remember it being inexpensive though but it is available.
If you carefully remove the tritium vial holder it should be no problem to replace it, even if you have installed the LED illuminator.

RS39 · October 08, 2007, 10:50

Also consider the Hensoldt option (from a guy who is happy to not have his Trilux). Takes 1lb off the rig, more accurate reticle, 100m elevation increment dial instead of hi/lo lever, and with the ARMS weaver/stanag adaptor and weaver dust cover bolted on, you can fine tune the fore/aft placement to your needs and not worry about the cover wiggling.

Less original, but relatively cheap, damn tough, and mo betta

brownknees · October 09, 2007, 09:18

Quote:

Somewhere I read about using the tritium vials from some kind of archery sight.

That was me in an earlier thread about re-animating SUITs.
The sight was a Tru-Glo TG-40. At the time Cabellas were selling them for about $35.00.
You need to dissolve the plastic with a solvent, remove & wipe off the vial, drill a hole in the LED illuminator & epoxy the vial in place. It works with the LED illuminator, but doesn't make the rig any smaller, or less fragile though.

I does let you have battery-independant illumination if you can't get the original plug which is smaller and more durable.
It's another option.

Hensolds rock. Excellent sights.
But at twice the price, and blocking the carry handle, they are for me at least not the way to go, even though all the advantages listed are real. Different preferences here I think.

October 08, 2007, 04:48	#1
wayne in boca Registered FALaholic #: 10926 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 495	SUIT Scope Questions Looking at buying a SUIT scope for the L1A1,and I see that Gunthings lists them with an LED illuminator.But I also hear about people installing new tritium vials in them to replace the original depleted one.Which is better and why?And,could I still change one back to tritium from LED,or is the conversion non-reversible?The LED sounds like it must use batteries,and I'd kinda like to stay away from that if possible. __________________ This mess is so big,so deep and so tall,we cannot clean it up,there is no way at all. The Cat in The Hat

October 08, 2007, 04:53	#2
indy_Muaddib Curio & Relic Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 17581 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tampa FL Posts: 3,046	i remember a discussion awhile back about this. someone made a mount for the tritium vials, was waiting on the vials to come in so he could start selling them. could try the search, see if you come up with it before i find it. Edit: http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...l&pagenumber=4 http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...t=tritium+vial hey brownknees got any of those vials left and wanna do a one-off build? __________________ All government, in its essence, is a conspiracy against the superior man: its one permanent object is to oppress him and cripple him. If it be aristocratic in organization, then it seeks to protect the man who is superior only in law against the man who is superior in fact; if it be democratic, then it seeks to protect the man who is inferior in every way against both. One of its primary functions is to regiment men by force, to make them as much alike as possible and as dependent upon one another as possible, to search out and combat originality among them. All it can see in an original idea is potential change, and hence an invasion of its prerogatives. The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it. And even if he is not romantic personally he is very apt to spread discontent among those who are. -H.L. Mencken 1919 Were not that lucky. Last edited by indy_Muaddib; October 08, 2007 at 04:58.

October 08, 2007, 07:44	#4
Gazz Registered FALaholic #: 15159 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NH Posts: 1,934	Somewhere I read about using the tritium vials from some kind of archery sight. I do not remember it being inexpensive though but it is available. If you carefully remove the tritium vial holder it should be no problem to replace it, even if you have installed the LED illuminator. __________________ Gazz

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October 08, 2007, 07:29	#3
brownknees Registered FALaholic #: 14917 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: mid atlantic Posts: 12,015	indy_Muaddib : Sure, PM me. I've done a few on a one-off basis, and they've worked well. The big problem is still a steady supply of the vials. They come & go, so it's a crap shoot wether or not there is one available NOW. wayne in boca: The main difference is durability & reliability. The battery powered LED works, it just isn't really tough, or dependable. Water (even heavy rain) will kill the electrics, and the battery is going to be dead when you need it. To replace the battery you need a watchmakers screwdriver. The change is reversable, and you can even have both at the same time by installing the vial in the LED housing as a backup.

October 08, 2007, 10:50	#5
RS39 Registered FALaholic #: 5655 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 682	Also consider the Hensoldt option (from a guy who is happy to not have his Trilux). Takes 1lb off the rig, more accurate reticle, 100m elevation increment dial instead of hi/lo lever, and with the ARMS weaver/stanag adaptor and weaver dust cover bolted on, you can fine tune the fore/aft placement to your needs and not worry about the cover wiggling. Less original, but relatively cheap, damn tough, and mo betta