New Hawke Scope Mounted and Some ?’s

Bought this new Hawke Scope a Vantage 4-12×50 AO Rifle Scope, Ill. Mil-Dot Reticle, 1/4 MOA, 1″ Tube to replace my Bushnell 4-15x? Legend? My Talon SS .22 was bought back in 2001 and some of the equipment on it escapes my memory. I bought the Hawke scope with the thought of using it for some night time hunting for rats. Therefore a high power scope is not needed, the larger objective should gather more light and the etched illuminate reticle should be a benefit. The scope is not what I would have bought if it was going to be only used during the day only. I would of got a scope with side focus, some more magnification and target turrets to start. The old scope was never mounted high enough making it hard to get sight picture. The old mounts were adjustable for elevation and windage and look like the Sun Optics ones PA sells. I decided to try to get a higher mount set-up and went with the BKL 2 pc. 11mm to Weaver bases and the Burris Signature Zee rings w/weaver bases. As some might know the Signature rings come with the pos-align inserts that allow elevation and windage adjustment. The mounts only come with zero inserts so I had to buy the offset set with +/- 5, 10 and 20 minute offset rings. Like I said I’m thinking about doing some night time rat shooting and thought of going basic to start. I bought a UTG 95 lumen flashlight with weaver mount to use on the Talon but is on backorder. I did however buy this other UTG flashlight 400 lumens to use as a hand held spotter. I will see later how well they illuminate. I have been reading a lot of older posts and trying to figure what route to go as far as equipment to start with on the cheap. I have read older posts and been on youtube watching Rolaids and other homemade NZ rigs but that in not in the cards for me. I did however look at the NV monocular and they seem like they are not too costly and could do very well at rat shooting ranges and make me more stealthy. My question is in todays market what is the best NV monocular in features and performance. It seems to me in the case of rating a lower magnification in the 2x to 3x range would be good. Any other thoughts from you guys would be greatly appreciated. Bill
Talon with Bushnell Scope

Bushnell Scope Ht. about 1 5/8″ above tank

Hawke on TalonSS

Hawke Scope Clearance above Tank