I've been toying w/getting a thermal for pest control as I have an influx of packrats and doing night shoots would be more effective than other means of pest control. Given the relatively limited range of the rifles I have, I don't see the need spending thousands on a thermal when I shoot maybe 70 yards at the most. But, Athlon's new offering of the ATS Pros in either 25P-250 or 35P-400 seems to ring the bell. I am wondering though if the 35P-400 may even be overkill? I don't have any experience w/thermals and thus am wondering if the resolution of the 25P-250 would be sufficient for my needs (distance to target would be about 30 yards on average, 70 yards at the most, w/bodies of the packrats at my property being about 5 inches long, 3 inches tall)? I don't do any other hunting so the thermal would not serve any other need and I'd keep the scope on whatever rifle I designate for that purpose. One huge issue would be signal sensitivity, however Last year our summer was extremely brutal and for several months our nighttime temperatures remained well into the 90's, at times approaching 100 F. Leaves me wondering whether thermals under such conditions would even be able to produce an interpretable image especially since ground temperatures were higher than the ambient air. There is very little user-based information on these scopes (maybe bc they are so new?). If any of you have direct experiences working w/these units, I'd be very appreciative of your advice and feedback.
Or, would a high quality night vision scope be an effective alternative?
Thanks,
D
Or, would a high quality night vision scope be an effective alternative?
Thanks,
D