do i take the plunge to thermal scope?

[Henry Hunter .223]

I've been using normal glass optics on my hw100 and a rear add on, but think it's time to upgrade. Just not sure to push the boat to thermal or day/night scope. concerned about weight, the hikmicro 4k lrf seems great but weight and front focus, as I prefer side parallax, just what I'm used to. seen info about the new hikmicro alpex mini which I'm keen to see when it's released next week, but also heard they might be releasing a new thermal that is very lightweight. as ever when I make a purchase like my condor scanner a newer better version comes out. so is thermal worth it, is weight actually such a big deal. is thermal the way to go now, or go digital day night. I'm also awaiting my fac air Rifle variation so would want to use on on sub 12 and fac. be interested to hear people's thoughts as best route to go and thoughts on lightweight thermal? thanks in advance.
#an old dinosaur trying to keep up with the modern world and technological changes

 

[Airgunmann]

Thermals are nice but your going to have trouble identifying animals at a distance with cheaper thermals I use a atn 640 thor 5 2-16 lrf it does alright not as nice as others but all I can afford
I like the idea of dnt using thermal to find the animal and night vision to identify but I dont know anything about them I've had good luck with atn and pulsar

 

[CharlieF]

If you have plenty of night targets to shoot, you may want to invest in one. It comes down to basically what you would shoot at night and are they worth the expense of owning and maintaining a thermal or night vision. If I was hell bent on buying one, it would be a thermal. Most weigh much more than a normal scope and battery life will impact use for either Thermal or Night Vision. I have taken raccoons at night with my HW100 with heavy pellets using a beam flashlight. It worked just fine with the glass optics on the rifle. That works just fine for me. My night environment is not target rich.

 

[imtrigerhapy]

I just got a tnc225r this last winter and its amazing. The thermal in my opinion is priceless. Thermal picks up virtually everything. Fox and coyote over half mile. Rabbits 400 yards pluss. I can spot critters in thermal that i cant see day or ir due to grass they cant hide from the thermal

 

[6gun]

I've been using normal glass optics on my hw100 and a rear add on, but think it's time to upgrade. Just not sure to push the boat to thermal or day/night scope. concerned about weight, the hikmicro 4k lrf seems great but weight and front focus, as I prefer side parallax, just what I'm used to. seen info about the new hikmicro alpex mini which I'm keen to see when it's released next week, but also heard they might be releasing a new thermal that is very lightweight. as ever when I make a purchase like my condor scanner a newer better version comes out. so is thermal worth it, is weight actually such a big deal. is thermal the way to go now, or go digital day night. I'm also awaiting my fac air Rifle variation so would want to use on on sub 12 and fac. be interested to hear people's thoughts as best route to go and thoughts on lightweight thermal? thanks in advance.
#an old dinosaur trying to keep up with the modern world and technological changes

If it range finds and ballistic solves, go day night. I can't justify a thermal yet, but my day night zulus has been a game changer and it ranges and dials for me based on the ammo personality I've chosen.

Being able to remove it is nice too, my daily driver pigeon gun has an element helix in it and scope stickers. No nv.

 

[Jerry w]

I've been using normal glass optics on my hw100 and a rear add on, but think it's time to upgrade. Just not sure to push the boat to thermal or day/night scope. concerned about weight, the hikmicro 4k lrf seems great but weight and front focus, as I prefer side parallax, just what I'm used to. seen info about the new hikmicro alpex mini which I'm keen to see when it's released next week, but also heard they might be releasing a new thermal that is very lightweight. as ever when I make a purchase like my condor scanner a newer better version comes out. so is thermal worth it, is weight actually such a big deal. is thermal the way to go now, or go digital day night. I'm also awaiting my fac air Rifle variation so would want to use on on sub 12 and fac. be interested to hear people's thoughts as best route to go and thoughts on lightweight thermal? thanks in advance.
#an old dinosaur trying to keep up with the modern world and technological changes

I’m thinking also have to find an intitey that needs help - Dairy- ranch- garbage- sailor etc regards Jerry keep me posted

 

[dan_house]

Around here, asking questions like "Should I...." is only gonna generate one response....Yes you should

AGN is just a huge den of unrepentant enablers spending other peoples money...... I can speak with some authority on that because Ive been on both sides of that......

The next model/upgrade for any product is always around the corner. Buy what you have a need for NOW and ignore the eventual upgrade notice....

 

[Pfddi]

@Henry Hunter .223 - Oneleaf has their MARS 640k thermal at $1499 and it works very well. It comes with a 35mm objective lens, but you can get their 50mm lens and swap out in a mattter of seconds. I have many thermals and this one is probably the best for the money. To compare, I have the hikMICRO Stellar 3.0 1280k so I do have something that is at the highest end of resolution. I have an Alpex 4k and other than the weight it is a great scope. The new "air gun" version sounds promising and if they come out with a "micro thermal" it may be worth waiting for.

 

[Henry Hunter .223]

@Henry Hunter .223 - Oneleaf has their MARS 640k thermal at $1499 and it works very well. It comes with a 35mm objective lens, but you can get their 50mm lens and swap out in a mattter of seconds. I have many thermals and this one is probably the best for the money. To compare, I have the hikMICRO Stellar 3.0 1280k so I do have something that is at the highest end of resolution. I have an Alpex 4k and other than the weight it is a great scope. The new "air gun" version sounds promising and if they come out with a "micro thermal" it may be worth waiting for.

Ive been waiting to see what the new hikmicro 4k is going to be like as well. But if a lighter thermal comes out that would definitely interest me.

 

[boscoebrea]

A question only your inner self can answer,by asking, you are trying to justify.
Ask yourself,will this want be used enough and help you enough to invest it it,can the money be better spend on a need and not a want,if you actually use it enough that should answer your question ???

 

[Hal4son]

What kind of critters are you shooting at night? What are your expected distances? How target rich are your spots?

Can't beat thermal for detection. Scanning with NV is akin to scanning with a white light/torch. Eye shine is what'll catch your attention and it's possible to scan right past volunteers. Thermal misses very little but identification can be a problem with low quality units or when distances stretch out.

I use thermal scanners and either thermal or NV rifle scopes depending on the target and conditions.

 

[CoyoteGod]

If you do decide to enter the thermal world, I highly recommend going the Clip-On Route.

 

[delooper]

I put my toes into the "buy thermal" pool, first getting a rather affordable (under $1000) spotting scope. I then was fully suckered into it and bought a 640x480 thermal that was more expensive than my car. I also bought a thermal red-dot (the Holosun) just last year.

They're not just great for night-time shooting. Critters in the bushes (provided they're not too deep) and also critters just hiding in dark areas during daytime.

I got thermal because I suspected the rats in my yard had figured out not to go into the open. I was right. Now they mostly just avoid my yard altogether.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I've been using normal glass optics on my hw100 and a rear add on, but think it's time to upgrade. Just not sure to push the boat to thermal or day/night scope. concerned about weight, the hikmicro 4k lrf seems great but weight and front focus, as I prefer side parallax, just what I'm used to. seen info about the new hikmicro alpex mini which I'm keen to see when it's released next week, but also heard they might be releasing a new thermal that is very lightweight. as ever when I make a purchase like my condor scanner a newer better version comes out. so is thermal worth it, is weight actually such a big deal. is thermal the way to go now, or go digital day night. I'm also awaiting my fac air Rifle variation so would want to use on on sub 12 and fac. be interested to hear people's thoughts as best route to go and thoughts on lightweight thermal? thanks in advance.
#an old dinosaur trying to keep up with the modern world and technological changes

@Henry Hunter .223
I went from traditional scopes, to night vision to thermal. I've also hunted at night using just lights (rifle mounted and a headlamp). As for thermal and NV, I started with a hand held thermal scanner coupled with an day/night scope and I still think it is the best combination for night hunting. I then got a cheap AGM Rattler thermal scope without a LRF and returned it. I replaced it with a Pulsar XQ50 LRF and really like that scope. BUT I still like the thermal/NV combo for night hunting. Thermal will let you know something is there and the night vision will let you see it clearly if it is in a n area without many obstructions. Buy a quality unit with a good processor and the best resolution that you can afford. Be sure the warranty and customer service are good. Look at units that you can see yourself using for years as the tech advances. There will always be new models that people will get excited and rave about. As for weight, factor it into the equation with the thought that at night you're probably not going to be moving around a lot or shooting offhand. With your rifle mounted atop a tripod or resting on a bipod, the weight factor should be negligible. I prefer units with removable batteries as opposed to internal batteries becuase when that internal battery takes a crap, then you're pretty much going to be compelled to replace the unit as opposed to the battery.

What's your budget for a digital optic? What will you hunt with it? I've hunted hogs, beaver, coyote, armadillos, and caught a problmeatic possum with thermal and night vision.

 

[Henry Hunter .223]

Ive been waiting to see what the new hikmicro 4k is going to be like as well. But if a lighter thermal comes out that would definitely interest me.

I have the hikmicro condor CQ35L which is brilliant and really like their products. Hopefully going to try the alpex light. I must confess ive always preferred to scan with thermal and use nightvision to identify quarry with. But would like one scope i can switch to various rifles, be it my air rifles, the. 17hmr, rimfire,.223 or the 308. Going to the local gunshop at the weekend.... this could get expensive lol

 

[Ezana4CE]

I have the hikmicro condor CQ35L which is brilliant and really like their products. Hopefully going to try the alpex light. I must confess ive always preferred to scan with thermal and use nightvision to identify quarry with. But would like one scope i can switch to various rifles, be it my air rifles, the. 17hmr, rimfire,.223 or the 308. Going to the local gunshop at the weekend.... this could get expensive lol

@Henry Hunter .223 Have you considered a dual spectrum (multispectral) digital scope?