1st thermal advice

M

mbower

New member
I’m looking to purchase my first thermal scope and was wanting some advice from people with real world experience. I do quite a bit of daytime calling and don’t foresee a lot of nighttime, maybe once a week during the fall/winter season. I’ve seen on here that a scanner is important to have so I was wondering about getting the rix s3r for the higher base mag and maybe the rix k3 for a scanner.
What do you guys think? I’m not sold on any particular brand really, it just seemed like a good deal with lrf. I appreciate any help or suggestions you might have. There’s a lot of choices out there.
Mike
 
I've had Berring, Pulsar and AGM. I am now using a AGM sidewinder for a scanner and a AGM Rattler V2 as my scope. I use a Berring optic hogster A3 on another gun. They are both 384 core and work well for me. I'm sure others will say get a 640 as it will be better. A lot of guys want a better scanner than scope but I am the opposite. My longest shot at nite was 322 yds on a fox. I do not have a LRF as I don't shoot really long at nite. Both of my scopes are 3x. P
 
some of these mfg have a 5 year transferrable warranty, point is you can buy a used one and save ALOT of dollars.
a higher base mag is good for shooting distance however, not as good for shorter shots because you minimize your field of view.
I've owned AGM and Iray and both are excellent scopes.
this is a pretty good video

 
I have an ATN (old) scanner, couple Rattlers (300BO) and an Iray bolt on the 308. I hunt from a box stand so scanner isn't that necessary. Rattler size and weight is good. I don't have a LRF. I take a daylight rifle with me to the ranch, I don't trust changing optics. Don't get an off-brand. I got a dillo @ 50 with the 340, could probably do that @ 100. 640 should be good to 200. They all have about the same mag. I haven't found a problem with FOV, shooting is limited to about 90 deg. Night open field hunting requirement are probably different.
 
16 weeks(4 months) x5(5 year warranty)= 80 hunts 4000$ scope/scanner =50 dollars a night to hunt.
3 year warranty 83 dollars a night.
Cost/use ratio another reason to go digital scope/thermal scanner keep cost under 1500.
 
Great video hunter 55! I guess i had not even thought about a thermal scanner and a digital scope. What kind of ranges can you get out of a digital day/night scope? It would be nice to record daytime hunts.
 
mbower said:
I’m looking to purchase my first thermal scope and was wanting some advice from people with real world experience. I do quite a bit of daytime calling and don’t foresee a lot of nighttime, maybe once a week during the fall/winter season. I’ve seen on here that a scanner is important to have so I was wondering about getting the rix s3r for the higher base mag and maybe the rix k3 for a scanner.
What do you guys think? I’m not sold on any particular brand really, it just seemed like a good deal with lrf. I appreciate any help or suggestions you might have. There’s a lot of choices out there.
Mike
Click to expand...
Here is my opinion , and it will be different than most.
First no need in getting night time hunting equipment if you are not that interested in night hunting.
Now to the equipment. I hunted a full season with a thermal scope and no scanner.
Killed plenty of coyotes. The second year a bought a scanner because I wanted one, and everyone said you have to have one.
Some go so far as to say your scanner needs to be better than your scope. I totally disagree with this.
Reason being even though I like my scanner for some things I have never killed a coyote with it. Just the opposite I have actually killed less coyotes while fooling with the scanner. You will get coyotes that slip up on you or come in so fast that the time waisted transitioning from scanner to rifle was the only split second you could have a shot.
I like my scanner for looking out the window, scanning the field as soon as I pull up, and for finding down coyotes.
As soon as I set up I’m on the rifle. Scanner stays in the pocket.
I have no complaints with my IRay bolt TH50C.
So my suggestion is if you want to night hunt get you a nice thermal sight.
After hunting for a season or so if you like the sport , and want to continue get you a scanner if you want one.
 
mbower said:
I’m looking to purchase my first thermal scope and was wanting some advice from people with real world experience. I do quite a bit of daytime calling and don’t foresee a lot of nighttime, maybe once a week during the fall/winter season. I’ve seen on here that a scanner is important to have so I was wondering about getting the rix s3r for the higher base mag and maybe the rix k3 for a scanner.
What do you guys think? I’m not sold on any particular brand really, it just seemed like a good deal with lrf. I appreciate any help or suggestions you might have. There’s a lot of choices out there.
Mike
Click to expand...

only hunting at night part time...i would get a 384 scanner like the pulsar axion and get a good night vision scope. i use a pulsar axion xq38 scanner (384) it does everything i need it to. i use a bering optic super yoter thermal Scope (640) both of these together will cost you more than 5 grand

the reason i also suggested a good night vision scope ( i used a pulsar digex N450, i still have it) its very clear, very accurate, definitely ID the animal out to 200 or more yards with a good after market IR light ( i use one from wicked) i have made kill shots out to 200 / 215 yards on coyotes and 100 or so on fox

both of these, the scanner and night vision scope can be bought together for less than 4 grand, maybe right around 3,500 or less. its all you really need.
 
A thermal scanner and digital NV scope can certainly get you into the night hunting game for a lot less money than going full thermal setup for scanning and shooting.

But…

Do some research to understand the pros and cons of each. Digital NV gets the nod for identifying what you’re looking at because it looks like a real animal. Thermal imaging just looks like a heat signature contrasting hot from cold as white or black or a few other color options. You gotta know how to identify by reading body features and how an animal moves etc. You don’t want to shoot a fox thinking it’s a coyote, or worse, someone’s dog.

If you hunt open fields with no obstructions a digital NV optic can work wonderfully for you. It becomes far less effective, to practically useless in rain and snow. Brush or sparse grass between you and the target will also hamper your ability to see your target animal.

An example… I was calling on a very dark night and it started snowing. I called in a pair of coyotes and could see them perfectly fine in my thermal scanner. When I looked through my digital NV optic I couldn’t see anything but light reflecting back. Nothing I did helped the problem and I watched a pair of coyotes trot away. Completely useless and extremely frustrating! Yes, I tried to save $$ with digital NV. It cost me more in the long run because I ended up full thermal anyways.

Shoots100 was spot on with the setup he suggested. It’s a practical and fairly economical way to get you in the thermal game with equipment that works. It’s still an investment though. Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
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what huntO168 said is true. i forgot to mention that NV is almost useless or become completely useless in rain, snow and fog. also the IR light will reflect back on cornstalks, soybeans and high weeds if the coyotes get to close. thermal doesnt have these problems, but thermal will not see through cornstalks, soybeans, high weeds or thick fog very well.

a 384 scanner and a good 384 scope will be great but....save a little more and get a 640 scope and you will become addicted to night hunting. just something very primal about standing out in the dark, very quiet, no lights and you can see like its daytime. very cool, yet eerie at the same especially when the coyotes, fox or other animals come around and have no idea you are there but you can see them.

next on the list will be a helmet mounted scanner so you can scan hands free and see everything as you walk, thats about 6 grand more :)

welcome to the addiction.
 
Very well said bohunr. Anything is better than nothing and nothing beats thermal for spotting an animal in the dark. When I started we used red lights and had some success, we then went to NV on the gun and scanned with red lights and did even better. when we went to thermal on the gun and thermal scanner it was a complete game changer. The weather doesn't matter for the most part, no reflection off trees and what not like with NV. I do not like scanning with my gun so for me a scanner is a must. I will be the 1st to admit it is an addiction
 
mbower said:
I’m looking to purchase my first thermal scope and was wanting some advice from people with real world experience. I do quite a bit of daytime calling and don’t foresee a lot of nighttime, maybe once a week during the fall/winter season. I’ve seen on here that a scanner is important to have so I was wondering about getting the rix s3r for the higher base mag and maybe the rix k3 for a scanner.
What do you guys think? I’m not sold on any particular brand really, it just seemed like a good deal with lrf. I appreciate any help or suggestions you might have. There’s a lot of choices out there.
Mike
Click to expand...
Please give us some more info on your budget and the terrain you're hunting ?
What's available in your budget doesn't mean it'll be applicable in the area your hunting.
Like daytime hunting optics, you want to tailor them to your terrain.
SJC
 
All good info here. Never been to Neb, but all I have read, it is open country so you might get away with a scope only if the gun is mounted on a good tripod and you stand to hunt. Otherwise, IMO you will need a scanner! I WILL NOT HUNT W/O ONE. 640's are nicer than 384's but 384's get the job done quite nicely. I could ID past 400yds with my Bering r25 (1.4x) as a scanner which I used for over 4 years and still have as a b/u or loaner. I do now run a first gen Thermion xg50 on the gun and since last Feb. a Rix Stride ST6 as my scanner. I have no experience with NV but what has been said about inclement weather and brush, etc. I believe is true. I have found my Berings (3 diff ones, the Rix, and to a lesser degree the Pulsar) to penetrate heavy fog very well, though I have to go to the "black hot palette".
 
When I wanted to ease into night time coyote hunting, I bought a Wraith night vision scope.

I played with it hand held several nights to test drive it & see if, or how well I liked it.

I decided it was going to work out OK, so I mounted it up & took it hunting one night.

It was below freezing, & having to look through it nonstop, the eyepiece fogged over, making it virtually impossible to see or shoot anything.

I took it off & sold it, & immediately bought a thermal scope & scanner.

Fast forward to a couple months ago.

I bought Wraith Mini 2X to mount on a 10/22 for a mouse & coon smacker.

The eye relief was so short, you had to severely crawl the stock to get a full field of view.

So I peddled that & bought an AGM Rattler V2 19-256 instead, mucho better for the intended use.

For getting into it on a casual basis, the Rattler V2 deserves a look, starting at a budget friendly $795.00.
 
coyote at 200 yards with pulsar N450 night vision

11-13-20_200 yards.jpg
 
I’d recommend sticking to daylight hunting if it’s working for you. Now if you have money just laying around to burn then don’t skimp on a scanner or scope.
I started with just “a” thermal scope (IRay 640) and killed a pile of critters with it. Then bought another scope for a different rifle (AGM 640). I finally succumbed to the pressure in my head that I needed a scanner (AGM) and bought one in 384. HUGE difference for me!! No telling how many critters I never saw from trying to scan with my rifles.
Eventually you love the darkness and want to keep the silence so you’ll succumb to suppressor(s), yeah can’t just have one.

So, I’d stick with daytime hunting and not start down that money pit.
 
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