Flir PTS233 and PTS536 Comparison

Kirsch

Kirsch

Active member
I used a Flir PTS536 for a thermal scope and a Pulsar Helion XP38 as a scanner this year for night hunting. My hunting partner, Mike Prochnow, used a Flir PTS233. Here is a video we captured as we both were filming when this triple appeared. We shot simultaneously on the first two, and he finished the triple at just short of 300 yards with the PTS233. When the PTS233 is zoomed past base magnification, it loses a lot of quality, but he was still able to make the shot. I can say the PTS233 is a great value for the hunter who doesn't shoot past 150-200 yards consistently. Mike wants to move up to the PTS536 next year (or something similar) as the PTS536 has a lot more range and the PTS233 is hindered more by high humidity in comparison to the PTS536. This is a good side by side comparison of the two scopes.

 
Great video and comparison. Thank you for posting.

I noticed the reticle was a little hard to see when placed on the coyotes, maybe a contrast thing? When looking through the scope I suspect its better though.

Does each scope have the ability to change the reticle color/size?

Also wondering if you've ever had any issues distinguishing between a coyote and a fox?

 
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Originally Posted By: Burnsome...Great video and comparison. Thank you for posting. I noticed the reticle was a little hard to see when placed on the coyotes, maybe a contrast thing? When looking through the scope I suspect its better though.

Does each scope have the ability to change the reticle color/size?

Yes, all Flir PTS series scopes have 6 reticles to choose from. They also have 4 color options. The scopes also allow 7 different background colors/palettes. You can read more about the Flir reticles and palettes here.

I realize the red dot is hard to see on the videos, but it isn't hard to see at all through the scope. I tried a dot this year because it makes me focus more on an exact spot versus aiming at a general area. I feel more precise this way. For videoing, it also shows more of the animal vs a large crosshair taking up a large part of the view.

Originally Posted By: Burnsome...Also wondering if you've ever had any issues distinguishing between a coyote and a fox? We don't have a lot of fox in ND. I did shoot a few this year and I let one go that I knew was a fox. If you have enough time to watch the animal approach, you can usually tell. However, if they surprise you and all of a sudden they are there and especially if they are facing you, it can be difficult.
 
We don't have many around anymore here. Always used to have dens of them on the farm I own. Coyotes have made them very scarce. I won't shoot one now. See them mainly around the larger urban areas or places that offer enough cover, escapes or whatever they need to survive and escape the coyotes.
 
Nice shooting to you guys.
The PST 233 looks to be very similar in picture quality to my Armasight predator.
And I agree, a fox can be difficult to differentiate as to a coyote.
 
Thanks for the info all, and great videos K. I'd like to go thermal on the gun one of these days but most shots I wouldnt have time to watch them approach to positively ID due to the thick woods they pop out of to hit my bait area. 100% positive ID is critical for me. Thermal is great in my area for detection and thats what I use it for, but Digital NV (ATN X-Sight) seems to provide the positive ID needed to tell the difference between a yote and a fox, at least for me anyway. Also, I'd hate to accidently kill someone's dog thinking it was something else and I dont think thermal on the gun is quite there yet. About a month ago someones black lab showed up at night on the bait area. When I looked through my thermal scanner I thought it might be a black bear. Got on the scope and saw its collar. I'd imagine when you guys get enough time and experience behind a thermal you can tell the differences though. Thanks again.
 
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Originally Posted By: jkrugerNice shooting to you guys.
The PST 233 looks to be very similar in picture quality to my Armasight predator. And I agree, a fox can be difficult to differentiate as to a coyote. The Flir PTS233 is a similar scope to the Predator 336 as they even look very similar. I believe the main differences are the PTS233 has the new 12 micron boson core, higher res display, internal video recording, and allows a standard 5v power supply so any standard external battery pack will work.
 
Originally Posted By: Burnsome...Thanks for the info all, and great videos K. I'd like to go thermal on the gun one of these days but most shots I wouldnt have time to watch them approach to positively ID due to the thick woods they pop out of to hit my bait area. 100% positive ID is critical for me. Thermal is great in my area for detection and thats what I use it for, but Digital NV (ATN X-Sight) seems to provide the positive ID needed to tell the difference between a yote and a fox, at least for me anyway. Also, I'd hate to accidently kill someone's dog thinking it was something else and I dont think thermal on the gun is quite there yet. About a month ago someones black lab showed up at night on the bait area. When I looked through my thermal scanner I thought it might be a black bear. Got on the scope and saw its collar. I'd imagine when you guys get enough time and experience behind a thermal you can tell the differences though. Thanks again. The higher end thermals do a better job of ID, but you are correct for fast positive ID, NV is going to be hard to beat. As you step up in NV, the better ID is going to be as well as range. Follow up shots, shooting in fog/rain, etc are much easier with thermal.
 


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