New iRay Rico G-LRF Thermal

Gman757

Gman757

Well-known member

I have been thinking about getting back into a little coyote hunting and I thought it would be good to have a longer range thermal than my current units. I wanted to go with a 384 core with a 3x or 4x base mag, but more importantly I wanted something with a range finder.

IMO 384 12 micron cores have plenty of image clarity for shooting as long as the base unit has good software as well as good reticle choices and holds POI. To me it's all about bang for your buck with a scope because you only use it a few minutes on most nights.

After looking at all the options it looks like the new Rico IRay G-LRF is going to check all the boxes for me. 3x base magnification with a 384 12 micron core and built in range finder. I have had the unit for 3 or 4 days and have just been using it as a scanner to see if I like the unit and the verdict is in.

So far it looks like a keeper......this is a really nice unit. Great image clarity and the rangefinder is sweet. Nice reticle choices and multiple POI storage to boot. Good function and image control options in the software and another big plus is the removable rechargeable battery. All of this in a unit that weighs only 23.9 ozs and comes with a 5 year warranty.

I am waiting for the ADM lever mount so I have it mounted to a camera handle with the the bolt mount. The bolt mount is very nice and it's good to have a unit with bolt mount and AR mount options. Once I get the ADM mount it's going on my Savage MSR Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor and I am going to sight it in with Hornady 95 grain V-max for coyotes and Hornady 129 grain Interlock for hogs.

https://pr-infrared.com/product/irayusa-rico-g-lrf-thermal-weapon-sight/

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Thanks for the review. Do you happen to know if the distance from the LRF is captured within the video when recording? Also, how quickly does the LRF respond with a distance and was it effective providing ranges at 400+ yards? Thanks
 
Originally Posted By: bcturkeynutThanks for the review. Do you happen to know if the distance from the LRF is captured within the video when recording? Also, how quickly does the LRF respond with a distance and was it effective providing ranges at 400+ yards? Thanks

I just more or less hit the details that matter to me and have only used the unit scanning to check for clarity, resolution, and FOV for my needs. I haven't used the unit in the field yet so I cannot really give you a full review of the unit.

To answer your question....... the range is not displayed in the videos and as for distance all I can pass on is the manual states range capability at 1000m with +/- 1 meter accuracy but I have only used it out to about 150 yards. The LRF is instantaneous and if you leave it in continuous mode you will get constant range info based on where you have the rangefinder cursor placed. So far no issues with the rangefinder.......it works.

Full review:

 
Nice. Thanks for the review.

Can you elaborate a bit on the ADM lever mount you referenced and its advantages for using on a bolt gun?
 
Originally Posted By: Burnsome...Can you elaborate a bit on the ADM lever mount you referenced and its advantages for using on a bolt gun?
Actually the long mount you see in the photos is the iRay BOLT mount. IMO it's a very nice solid mount but you have to pay attention to how it works and use the lever adjustment system correctly. As you can see it provides the setback needed to get the eyepiece positioned correctly for a bolt gun and there are several adjustments available between the mount and the unit itself. (multiple mount holes)

As best I can tell most of the iRay units are released first in Europe and other parts of the globe where the predominant weapons used are bolt guns so I feel sure that is why the mount that comes with the unit accommodates those markets. That being said the design affords flexible mounting options so it's just a matter of choosing the best mount for your particular weapon.

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BTW. The eyepiece in this pic is NOT what comes with it. The pic shows a shuttered PVS14 eyepiece which I run on all of my units.

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The ADM mount is used to mount the unit on an AR platform according to the info I have as I do not have the mount yet. I hope to get it today and when I do I will update this reply with a pic.

https://irayusa.com/ac03

EDIT: Just received this.......looks like the single lever ADM mount affords a little flexibility also and can be used in a forward or rearward position on the scope base.

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Thanks for that info Gman

My next night rifle will be a bolt gun and that mount appears to be one that would work quite well I would think
 
Originally Posted By: duckhave you worked any loads up for them 95 vmax was wondering how thy shoot

duck....I don't reload so I have to go with production ammo.

This is what I got with the Savage MSR Hunter 18 inch 6.5 Creedmoor and Hornady Varmint Express 95 grain V-max.

Posted speed on the box: 3300 FPS

6 rounds @ 100 yards

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Originally Posted By: REID2168looks as though the 640 version of this G-Series unit soon to be released will have the same specs as the TH50 Tube V2 series......meaning same great picture in a more compact model with integrated LRF ILO the Blue Tooth unit coming on the Tube series...this may be the unit to have when the 640 version hits

The G series with the 384 12micron core has a great image and unless you are a die hard 640 core kind of guy I wouldn't spend the money for a scope that is only used a for few minutes during a hunt if you have a good scanner. I get it, I have 2 Trijicon 640 core units but with the 12micron 384 cores and software enhancements in the newer units the 384 core can get the job done.

That being said I ended up sending this unit back. I really liked the image and software functions but I had 2 issues that I did not want to deal with:

-One was "skylining" in the image but not induced by a terrain to sky horizontal image. (brightness level shifts in the scope) It would skyline on a terrain area with a different thermal signature and it was annoying to me. The first FLIR Scout units that came out years ago were bad for doing this.

-The second issue I had which was the deal breaker for me was the ocular eye relief. There was a "sweet spot" and any deviation out of the sweet spot would cause the image to seem slightly blurry. Each time I tried the scope out I felt like I was getting eye fatigue.

I'm not knocking Iray because it's a really nice unit and someone else might not experience the same issues. I will say that I had a similar experience with the Iray Zoom ZH50 unit. There was an ocular sweet spot and my nose was not it the right place to allow me to stay in it without pressing the unit against my nose to the point of discomfort.

At the risk of opening a can of worms I might add that I ended up with an AGM Varmint LRF TS35-384 (12 micron). I have it mounted and sighted in on my Savage MSR Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor and so far I have no complaints.

 
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In Europe it is called Infiray Geni GL35R... It is certainly an excellent trivalent thermal unit:
1) Scanner
2) Night rangefinder
3) Themal riflescope with reticle for shooting....
It has an excellent 384x288@12micron sensor with bright lens F35/1.0 ...
...a friend of mine sells it on the "armusate" site because he wants to buy the much more expensive GH50R...

https://www.armiusate.it/ottica/visori-termici/infiray-geni-gl35r-nuovo_i887440

It is a very popular device in Italy because it has an excellent quality/price ratio.... The image is good in almost all night hunting situations..... but..... if you it happens a night of rain.... it is better that you stay at home to sleep .... because if you tried to use it ... you would be disappointed ... and you would even get angry ...
In those atmospheric conditions the Bering Optics Super Yoter 640/50mm (=Infiray Saim SCH50) becomes indispensable....
 
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Gman

Any chance after you get field time on the AGM varmint doing a review? Been interested in them but don’t personally know anyone who has one. It would be nice to get your opinion

Thanks
Dino
 


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