Pulsar Apex XQ38 Rat Shooting

6mm06

Well-known member

UPDATE: I have expanded the video to include more kills.

Recently I got to try the new Pulsar XQ38 rifle scope on some rats feeding on corn at the chicken lot. The scope is mounted on a Ruger 10/22. I shot a rat earlier that I didn't get video of, then two nights ago I shot at another but couldn't determine if was a hit or miss. There was a splatter in the scope view when I shot, but I'm thinking maybe it's dirt from the bullet striking low.

The distance was short at 10-12 yards and I am sighted at 25 yards. Yesterday I placed a target at that distance and shot to determine POI. It was low, but I noticed the top of the bottom crosshair post placed the shot spot on, so last night I tried again and had another opportunity. The shot was perfect this time.

I used a CCI Mini Mag 36 gr. HP which did a number on the rat. This rat shooting is fun, but just as much is the fun I am having with this scope.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOQ0Gy1MY_8&t=0s&index=2&list=UU81nCZByzsnwkuHReRQNMwQ





 

Originally Posted By: Catdog1Where did you find the mount that allows you to attach to weaver?
I got the Dlock mount from Tyler at UNV to mount the scope to the Weaver / Picatinny mount on the 10/22. I used the lower half of a scope ring to mount the DVR pouch to the scope's side Picatinny.
 

Originally Posted By: Victor_TNVCNICE, we need MORE!

As for the first one, too much rat matter from the shot. He crawled away and died somewhere.
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Would dirt give visible splash at the shot? I keep thinking I shot low and missed but maybe I hit him low.

 
6mm06,

Congratulations on your move to thermal. In my opinion, the Pulsar Apex XQ38 is simply one of the best values in thermals. It has a nice all around Field of View and decent base mag as well as having PIP. Hard to beat this thermal especially on price. If a person can live without recording video and doesn't care about the rechargeable battery pack, it is a fantastic option. The other really nice thing is it doesn't appear the Apex line had the POI shift issues which happened to many Trail users last year in cold weather. Fun video, and keep shooting. Once our night hunting season opened up last year, I hunted coyotes exclusively at night as it is simply a ton of fun.
 

Kirsch, thank you. I agree that the Apex XQ38 is a lot of scope for the money. The mini DVR is attached to the left side picatinny rail on the scope. It protrudes out a little but isn't that bad. I have an external battery pack for it but so far have just been using the CR123 batteries since I don't use the scope for extended periods of time.

Tonight I shot yet another rat, making three on video and one not. I have edited the footage into the original but haven't uploaded it yet. I plan to compile a few kills first. Apparently there is a colony of rats around the chicken lot that I wasn't aware of, after the corn no doubt. It's been lots of fun.

Tonight the humidity was slightly lower at 83%. I also adjusted the contrast and brightness which yielded a better view than on the first rat. I am learning as I go.

So far the Apex has held zero well. I was able to shoot through the 2x4 wire pattern tonight to take the rat. As to the base 2.2x, I haven't had any issues with it and find that it's plenty for my needs.

 

Tonight (4th night) I got another one, a small one and there is at least one more. I am compiling a video and will post it once they are thinned out. I didn't realize there were that many, but the chicken lot with corn is apparently a magnet.
 

He he he. That's pretty good, DoubleUp. However, they don't seem to be packing up and leaving just yet. Last night I shot at two and missed one outright, shot low I think due to only being about 9 yards from it. The other one I think I hit, "snibbed" it low and it jumped straight up, acting hit but apparently got into a hole. Tonight I killed two more. Apparently there is a family of them since most are young and small, which also means small targets. At the closer ranges the trajectory is a bit low so I am having to compensate for that. I have shot 8 so far, got some more video that I will post later once they act like your picture above.

The thermal scope on the 10/22 sure has been a lot of fun.

 
Originally Posted By: 6mm06
He he he. That's pretty good, DoubleUp. However, they don't seem to be packing up and leaving just yet. Last night I shot at two and missed one outright, shot low I think due to only being about 9 yards from it. The other one I think I hit, "snibbed" it low and it jumped straight up, acting hit but apparently got into a hole. Tonight I killed two more. Apparently there is a family of them since most are young and small, which also means small targets. At the closer ranges the trajectory is a bit low so I am having to compensate for that. I have shot 8 so far, got some more video that I will post later once they act like your picture above.

The thermal scope on the 10/22 sure has been a lot of fun.



We SURELY need more Vids!!!
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Originally Posted By: Pa. MickHave you tried bird shot ? Would give you a shot gun type hit !
No, I haven't tried shot, but have a feeling it will not work well for me at the distances I will be shooting. I have used 22 long rifle shot in the past and found it to be limiting in range. Most of my shooting has been about 8-12 yards.
 

Originally Posted By: Victor_TNVC We SURELY need more Vids!!!

OK, I have expanded the video to include more kills. It's been a lot of fun with the thermal on the 10/22. I think I have the rats pretty much eliminated at this point. I didn't see any last night but will keep watch.

The thermal helped me to realize there were more rats at the chicken lot than I knew. I had previously looked through digital NV and never saw any, but the thermal made a world of difference in detection.

One night I shot chicken poop instead of a rat. LOL. Thermal shows heat signature and I saw two, one of which was a rat. I thought both were rats and targeted the wrong one. Another night I saw a chicken head sticking out of a nesting box in the coop. I thought it was a rat at first but then realized it was a chicken. Just goes to show that ID is sometimes lacking with thermal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOQ0Gy1MY_8&t=0s&index=2&list=UU81nCZByzsnwkuHReRQNMwQ






 
Originally Posted By: 6mm06
Originally Posted By: Victor_TNVC We SURELY need more Vids!!!

OK, I have expanded the video to include more kills. It's been a lot of fun with the thermal on the 10/22. I think I have the rats pretty much eliminated at this point. I didn't see any last night but will keep watch.

The thermal helped me to realize there were more rats at the chicken lot than I knew. I had previously looked through digital NV and never saw any, but the thermal made a world of difference in detection.

One night I shot chicken poop instead of a rat. LOL. Thermal shows heat signature and I saw two, one of which was a rat. I thought both were rats and targeted the wrong one. Another night I saw a chicken head sticking out of a nesting box in the coop. I thought it was a rat at first but then realized it was a chicken. Just goes to show that ID is sometimes lacking with thermal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOQ0Gy1MY_8&t=0s&index=2&list=UU81nCZByzsnwkuHReRQNMwQ






Oh goodie! Love it and thanks again for sharing these. Rat bastards!
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