Reviews iRay Bolt TL35
- Thread starter 6mm06
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wolverines
Well-known member
I don't have a review for you, but knowing how you like to make videos of your hunts out of your shack, I think you would be much happier with a 640 core. In my experience with thermals and posting videos, I've found that after pulling the video from the scope to my phone, and then uploading to YouTube to be able to share, it has drastically degraded the video quality compared to what I see through the view finder. The 640 seems to be much better for this. There are obvious other reasons why a higher resolution is better, but this is what comes to my mind when thinking of your situation.
Str8Shooter
Member
I’ve heard really good things about the Bolt TL 35 V2, but would like to hear from someone with first hand experience as well. I believe you can add LRF to the unit if you choose.
Spurchaser
Well-known member
I have the Bolt TH50C 640. It was the first thermal (Christmas gift from Wifey) and it’s what I measured everything else by.
I can’t think of anything negative about this scope, but I’m new to this so I may not know.
It’s clear…like crazy clear to me.
Controls are easy to learn and operate.
Great eye relief.
I have no clue about the internal battery or how long it lasts. I bought a 4 pack of the external batteries and the only time it switches to internal is when swapping out batteries. I could turn it on at dark and hunt until daylight and doubt I’d be on the internal battery.
It’s not as heavy as one would think and I have it on a Ruger Predator and even with the suppressor it’s light enough to hike in half a mile or so with an e-caller and tripod.
With that said I also have an AGM Rattler TS35 in 640 and I only used it as a scanner. I never played with it other than the color changes. Once I decided to put it on a gun and really get playing with it, I was able to get it dialed in and pretty dang clear like the iRay. Only thing I’ll give it a plus over the IRay is weight. It weighs absolutely nothing.
Like I said I’m newer to this, but if anyone asks advice, I just tell them to spend the money on a 640. I’ve hunted with a couple of people that had the 384 and when guns were swapped, you could really tell a difference. I could pick out antlers on bucks in January and February with that iRay and the other person tell me I’m crazy until we swapped. I don’t know if it actually was the difference in 640 vs 384 or iRay and Pulsar.
As far as recording, it’s the easiest thing to do with the IRay. I will shoot and then go ahead and record the video and save it mainly so I can find the pigs. I hunt a lot of brush and the trees in the background tell me where to look. It’s especially helpful when you’ve shot multiple targets.
I can’t think of anything negative about this scope, but I’m new to this so I may not know.
It’s clear…like crazy clear to me.
Controls are easy to learn and operate.
Great eye relief.
I have no clue about the internal battery or how long it lasts. I bought a 4 pack of the external batteries and the only time it switches to internal is when swapping out batteries. I could turn it on at dark and hunt until daylight and doubt I’d be on the internal battery.
It’s not as heavy as one would think and I have it on a Ruger Predator and even with the suppressor it’s light enough to hike in half a mile or so with an e-caller and tripod.
With that said I also have an AGM Rattler TS35 in 640 and I only used it as a scanner. I never played with it other than the color changes. Once I decided to put it on a gun and really get playing with it, I was able to get it dialed in and pretty dang clear like the iRay. Only thing I’ll give it a plus over the IRay is weight. It weighs absolutely nothing.
Like I said I’m newer to this, but if anyone asks advice, I just tell them to spend the money on a 640. I’ve hunted with a couple of people that had the 384 and when guns were swapped, you could really tell a difference. I could pick out antlers on bucks in January and February with that iRay and the other person tell me I’m crazy until we swapped. I don’t know if it actually was the difference in 640 vs 384 or iRay and Pulsar.
As far as recording, it’s the easiest thing to do with the IRay. I will shoot and then go ahead and record the video and save it mainly so I can find the pigs. I hunt a lot of brush and the trees in the background tell me where to look. It’s especially helpful when you’ve shot multiple targets.
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Dead Down Wind
Well-known member
I have the high end Rico MK60, great scope with the rangefinder, my N-Vision Halo XRF is my go to scope. No knowledge about the Bolt, sorry!
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6mm06
Well-known member
Appreciate everyone taking time to respond. I have two thermal rifle scopes already, but they are more suited for AR’s than bolts, and I would like one on a bolt gun that fits and looks better. It’s not like I really need another scope but rather just playing around with satisfying the “want to” in me. The 384 resolution is much cheaper than a 640 and really is all I need. At this point I just can’t seem to bring myself to spend so much more for a 640, though it surely would be nice to have. At this point I am in the thinking, considering and what-if stage. The Bolt TL35 looks pretty good from what I have seen so far, but just hoping to hear from others who have experience with it, considering pros and cons that perhaps would tip me over the edge one way or the other.
I just got a IRay GL35. It’s my 1st thermal other than an AGM Taipan tm10-256 monocular that I have had for a few years.
Haven’t hunted with it yet, but looks great so far..Menus are easy to navigate and not too many bells & whistles that it’s overwhelming. For me the simpler the better.
It does have an internal battery and auxiliary batteries as well, so very long run time. It came with 2 of the auxiliary batteries.
Haven’t hunted with it yet, but looks great so far..Menus are easy to navigate and not too many bells & whistles that it’s overwhelming. For me the simpler the better.
It does have an internal battery and auxiliary batteries as well, so very long run time. It came with 2 of the auxiliary batteries.
gooseisland
Active member
I have a gl35 and gl35r. Iray 384 res. My hunting buddy runs the bolt 35 384. Excellent scopes, clarity, ease of use. I'll swear up 1 side and down the other that irays 384s look better than the competitions 640s. I've looked through buddies pulsars and agms. I wouldn't hesitate a second.
sendit223
Well-known member
6mm06 - I tested the 640 res Bolt unit. It's very good. I don't like anything less than 640 now and would sell guns or optics to have just one 640 res unit instead of the lower res stuff. I understand that's not for everybody. Not hating on the 384 res stuff as I have a Super Hogster. It goes on my 10/22 and it's a very effective and fun varmint eliminator.
The Bolt design pros are: familiar riflescope form factor, you likely have better scope rings/mounts than they send with the unit, the controls are intuitive, ample onboard video and still photos, all the usual color palettes, decent reticles, very good processors, and with the 640 unit you have extreme clarity.
The ultra clear for in-fog use also works very well.
Cons: price for the 640 unit.
I should mention that the Bolt has a circular monitor, so you aren't looking at a small rectangular screen in a round eye piece. You look into it just like a riflescope. That's part of the "pro" for the form factory.
Finally, iRayUSA has a great warranty if you ever need it. Their 5 year / 5 day warranty set the standard that the industry had to chase.
Sendit
eta: sell one of those other AR scopes and buy the 640 Bolt!
The Bolt design pros are: familiar riflescope form factor, you likely have better scope rings/mounts than they send with the unit, the controls are intuitive, ample onboard video and still photos, all the usual color palettes, decent reticles, very good processors, and with the 640 unit you have extreme clarity.
The ultra clear for in-fog use also works very well.
Cons: price for the 640 unit.
I should mention that the Bolt has a circular monitor, so you aren't looking at a small rectangular screen in a round eye piece. You look into it just like a riflescope. That's part of the "pro" for the form factory.
Finally, iRayUSA has a great warranty if you ever need it. Their 5 year / 5 day warranty set the standard that the industry had to chase.
Sendit
eta: sell one of those other AR scopes and buy the 640 Bolt!
Spurchaser
Well-known member
Here’s a couple of pics of the Bolt on a Bolt, lol…
Tjkiller
Well-known member
The TL35v2 is a great value. I have one, and the th50Cv2. As far as image quality, they are not that far apart. On black hot, the tl35 image is one of the best 384s out there. The th50C separates with the lcd screen. The screen is big and bright. The tl35 I have holds zero. It can shoot as far as any scope. Honestly for the price, the tl35v2 is the greater value. The th50c is nice, but u get a lot more per dollar with the TL. It's half the price. I'd take 2 TL35s over my th50c any day. rix has some interesting stuff out in the same price range. Don't hesitate on the TL35v2. Get the LRF. Seems to work OK.