Shooting with Gen 3+ or Thermal

N

ncyotecaller

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I am presently shooting a Pulsar XD75A Thermal scope and really enjoy it. I just bought a Pulsar Helion XP50 monocular to upgrade from my Pulsar XQ23V. Been seriously thinking of either setting up another rifle with a Bering Optics D740 or D760. From people with experience with both is it crazy to consider not shooting with Thermal after doing so for over a year? Would probably be a white phosphor Bearing Optics Scope.
 
I think you’d be taking a step back.
Gen3 is awesome on super bright night but illumination from an IR will always white wash when Thermals signature what Gen 3 can’t.
 
I don’t think it’s crazy. I scan with thermal, shoot with NV. Thermal for detection, positive ID with NV. NV washout is no worse than some pf the issues that affect thermal under certain atmospheric conditions.
 
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Originally Posted By: Zen ArcheryI think you’d be taking a step back.
Gen3 is awesome on super bright night but illumination from an IR will always white wash when Thermals signature what Gen 3 can’t.

No Sir, hate to beg to differ with you, this is not the case.
 
Only whitewash I get with Gen3 is tall grass or brush or fog. Humidity here tonight is 96%, no problem with Zeus 640x75.Just looked at a Barred Owl 180 yards in meadow.
 
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Originally Posted By: cmateraI don’t think it’s crazy. I scan with thermal, shoot with NV. Thermal for detection, positive ID with NV. NV washout is no worse than some pf the issues that affect thermal under certain atmospheric conditions.

I absolutely agree. On humid nights thermal suffers. On foggy nights, with an illuminator, NV suffers. It is a good idea to have both for different conditions. The ONLY negative with NV for me has been the IR emitter glow. For close range thermal is very nice. For longer range ID give me NV every time.
 
Gen 3 is hard to guard on those 200yd plus ID and shots. Although they are not often, it's nice to be able to make those long shots with 100% confidence it is a COYOTE
 
I would agree with turkeyhunter. I have both and I use them in different situations. Thermal has it's pluses but if I had to hunt with only one I would chose the NV for the positive ID. Thermal is always an image as has been stated many times. Twice, I though I shot the nearby farm houses pet dog after it started yipping. Sounded more like a dog than a coyote. Quite the sinking feeling. Never so relieved when I found it to be a coyote. I wonder if there would have been the rush to thermal there has been if the NV scopes had recording, PIP, and variable magnification. That's the one thing I wish NV scopes had is the variable magnification although the 4X has always been more than adequate. I guess you have that if you want to go with a clip on. BTW, I use a gen3 D740, Trail XP50, and also have a Nemesis WP gen 2+. I ALWAYS no what it is with the NV scope. The biggest advantage and game changer has been thermal to scan with.
 
For coyotes i like NV for shooting thermal for scanning. On hogs i like NV for stalking thermal for scanning and shooting.
 
I guess it depends on what you want the NV for. I was worried about ID before I bought my apex Xq38. Did a ton of research and talked to more than a few guys about it. But now that I have hunted with it for a while, ID on a coyote is not that hard at ranges inside the limitations of your device. I have come to realize about 250 yards is that for me. That suits me just fine. If you want to ID and shoot farther, higher end NV maybe needed for you.
Before anyone jumps on my case, I have had to distinguish between a bobcat and a coyote at 150 to 200 yards and was able to.(Bobcats are not legal to shoot in our area). Would it have been easier with a good gen 3 device, probably. My point is if you stay disciplined and know your units limitations, you should be able to ID just fine.
All this being said if you have a fair amount of open ground with long shots, trying a high quality gen 3 may be for you.
 
How far can you positively identify a fox versus a coyote?

What brand, scope model and illuminator are you using to get that distance and positive identification?
 
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Originally Posted By: vetman1How far can you positively identify a fox versus a coyote?

What brand, scope model and illuminaor are you using to get that distance and positive identification?

Depends on the thermal & who is behind it.
 
Originally Posted By: 1trkyhntrOriginally Posted By: cmateraI don’t think it’s crazy. I scan with thermal, shoot with NV. Thermal for detection, positive ID with NV. NV washout is no worse than some pf the issues that affect thermal under certain atmospheric conditions.

I absolutely agree. On humid nights thermal suffers. On foggy nights, with an illuminator, NV suffers. It is a good idea to have both for different conditions. The ONLY negative with NV for me has been the IR emitter glow. For close range thermal is very nice. For longer range ID give me NV every time.

1trkyhntr If you buy the MKIII 60mm I think you will have some changes in your thoughts after you get some hours behind it.
 
I know fog and humidity affect a MK III 60mm as I have seen it first hand. Of course it is going to be lest affected than all 320, 384 cores and most 640 cores. For $9,000 it should see around, through or underneath anything but it does have barriers just fewer.
 
Have you hunted with one or just looked through it? I have a 640 core that has not hindered me any. Had 96% humidity last night could have very easily shot a possum at 180 yards.
 
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My ex-hunting partner for several years has a MK III 60mm and a Reap to scan with. We have had fog cut our night short several times because it was too tough to see even for him. I would look through my XD75A and then his MK III and it was tough for both of them just a clearer tough through his. Last two coyotes I have killed in the last several weeks have been running after partner shot first and I can see Thermal being easier on running shots than NV but with no Gen 3 NV experience that is just a guess on my part.
 
I shoot and scan with a thermal 640 and my hunting partner scans with a thermal monocular and shoots a gen 3. As said before both have their pros and cons. Until you master the physical characteristics of coyotes it's definitely harder to positively ID what you are looking at from a distance. But even then, a yard dog or fox can be mistaken for a yote. When I first got my thermal I had a lot of difficulty with positive id and distance. Now 18 months later I'm much more confident with the ID but foxes and yard dogs are still a challenge. That's why I agree with having NV in some capacity when hunting with thermal. If you have enough time to study your prey then you can manage but there's no guarantee of that. My partner's NV has saved me a few times from making a mistake. On the flip side,my thermal has spotted yotes working they're way down wind that would have gone unseen with NV. As always just my opinion.
 
Originally Posted By: WabbitI shoot and scan with a thermal 640 and my hunting partner scans with a thermal monocular and shoots a gen 3. As said before both have their pros and cons. Until you master the physical characteristics of coyotes it's definitely harder to positively ID what you are looking at from a distance. But even then, a yard dog or fox can be mistaken for a yote. When I first got my thermal I had a lot of difficulty with positive id and distance. Now 18 months later I'm much more confident with the ID but foxes and yard dogs are still a challenge. That's why I agree with having NV in some capacity when hunting with thermal. If you have enough time to study your prey then you can manage but there's no guarantee of that. My partner's NV has saved me a few times from making a mistake. On the flip side,my thermal has spotted yotes working they're way down wind that would have gone unseen with NV. As always just my opinion.

And THIS is why I absolutely love this site. REAL hunters with TRUE advice folks learn from. Well spoken Sir!
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Originally Posted By: Victor_TNVCOriginally Posted By: WabbitI shoot and scan with a thermal 640 and my hunting partner scans with a thermal monocular and shoots a gen 3. As said before both have their pros and cons. Until you master the physical characteristics of coyotes it's definitely harder to positively ID what you are looking at from a distance. But even then, a yard dog or fox can be mistaken for a yote. When I first got my thermal I had a lot of difficulty with positive id and distance. Now 18 months later I'm much more confident with the ID but foxes and yard dogs are still a challenge. That's why I agree with having NV in some capacity when hunting with thermal. If you have enough time to study your prey then you can manage but there's no guarantee of that. My partner's NV has saved me a few times from making a mistake. On the flip side,my thermal has spotted yotes working they're way down wind that would have gone unseen with NV. As always just my opinion.

And THIS is why I absolutely love this site. REAL hunters with TRUE advice folks learn from. Well spoken Sir!
smile.gif


+1

AS I usually hunt alone I Shoot a D-790.
Had a MKIII 60mm but sold it after a few months as the risk of shooting a pet dog are unacceptable to me.
I've been using Gen 3 for 8 years and some type of thermal for 6 years.
 
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