I'm waiting for the Pulsar Axion XQ38 LRF. I will field test it and see how I like it. I wish I could get it with a 640 core but if it's good at ranging it will probably be a keeper.
Gman, I'll be anxiously waiting for your review. I so wish they offered a Helion XP50 LRF. I really like the Pulsar LRF.
I am sort of reworking my thermal setups. I sold my 60mm Trijicon Mark III because I just don't have enough long range hunting properties now to justify keeping it and I also wanted some type of range finder for when I do hunt long range. I still have a Trijicon 35mm Mark III that will reach out at 2x and I was thinking of pairing it with the Pulsar Axion XQ38 LRF for medium and long range use.
However, after giving this a lot of thought I might sell my Triicon 35mm Mark III go with a Pulsar Trail 2 XP50 LRF instead.
There are 2 reasons.....One is that I hunt hogs and a handheld rangefinder would be nice for initial ranging but hogs in an open field is very dynamic when it comes to tracking range after the first shot. You might have 15 to 20 targets all going in different directions. Having the range finder in the scope would solve that problem because I would get range readout for each target in real time.
The second reason is the PIP function. I would like an optic I can switch from a 6.8 SPC medium range setup to 6.5 Creedmoor for longer ranges. I would use the DLOC mount from Ultimate Nightvision so POI repeatability should be acceptable and the PIP would give me a close in image for shot placement at longer ranges.
I have close range covered with a Trijicon 20mm REAP-IR and FLIR Scion OTM 266.
So now I have ordered a Phenom 640 12 micron scanner to pair with a Pulsar Trail 2 XP50 LRF for medium to long range and if that works I will sell the Trijicon 35mm Mark III. This all depends on how I like the Phenom and Pulsar units so nothing is set in stone at this point.
For those guys just starting out my suggestion is to get a quality scanner that will help with ID and get a scope that is dependable and works for the ranges you hunt but is not necessarily the top of the line. You spend hours looking through the scanner and minutes behind the scope.
As a side note I did get my hands on a new Pulsar Thermion XG50 12 micron unit. The image is excellent but for those that might want to know I tested it beside a Trijicon 35mm Mark III and the Trijicon has the best image IMO. For the same price the Trail 2 XP50 LRF would suit my needs better.
This is a good example where PIP with ranging would be very useful. If I zoom my native view then it's harder to find the hogs after they scatter. I think it would work well to leave the bottom view native for FOV and then use the PIP window for shot placement when appropriate.
