Thermal POI shift woes

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igor

New member
I wish there was some way to know how many units a manufacturer ships and what percentage of those units have poi shift issues. I may be in the market for another unit eventually and that would be my main qualification. Are there units out there (in the $3000-$7000 range)that have never had poi shift issues. Saw a face book post from a reputable poster that was sending a N-vision Halo 50 unit back. I have 3 Trijicon units that I take to the range and check frequently because two of them have enough shift 3/4 to 1 1/4 inch shift (100 yards) over a period of a 4-6 weeks. They will stay spot on for a week or two and then creep off and then I adjust after a month or so a click or so and repeat. I am no expert but in 50+ years of shooting with quality conventional scopes I've never had this problem. Is it the nature of the beast? I can only recall one or two posters claim that their unit was zeroed and never shifted for a year or two. I'm happy to report my latest xp50 has not moved in a month.
P.S. The Thermions are looking poi trouble free but I don't like the batteries and shape of the unit.
 
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I give up. I was going between the Pulsar XP50, the Trijicon IR Hunter MKII 35, and Trijicon IR Hunter MKIII 60mm. After reading all this, I’m sticking with my FLIR LS64 for scanning and my D740 for shooting until these clowns get this stuff figured out. I said a couple years ago that I did not think thermal was ready for prime time, and I see not much has changed. With the thermal to scan and detect and the positive ID to shoot, I’m good. I bought my Gen 3 NV years ago. It was the best than and still is. They pay guys to promote this stuff to us on hunting shows(infomercials) in magazines, and online.It’s nothing but a scam.
 
I resisted the thermal scope craze for a couple of years, then finally gave in and bought a Trijicon. I don't regret the Trijicon but I still have my tried and true D760. If I could only have one, It would be the D760. It puts the bullet where I aim, just like it did 4 years ago.
Scan with thermal, kill with NV has been said here many times and IMO it is true.
 
1trkyhntr said:
I resisted the thermal scope craze for a couple of years, then finally gave in and bought a Trijicon. Is your Trijicon's zero absolutely stable month after month?
And I'm just guessing but I bet the military doesn't use many 3-7 thousand dollar thermals.
Click to expand...
 
Night Vision and thermal both have their advantages and disadvantages. One inherent disadvantage to thermal is the complex algorithms required that redraw the screens after the NUC process and temperature is one factor that is part of that algorithm.

First, a hunter has to reset their thinking because a thermal isn't going to be as inherently accurate or group as well as a decent quality glass scope. The second thing to really watch are the bases. Lots of electronic scopes including thermal, digital night vision, etc have some type of QD base. Many of the screws should have Loctite on them to help them stay in place. Also, QD mounts although a nice feature, aren't always as rock solid as standard rings and bases on most glass scopes.

Do I believe an 1" movement is too much over a long period of time after the rigors of hunting, no. However during the height of the Pulsar Trail POI issue, there were customers seeing 1 foot of movement from one day to the next. This is when you know something is really wrong.

When I made the move to the Flir PTS536 last year, I could shoot decent groups, and my POI stayed very consistent all year. I still dealt with a few lock-ups, etc but it performed very well over hundreds of hours of hunting in very cold temps.
 
COTI's are another world. Most of us are not going that way. The FLIR RS-64 is not available AFAIK, so I prefer to discuss things I can actually buy. Neither FLIR nor any other manufacturer is perfect, and FLIR lowered itself further when it acquired Armasight.
 
That fine, you can discuss things you’d like to buy,

I prefer to discuss things I actually own and utilize extensively, like my 25 different thermal instruments , none of which have ever suffered any POI shift whatsoever.
 
Yes, and you can discuss things you own, some of which no one can buy because they are no longer made, so the information is useless other than to make you feel good by talking about what you have and we don’t, and can no longer obtain.
 
My original question was about trying to get opinions on what is the best 3-7 thousand dollar units the average guy should buy to avoid poi change issues. It's becoming apparent that unless one spends $15000 that's not happening. Luckily it appears things are improving a little with quality and design and customer service. What case-nh mentioned about nonuniform body construction makes sense and gives me a prod to look again at the thermions. I've long thought the heat sink in the trails might have been the issue and the thermions don't have a heat sink.
 
Originally Posted By: cmateraYes, and you can discuss things you own, some of which no one can buy because they are no longer made, so the information is useless other than to make you feel good by talking about what you have and we don’t, and can no longer obtain.

Sad
rolleyes.gif


Still shoots same POI 10 years later...


FLIR%20T50%20Target.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: cmateraCOTI's are another world. Most of us are not going that way. The FLIR RS-64 is not available AFAIK, so I prefer to discuss things I can actually buy. Neither FLIR nor any other manufacturer is perfect, and FLIR lowered itself further when it acquired Armasight.

I own an Armasight Zues 3x24 x 75mm. I am not having poi problems.
 
Originally Posted By: igorMy original question was about trying to get opinions on what is the best 3-7 thousand dollar units the average guy should buy to avoid poi change issues. It's becoming apparent that unless one spends $15000 that's not happening. The only scope discussed with known POI issues was the Pulsar Trail. I shot 100+ coyotes over the last year with my Flir PTS536 and have not had POI issues. This is a sub $4K thermal and no POI issues. So, no you don't have to spend $10K+ to get a scope that doesn't move.
 
I and I hope others are encouraged by the faith and satisfaction many of the contributors to this subject show in the manufacturers of these units discussed. Thankyou.
 


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