Thermal - Rangefinder & ballistic calculator

C

Clay34

Member
How important do you find the ballistic calc/rangefinder in a thermal Optic? I own a Swarovski bino rangefinder and a Leupold compact rangefinder for more info to consider. Looking at intro thermal units. AGM V2 in the 25 X 320 without Range finder vs the AGM Varm 35-384-V2 LRF. Thanks for your comments in advance.

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Depends on the area you are hunting and what you are hunting. You could use a RF for the 384, anything smaller is a waste as you don't have the resolution for long shots. You should be able to compensate the drop for <150 yds. Some here can drop a yote @ 400, I can't. I got a rabbit @ 100 with the 640 rattler, at max mag it was small and blurry. Got a yote @ 150 with same, no problem. Hit a big hog @ 250 with the Bolt 1280 (300 BO), a Hail Mary shot. But hog was decent target. Didn't try the yote that was closer but moving around in tall grass. Where I hunt the wind is problematic, more so than range.
 
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As Popper says, depends on your terrain and IMO weapon. Also, most thermals have at least 1 reticle that can be used as a generic range finder for certain distances per their MOA of coverage.
 
Mostly shooting a 5.56, but also like to take a 243 Win out once in a while. Mostly yotes under 200 yards. Never seen a hog in Wis that wasn't owned by a farmer. I've been told that feral ones do exist but I've never seen one in person. Thanks for making me think that both of those calibers are flat enough for dogs inside of 200 without a ballistic calculator.
 
Clay34 said:
Mostly shooting a 5.56, but also like to take a 243 Win out once in a while. Mostly yotes under 200 yards. Never seen a hog in Wis that wasn't owned by a farmer. I've been told that feral ones do exist but I've never seen one in person. Thanks for making me think that both of those calibers are flat enough for dogs inside of 200 without a ballistic calculator.
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50yd zero should be bead on out to 200yds. I have always zeroed my .223's like that. Killed everything from 3yds out to 200 point and click. Including squirrels from 30-200yds. plenty flat enough.

I have a few night spots where a LRF would be invaluable due to distance, and your depth perception gets messed up in the dark unless you have known way points.
 
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