Thermal Regrets?

M

MNSavageYote

New member
Has anyone ever regretted thermal? My friend bought an XG38…I looked In the store one day and I thought the XP50 was worth the extra money. Just like anything there’s always a better model but what’s really necessary? I like hunting at night when there’s a full moon but you’re at the mercy of the brightness and the weather conditions. With thermal you could just go hunt the perfect weather conditions as light is irrelevant. I’m looking for the following information and kind of an open discussion on thermal in general.

1. Any regrets or ever feel like you don’t use it enough for the cost and you should’ve never bought it?

2. Is having the quality of an XP50 necessary? Obviously I’d like to spend the least amount possible without having regrets that it’s not good enough.

3. An open discussion on thermal hunting in general like if scanners are also needed, etc…
 
I’ve been hunting a long time under the moon. My eyes aren’t as good anymore due to age and I can say thermal has put me back in the hunt. Total game changer for me. Not saying I kill more coyotes but at least I can see them which that helps a lot. Now getting them into shooting range has always been the issue for most. I live in Minnesota and this year with all this below 0 cold I stay home and wait for the warmer nights to hunt which makes it more fun. I’ve learned so so much from thermal. It’s a true eye opener for learning what you hunt. Pm me if you ever want to team up on a hunt.
 
I am purchasing my 5th thermal this month. Man I have learned so much over the past 15 years of night hunting. In the beginning, the equipment I thought I needed is not what I really needed and what I didnt buy, I should have. And what I sold I should have kept.

I had a really small thermal scanner in the beginning made by EoTech. It was just a 320 core but I absolutely loved that thing. I used it as a scanner and shot with a day scope and white spotlight. Killed a bunch of hogs that way.

Sold it and went to the Original ATN rifle scope, this was the one with the FLIR core I believe. It was good but I didn't like using it as a scanner then clipping on my rifle to shoot. Sold it and went to an ATN Thor HD. Kept it for about 2 years and sold it to fund a Pulsar Apex XQ38. Best thermal for the money imo.

Now I'm getting a XP Trail 2 and eventually another scanner.

As far as regrets, I have many. But I love these things and what they allow you to do. No I definitely don't use them enough to justify the price. But I also don't throw my money away anymore on cigarettes and lotto tickets. So I don't mind spending on something I really enjoy.

It gets me outside a little more and the walking is good excerise. I have a fantastic time going with friends and family.

If I had to do it all over again I would buy a Pulsar Apex XQ50 and a Pulsar 19 scanner and a guy would be in great shape.
 
Originally Posted By: MNSavageYote1. Any regrets or ever feel like you don’t use it enough for the cost and you should’ve never bought it? If you have it and are successful, you will use it. Most people have regrets they went too cheap and the thermal wasn't effective or they had problems IDing animals. You will regret it if you shoot a deer or calf thinking it was a coyote. The other regret is people don't buy a thermal scanner, and typically quit because of trying to do both scan and shoot with the same thermal.

Originally Posted By: MNSavageYote2. Is having the quality of an XP50 necessary? Obviously I’d like to spend the least amount possible without having regrets that it’s not good enough. It comes down to FOV and magnification as well as range. Is a 384 core enough, yes. Talk to a knowledgable thermal dealer and decribe how you hunt coyotes, and your terrain and your budget. There is want and there is need. I killed a lot of coyotes last Winter and used a Super Hogster which is a 384 scope.

Originally Posted By: MNSavageYote3. An open discussion on thermal hunting in general like if scanners are also needed, etc… Scanners aren't a nice to have, they are a have to have unless you don't want a lot of success night hunting. It can be different if hunting over bait, but for calling coyotes, it is the most important part of a night hunting setup.
 
My regret is not getting into thermal sooner. I'm 72 now and have had thermals for 3 years. My buddy says I have a problem because I go so often but like others have said it is a game changer when it comes to nite hunting. I have used lites and NV in the past but not anymore.
 


Originally Posted By: MNSavageYote1. Any regrets or ever feel like you don’t use it enough for the cost and you should’ve never bought it?

I have not regretted the money I have spent on thermal. If I had a family to raise and felt it was taking away from their needs then that would be another story.

Originally Posted By: MNSavageYote2. Is having the quality of an XP50 necessary? Obviously I’d like to spend the least amount possible without having regrets that it’s not good enough.

In any pursuit or sport some will always think that having only the best equipment will suffice. Great thermal will help you, but decent thermal will allow you to kill a lot of predators or hogs. If you can afford it, then yes, it will make a more enjoyable experience but may only make you marginally more successful.

Originally Posted By: MNSavageYote3. An open discussion on thermal hunting in general like if scanners are also needed, etc…

While I am now shooting a Super Yoter, which I really like, the better purchase this year was the Bering Optics Phenom 640 for scanning. It is a great scanner and makes for such a pleasant experience because scanning is where you spend most of the time. I have seen and identified coyotes over many hundreds of yards away this year. Wonderful images for viewing as well.

Originally Posted By: Catdog1
If I had to do it all over again I would buy a Pulsar Apex XQ50 and a Pulsar 19 scanner and a guy would be in great shape.

For the past 3 years I have been shooting a Pulsar Apex XQ50. It was and still is a solid thermal. I still have it today. I probably should sell it, but I hate to turn it loose. Before that I had the Apex XD50 and loved that scope as well. Unfortunately the shutter froze shut on a NUC and it was replaced under warranty with the XQ50. My first thermal was the Puslar Quantum HD19A scanner 6 years ago. I still have it also, and while it doesn't remotely compare to the Phenom, it allowed me to kill a lot of coyotes.
 
My only regret is now winter is to short and I should have started sooner, 5 years ago. Before that I would hunt with the full moon also. If it was cloudy that week I missed it for the month. Now a full moon is a time to rest up because even the mice don't move in the moon. Three weeks of deer season was my off season but now I hunt it every night. I have a bipod mounted to a swivel seat so the expense of a scanner is a non issue.

If you looked through say a Thermion 2 XP 50 and compared it to a 384 core its a wow moment. The depth and clarity can't be compared. It's worth the money if you have it and hunt enough.
 
I've regretted every one.
- Half a dozen Pulsars, maddening poi shifts. Streamvision never works.
- Two NVisions, locking up, lrf inop.

I've spent more time dealing with detective equipment than hunting with it. I wouldn't go down that rabbit hole again. The build quality, product availability and customer support are not where they need to be for me. Your situation maybe different. I hunt hard and don't have a ton of money.
 
Originally Posted By: DoubleUp

Originally Posted By: MNSavageYote1. Any regrets or ever feel like you don’t use it enough for the cost and you should’ve never bought it?

I have not regretted the money I have spent on thermal. If I had a family to raise and felt it was taking away from their needs then that would be another story.

Originally Posted By: MNSavageYote2. Is having the quality of an XP50 necessary? Obviously I’d like to spend the least amount possible without having regrets that it’s not good enough.

In any pursuit or sport some will always think that having only the best equipment will suffice. Great thermal will help you, but decent thermal will allow you to kill a lot of predators or hogs. If you can afford it, then yes, it will make a more enjoyable experience but may only make you marginally more successful.

Originally Posted By: MNSavageYote3. An open discussion on thermal hunting in general like if scanners are also needed, etc…

While I am now shooting a Super Yoter, which I really like, the better purchase this year was the Bering Optics Phenom 640 for scanning. It is a great scanner and makes for such a pleasant experience because scanning is where you spend most of the time. I have seen and identified coyotes over many hundreds of yards away this year. Wonderful images for viewing as well.

Originally Posted By: Catdog1
If I had to do it all over again I would buy a Pulsar Apex XQ50 and a Pulsar 19 scanner and a guy would be in great shape.

For the past 3 years I have been shooting a Pulsar Apex XQ50. It was and still is a solid thermal. I still have it today. I probably should sell it, but I hate to turn it loose. Before that I had the Apex XD50 and loved that scope as well. Unfortunately the shutter froze shut on a NUC and it was replaced under warranty with the XQ50. My first thermal was the Puslar Quantum HD19A scanner 6 years ago. I still have it also, and while it doesn't remotely compare to the Phenom, it allowed me to kill a lot of coyotes.

That shutter freezing has been a problem for several Pulsar models over the years. I have feared running into the same problem with my Apex XQ38. So much that I just manual NUC it only now.
 
Ive had 7 or 8 640 core scopes and of those so far only 1 has held zero but I don't have any regrets about getting in the game. I've also got 2 640 core handhelds because they are a must have for everyone hunting.

I use the handhelds deer hunting as well. I see twice as many deer using it. You can't believe how many a guy misses seeing without it
 
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I had a bad experience, like many others, with the Trail XP50. Since switching to a Trijicon Hunter MK III I've had zero issues. I do miss some of the features though.

Unlike others here, I don't find it necessary to own/use a scanner for success. Of course I have an MG3 ring mount set up in my truck so scanning with the rifle 360-degrees is WAY easier and much more comfortable than circling a tripod.

Whether it's "worth" it or not really depends on how you look at the sport of night hunting.

My friends ask "how in the world can you spend that much on a scope"? Fair question... let's break it down...

First off, night hunting is my #1 passion and past time. I will hunt deer and after I kill a couple nice ones, it's back to night hunting. A thermal is a top piece of gear for night hunting, makes a big difference. I do a lot of night hunting.

So let's say I like to fish... by the time I buy a 14' Jon boat, a 15HP motor, a trolling motor, a trailer, etc., etc., etc., how much have I invested in the hobby? Most likely more. The cost and whether or not it's worth it is relative to the degree of interest you place on the hobby.

Same thing with other hobbies... Golf, SCUBA diving, just depends on how important it is to you.

Another big factor is having places to go. I'm fortunate to have multiple places over run with hogs and a good population of coyotes. If you have places to go, the pressure is less and successes are greater. I hunt 100% private land where no one else hunts... makes a difference.
 
Turning 72 this year and have been at this night coyote hunting for about 50 years. Red light and a cheap Optex 6X back in the 60's on a 22 Magnum was good for fox and bobcats. A coyote also died with this set up occasionally. Got married in 1990 and the wife wanted furniture so I wanted night vision. Ordered from Excalibur a new ANPVS 4 2nd gen for $2495 and was hunting coyotes for bounty back then. I went from Gen 2 to Gen 3 in an ANPVS 4 and did well. About 2012 thermal was available and got an ATN 2X8 320 core 30mm and still use it ! In 2014 Flir came out with their Thermosight and I bought 2 640 cores from Vic at TNVC. Sky Pup was my mentor on these purchases with his postings on this website. I was still hunting for bounty back then. My only regret is that my older night vision still works but the thermal makes it obsolete . My Flirs still hold zero which is amazing.
 
Only regret is not getting into thermals prior to 2010 when I was using GENIII NV and IR lasers, after I got my first FLIR thermal in 2010, kills increased exponentially.
 
I regret buying an N-Vision Halo XRF with every fiber of my body.

I wrote a $10k check almost 3 months ago and I've been rewarded with nothing but headaches, wasted time, excuses, and a wasted season ever since.
 
Originally Posted By: KsracerI regret buying an N-Vision Halo XRF with every fiber of my body.

I wrote a $10k check almost 3 months ago and I've been rewarded with nothing but headaches, wasted time, excuses, and a wasted season ever since.

I find this hard to believe. Care to elaborate?
 
Originally Posted By: Catdog1Originally Posted By: KsracerI regret buying an N-Vision Halo XRF with every fiber of my body.

I wrote a $10k check almost 3 months ago and I've been rewarded with nothing but headaches, wasted time, excuses, and a wasted season ever since.

I find this hard to believe. Care to elaborate?

He isn't lying and he isn't the only one.
 
Originally Posted By: Catdog1Originally Posted By: KsracerI regret buying an N-Vision Halo XRF with every fiber of my body.

I wrote a $10k check almost 3 months ago and I've been rewarded with nothing but headaches, wasted time, excuses, and a wasted season ever since.

I find this hard to believe. Care to elaborate?

It's a long story, and I'm sick of repeating it. I can give you a link to the original if you want to PM me.



 
Originally Posted By: Catdog1Originally Posted By: KsracerI regret buying an N-Vision Halo XRF with every fiber of my body.

I wrote a $10k check almost 3 months ago and I've been rewarded with nothing but headaches, wasted time, excuses, and a wasted season ever since.

I find this hard to believe. Care to elaborate?

Just sent mine back for the last time. Search Halo-XRF issues, you'll find more hard to believe experiences with elaboration.
 
Even if you do, in 3 years or less, whatever you buy will be worth less than 50% of what you paid for it. You better live in a state where it's legal to hunt with, you better not move to a state where it's not legal for hunting, and you better have access to a lot of ground to hunt to make it worthwhile.
 
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