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As a knock around night vision what experience have people had with the Pard 008 S (non range finder/ballistic model).
I would use it for wallaby culling in the evening and night and the odd deer if a came across them while doing wallaby. On a .223. Shots out to 300 yards.
I can get a good deal on one at present.
(my other consideration is the new Arken with the range finder/ballistics bells and whistles - but at a far greater cost)
I'd go thermal mate far lest pissing around not having to focus it every 2 sec
FWIW I'm old & grumpy, gone the "cheaper is always better route" learnt the lesson, got the T-Shirts, can't be arsed repeating it again & again, to have my subconscious continue to say "I told you so dick head"...Quote:
Originally Posted by Padox
I / we run a few Pulsar thermals & couldn't be happier with their performance :)
I've got a 008V range finder model on a .22 for rabbits. Does the job bloody well. Good vision out to about 400ish. Eyes stick out like dogs balls in the uv light making it quick to scan a larger area with. Really handy being able to change batteries, costs les than $20 for 4 on TradeMe. The range finder is useful for me as can't tell distances in daylight let alone dark but if was using it on a centrefire doubt it would be as useful as on the .22
Have one of the original Pard NV008's, and find it just works well.
For scanning an area it's horrible, especially on a heavy rifle. The minimum magnification is too high to make an effective spotter. Pair it with a handheld thermal, and I find the combination really effective.
The increased resolution of the NV over the thermal allows for better target identification. The thermals ability to see for km's allows for quick target acquisition even when partly obscured, and can ensure there is nothing behind your target that does not want a bullet whizzing past.
I've been using one for a couple of years now, a few thoughts:
mine primarily lives on my 10/22 as a evening/night bunny and possum rifle. it's a decent unit but has a few drawbacks. if you're shooting 223 I'd say that the lack of a rangefinder isn't the worst as its a pretty flat projectile so 50m off one way or another isn't such a big deal.
the target ID is top notch, super clear. the built in illuminator is damn good. I can recognize the neighbors' cat from a good 60-70m away, ID it as a cat from maybe 100-120m and identify there is an animal by the eyeshine a good 200m off.
the bad:
It's not a target scope. by which I mean there is no on the fly elevation or windage adjustment, you need to access a menu and the clicks don't align to... anything really.
6x base zoom is rough for rabbiting.
I'd treat it as the equivalent to strapping a good quality spotlight to your rifle, with the added bonus that it doesn't spook animals or neighbours.
but just like strapping said spotlight to rifle....where ever you are looking you are pointing a loaded rifle....
If it is loaded. It shouldn't be until you are ready to fire?Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
What I've found with doing pest control, local orchids and vineyards:
Thermal for scanning and night vision for final target ID and shooting is the conclusion most have come to. Including myself eventually...
The alternative would be scanning with a light to find rough location then shoot with NV. If the animals aren't light shy that can be very effective.
The NV units are more particular when it comes to focusing, if you have a technical mind it's not a problem. They aren't a point-and-shoot bit of gear though.
Accurately judging ranges at night is bloody tricky. With a flat shooting cartridge that simplifies things tremendously.
I've used a 007 clip on for the last 4 or so years. Having a parallax adjustable scope is a must but I digress as the 008 is a dedicated scope. I have shot most things with it including your list of intended clients which it's pretty good at actually, eyes stick out well past the useable range of the illuminator. Getting above any grass etc is vital or you will just white out the screen with back scatter like a spotlight. A supplementary illuminator is a bloody good investment, it prolongs the units battery and to be honest the one in the unit isn't that great past 150 yds it makes positive id a bit difficult. A small add on like the sytong one is a big improvement.
As already said, depth and distance perception is poor. The clip on using your normal scope allows a mil dot reticle as a sort of range finder. Perhaps there's a similar reticle in the 008. Also as a day scope the image is certainly good enough to use.
Up close the 008 is infuriating to use / attempt to use. Try looking at a bunny 30m away through your centrefire scope cranked up to 6.5 power:omg: Also up close(under 20m) the backscatter off pine needles/long grass/glossy leaves/sides of buildings is a big pain in the arse. And at 20m looking up into a tree attempting to shoot a possum its hard to fit the entire possum into the scope view. And then you are generally not braced against anything to assist in getting rid of the 6.5 power wobbles.
Once you are shooting stuff out beyond 50m it comes into its own.
@XR500 When shooting possums out of trees, I use the laser illuminator on the Pard, and turn on my headlamp. Much quicker than firing up the scope and finding the possum.
OK. Good idea:thumbsup:
Our Sytong HT60 3x-8x outsells the 6.5x-13x 20 to 1 for this very reason.Quote:
Originally Posted by XR500
a firearm is always loaded...you know that..... unless it has no bolt in it...its a loaded firearm full stop.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
so there is a redneck rangefinding method I was shown years ago which works really well when spotlighting and I assume will also work with both night vision and thermal
the old lazer beam...if you mount it either highr or lower than Xhairs will ,just like your projectiles trajectory cross the line of Xhair at a given point..unlike projectile it will continue on straight path... that can be used to your advantage.
mounted below xhair and hitting the cross bar at say 75 yards will make possibly the most sence.
that possum up tree too easy,just put red dot on it and shoot...same with really close rabbit etc but where it comes into its own is this...looking through scope if the red dot is below your Xhair..you KNOW its below 75 yards if its above xhair its beyond 75 yards and you can by pre measuring against things get another couple of measurements out further.... mil dots would work and say half way to thick Xhair and end of thick cross hair gives you two more...
the options are endless and dead easy to set it up.
FWIW we made some progress on the Arken Zulus order today and we are on track for these arriving end of month. These are looking to be the benchmark for digital day night vision.
All other Arken products to follow in December.
Can confirm the Arken Zulus are the new go to in this scope segment. Was questioning going from the Pard NV008 to the Arken Zulus, but glad I did.
Pros over the Pard NV008: better resolution, better illuminator, more digital zoom increments, integrated ballistics - providing effective dial up, or holdover aim marks.
Cons: fussier focus (10mm hole in the lens cover fixed that for day use), front focus ring needs a throw lever, 0MOA mount has loose tolerances and relies solely on the screws for alignment. 20MOA mount had tight tolerances, and did not have this issue.
I had the opportunity to compare the Arken to the Pard DS35 prior to purchasing, and while these shared a lot of features (and the Pard already had the hole in lens cap, and the throw lever) The Arken won out for image quality, and better PIP functionality.
Yes. I ended up with the Zulus. Shot a couple of hundred wallaby out to 420 and a few deer. The new Sytong HT 70 is worth a look too. Cheaper than the Zulus and does everything the Zulus can but in a couple of areas not quite so well. Good enough in every aspect though. Ive shot several deer using the Sytong. Mostly day time. The Sytong is the equal of the Zulus at night but not quite as clear in day. Either are a big step up.
We have new shipments of the Zulus in transit including the new 3-12 model. Discounted pre-order price too.
Thanks for the comments so far . . . @Tahr and other users, how do the internal ballistics calculators compare between the Zulus and HT70 in terms of usability and multiple profiles?
Once sorted, (its a clunky process but there are firmware updates coming) the Sytong HT-70 ballistics probably work better. The Sytong has a more reliable range finder under challenging conditions like fog or rain. The Arken range finder is no slouch though. The ballistics are entered on-board with the Sytong which is better than the Zulus blue toothing over. With both you can only have one baltitisc profile (uppy downy info) at a time but many sight-in profiles. The buttons/controls are better on the Zulus but once you have got your systems sorted the Sytong is ok and quite useable. Im using both the Zulus and the Sytong at present. Both on .223's but Im upping the Sytong to my 257R for a run too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tentman
As mentioned there are some glitches in the Sytong's firmware but I'm sure they will be sorted before the full production model is rolled out. Not major things but they do need to be sorted. The Sytong I have is sort of pre-production and I think the only one in the country - courtesy of @55six on here.
Hey thanks for that, as usual just the right info!