Thread: Thermal imagers/scopes

Hi there, I’m quite interested in purchasing a handheld unit for spotting game, possibly a scope. Does anyone use there thermal scope for spotting or is it a pain lifting the rifle up to scan all the time? Pulsar seem to be the pick of the bunch out there, does anyone use the guide510 what are they like? Or other similar units
Would buying new be the way to go, or can you trust secondhand units these days if you can get them at a good price?
Looking for something that can detect maybe out to 600m and clearly identify to maybe 200m.
Just interested in your thoughts on what’s good and what to stay away from.
Thanks

Using a Thermal Scope for detection is very tiring
I had for a limited time - the luxury of both hand and rifle Thermal at same time which is the optimum set up but is 10K warranted for recreational purposes?
I have now gone Night Vision on rifle - good identification out to 2-300m with add-on infra-red that greatly enhances available shooting distance out to that 2-300m (not that my terrain allows more than 150m)
So Thermal as hand held for location - small Olight on belt in pouch pointing down with red lens for walking in and on pressure switch and finish off with Night Vision scope.

But - a lot of guys go Thermal handheld to locate animal - normal scoped rifle with Olight/Maxtoch on top to finish off.
Works fine too - as you do same - no waving the Murapara Moonbeam around scaring averyting
Locate - move in with filtered walk light and when inside comfortable shooting range and clear zone on with light and shoot in 2-3 seconds before animal has chance to know whats-up

Thanks Sarvo good insight what thermal unit do u use what sort of range are u spotting animals at with it?
Thanks

Thermal works in daytime too and a handheld monocular is a fantastic game finder in the right type of country.
Tho you wouldnt probably use a thermal scope for that sort of hunting......What type of hunting to do you intend to do with it?

I have tried nearly all the Thermal Pulsar units thus far (handhelds)
Started with the old XQ38 in 2016 (or was it 15??
Up to the Accolade Rangefinder model a few months ago (look like a Bino so use two eyes)
The cheapest unit was the XQ30 V Lite and could locate out to 800m - mate on farm has it now and he reckons he has seen Deer out to near 2K
But the later model XQ and XP - out to 1000m no problem. Way more than needed put it that way.
I have never had the luxury of using in wide open terrain or farm land - my terrain is restricted and hence I find some of the units starting magnification too high for me
My top choice was the Helion XP28 - starting mag of 1.4x (think that’s correct - but the lowest of them all) this gives a greater FOV so when not in so open country you are not waving it around looking so much and getting a fright when a Deer is like 50m away and with the XP50 looks like a bloody glowing white Elephant in front of you

Pigs and deer, scrubby gullies with clearings, anywhere from 100-500 metres wide.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Thermal works in daytime too and a handheld monocular is a fantastic game finder in the right type of country.
Tho you wouldnt probably use a thermal scope for that sort of hunting......What type of hunting to do you intend to do with it?

True
Pig hunters will pick up Pig camps "if" above looking into a gully or the likes
Another reason I like the NV scope as I usually use last hour of dark - so often will be in daylight still heading back to Quad etc and they are good in daylight

Sarvo how far could you identify with the XQ30v. locate range sounds what I need, there’s one on the yellow site for sale don’t know if that’s a good price or not

Originally Posted by Sarvo

True
Pig hunters will pick up Pig camps "if" above looking into a gully or the likes
Another reason I like the NV scope as I usually use last hour of dark - so often will be in daylight still heading back to Quad etc and they are good in daylight

I have used it to good effect looking into regen faces up to a km away over a gully and seen the heat source...un identifiable as in bush but just know there is an animal there and it is heading for that clearing and low and behold 20min later out it walks......if I could justify the dollars for my own one I wouldnt hunt open country without one. but I cant so I dont.
Have spotted deer on open farmland out to 2km, not identifiable of course at that range but it told me they were there none the less.

Originally Posted by Mr300WSM

Sarvo how far could you identify with the XQ30v. locate range sounds what I need, there’s one on the yellow site for sale don’t know if that’s a good price or not

As I said above 800m I have but mates have seen further.
At 550m I could positivly identify I was looking at a Hind and a yearling
800m I know it was Deer

Be carful buying used - they will have transfer warranty - but more so b carful on price
Seen some stupid buying lately and some with good units have struggled to get proper value - because - 3K is way way better for average person that 4-5K
Sounds like you be fine with a 2-2500 used unit or maybe better buy a new Axaion Key XM30 - 2800$
I have not tried one - and know no one who has.
But they are tiny and compact that is all I know at this point

Veitnamcam do u know what unit u were using?

Originally Posted by Mr300WSM

Veitnamcam do u know what unit u were using?

XQ 30 and 50....for my hunting (mostly daytime public land but also night time private land with permission of course) I always wanted the most range detection and magnification available...had the newer versions booked for testing but injury put paid to that unfortunately.

Your needs may differ.

Check out the new pulsar axion xm-30. Very compact. Has a detection range of over a km. There are two models. The more expensive model has the fancy video recording jazz. The cheaper model called the key is around $2800.

Thanks everyone might check out the axion, if anyone has tried it or has one let us know what you think.

Talk to @faregame