Cheap thermal

P

parson

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I have no personal experience with thermal and don’t understand much more their price. There seems to be a big jump in thermals for 2 grand or less. You tube videos are about my only access, no persona l experience no opportunity to try, test or even handle. So my question, if I only want one for my 17 Hornet or rimfire and doubt I will be shooting much beyond 100 yards, what’s out there that’s not junk? Money is not the problem, 83 years is the problem. I would not use it much, probably more a novelty than anything else, thx for any and all replies
 
night vision would be less expensive than thermal. i like thermal better. my scanner is a pulsar axion XQ38 that i got for under 3 grand. its a 384 which lets me see what i want to out to over 1,000 yards. my scope is a bering optics super yoter that i got for under 4 grand. its a 640 which is a lot clearer and provides a sharper image which is great for longer distance shooting.

i also used a pulsar digex n450 night vision scope, that thing is awesome and crystal clear paid less than 1,500 and have killed coyotes out to 200 plus yards. it looks like daytime but everything is in black and white.

the only draw back to night vision is fog and humidity, mostly fog as you use a IR light and light doesnt penetrate fog but thermal will, to a point.

you can call the site sponsor above "ultimate night vision" they carry both thermal and night vision. i checked their site and they have some thermal scopes for under 2 grand. they also have a rent to try, before you buy program.

i bought my stuff thru thermal optics plus, there are other stores but these are the only two i am familiar with.

the pros at these stores can answer all the technical stuff like explaining the difference between the 384 and 640 thermal sensors
 
Iray bolt 35 v2 is currently on sale for 1999$.. look up on YouTube some videos of people hunting with it or doing reviews.. very good image for a 384 scope along with Iray customer service and warranty is pretty dang good from my experience
 
$1,499 at ultimate night vision

ultimatenightvision.com

BOLT TL25 SE Thermal Weapon Sight 384x288 25mm

The BOLT TL35V2 features InfiRay Outdoor's innovative new way to control a thermal optic. Unlike other thermal optics with a turret style controller on one side, the BOLT has a large and easy to find metal turret controller on top. This makes operation easier in the dark and completely ambidextrous
ultimatenightvision.com ultimatenightvision.com
 
That bolt25 looks ideal for rimfire. NO reason to spend big bucks if putting on a rimfire, does sound like fun, especially rats,pigeon and starlings.
 
For a novelty, probably NV is best. Rimfire - rings may be a problem. Cost of IR is in the lens and sensor array. Most have 5 yr warrenty now but exernal batteries is best bet.
 
popper43 said:
For a novelty, probably NV is best. Rimfire - rings may be a problem. Cost of IR is in the lens and sensor array. Most have 5 yr warrenty now but exernal batteries is best bet
Click to expand...

just have a picatinny rail put on it. that would solve the ring issue
 
Hoosier_nitedog said:
Iray bolt 35 v2 is currently on sale for 1999$.. look up on YouTube some videos of people hunting with it or doing reviews.. very good image for a 384 scope along with Iray customer service and warranty is pretty dang good from my experience
Click to expand...
Fully agree with this. The Bolt TL35 is a darn good scope. I don’t think you will find a better one for $2,000. I bought one recently and paid around $400 more than the current sale price. It’s a fairly big scope for a rimfire, but has a very good image.
 
I don't personally have the bolt 35 but from what I have seen and gathered from other people's reviews/input it's hard to beat for the money.. however I do have an iray rh50r but can't classify that in the cheap category lol
6mm06 said:
Fully agree with this. The Bolt TL35 is a darn good scope. I don’t think you will find a better one for $2,000. I bought one recently and paid around $400 more than the current sale price. It’s a fairly big scope for a rimfire, but has a very good image.
Click to expand...
 
In a thermal scope I want the highest base mag I can get, however for a thermal scanner I like lower base mag to beable get the biggest feild of view.. bolt 25 is 2x and bolt 35 is 3x, there will be a noticeable difference between them and each time you zoom in cuts your resolution drastically
 
my axion scanner is a base 3 power. i seriously goofed on a coyote that came out of the corn about 60 yards from us. my partner said "right in front of you"

i'm looking and looking and not seeing anything. i was looking right over the top of it with that 3 power scanner.
 
3x base mag is my preferred. I have had 2x, it was ok but 3 is much better even at 40-50yds. Would not want over 3x for my area because I need FOV in most sets. The issue of poorer image when zooming is real, but I think way overstated. You just need an image to "center up on" IMO not definition.
 
sightmark wraith mini night vision on sale at palmetto state armory for 470.00

has the same sensor as my pulsar digex N450

since money isnt the problem for the OP, i would stay with a thermal around the 3 to 3,500 mark
 
Yeah, my aging eyes need a little more magnification nowadays. The 3x looks pretty good. My old Pulsar Apex is 2.2x and I have done pretty good with it. Even my AGM Rattler 25 with 1.5x has killed coyotes out to 90 yards, but I seem to like a bit more magnification now. The Rattler is more of a scanner now.
 
A 25-384 will be good for 22lr. You can get greater magnification with the larger lens. However, the number of sensor elements determies the quality of the picture. Each time you double the mag (digital) you cut the used sensors by 4. NV uses cheaper sensors, so many more of them. So better pic always. Both will work in daylight. NV is like your iphone/trail cam - similar parts. IR demands a germanium lens and special sensors. Thus a big cost difference. The mechanical parts are always the most cost.
 
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