New scope. Time to play..

[Jay]

Some jackasses have been trying to enable me into a thermal scope for a while… I’m not weak… I held out as long as I could. But then, this happened..

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Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XP50 Pro. The first test subject is my 6x45 AR. Load work for it is done. Thanks to Zee. It shoots .teens at 100 yards with its 85gr Sierra Gamekings. My other rifles that will eventually see work with this thermal still need load work or I plan to use them for deer in a few months. So, since all I’ll be hunting will be coyotes and similar varmints until then, the 6x45 should do the job for now. Pending getting it zeroed. Then I’ll test it out.

:Damn jackasses cost me money:

[Jay]

For clarification, LRF means Laser Range Finder. There’s something new onto me…

Initial thoughts, playing with it… I really like.. gonna need to spend some time with it and do some tweaking and adjusting. But I’m impressed so far.

Capable of creating ballistic profiles and using the LRF to mark holdover points on the reticle. Again, gonna take some learning. In all actuality, at night, it will likely be a sub 300 yard rig. So not looking for 1000 yards out of it… hopefully it’ll do it’s job well.

[GrapeApe]

SWEET,
I recently got a cheap ATN thermal. Have it mounted on an upper, but haven't sighted it in yet either. No hogs have been showing up on my game cams, so no need for it

[CPJ 2.0]

I feel bad about helping you spend money.




Not really.

[Jay]

SWEET,
I recently got a cheap ATN thermal. Have it mounted on an upper, but haven't sighted it in yet either. No hogs have been showing up on my game cams, so no need for it

I have an ATN night vision scope. Haven’t used it in years. It works ok, for short range stuff. But it’s definitely not a thermal. Let me know how your thermal version works.

[Jay]

I feel bad about helping you spend money.




Not really.

Just wait till you jackasses hit me up for yardage… Do I give you the real number?…

[Jay]

Also, I have this thermal mounted with an American Defense Recon-S QR mount. Having seen how it works with a borrowed thermal previously.
Initial thoughts… worth the money. For an application that can use it. Machining is very nice. You can feel the difference just mounting the scope. Screws go in smooth, locking levers adjust and secure smooth.. if you spend money on a scope like that and plan to swap it between rifles and keep good zero repeatability, this mount seems to be the way to do it.

[CPJ 2.0]

I feel bad about helping you spend money.




Not really.

Just wait till you jackasses hit me up for yardage… Do I give you the real number?…

I have a guy. He’ll break your knee caps if you dont. I mean, he’s eye level with them. Easy shot.

[GrapeApe]

I have Ann ATN night vision scope. Haven’t used it in years. It works ok, for short range stuff. But it’s definitely not a thermal. Let me know how your thermal version works.

I have 2 ATN NV, one of which took a tumble a few months back and has a cracked lens towards the rear. It still works and you can only see the the crack looking into the rear in daylight, for now. This is their "Optics Planet excusive" bare bones (cheap ass) thermal. DVor had it on clearance for only about $100 more than a comparable NV, so I decided to give it a try to have on hand if that NV goes "tango uniform". No micro SD, no pics or vids, no LRF. Manual focus

I just came in from playing with it of the back porch, meh. Something the size of a hog I should be able to identify at the ~155yd max where I hog hunt, but I find it highly doubtful if I'll be able to differentiate betwwen a "trash panda" or possum at that distance.

FYI, ATN's cusomer service is a joke. If it's no longer under warranty, "We don't have parts for or support that model any longer. We will sell you a newer model though." It's what they told me, and in doing some research, it seems that that is their pat answer for any of their out of warranty scopes that need repair.

Edited to add: With the include IR illuminator with my 2 NVs, I've watched coyotes clearly out to ~400yards

[Jay]

Night vision starts to fail with brush. On flat ground, with the IR torch, I could see a ways. Once you start hitting brush and bouncing the IR light back, visibility goes down. So I found, to fully see what I’m aiming at and ID it, it’s iffy.

My limited experience with thermals so far, once you use one with high resolution and clarity, it’s hard to go with less. But, cost goes up significantly. It’s worth holding out and paying to get more. IMO, anyway. The ability to identify a pig from a calf could come in quite handy…

[Japhy]

Leaving that set up in view has likely already sent any nearby pigs into the next county.

It does look like fun!

[Zee]

You one upped me. Same scope as I have but with LRF!!

[Wambli Ska]

I don’t want one…
I don’t want one…
I don’t want one…
I don’t want one…
I don’t want one…
I don’t want one…

[CPJ 2.0]

I don’t want one…
I don’t want one…
I don’t want one…
I don’t want one…
I don’t want one…
I don’t want one…

You’re right. Seeing things 700 yards+ in pitch black is stupid and no fun. Worst thing ever. It’s horrible. Just, horrible.

[Orchidman]

I have the exact same model. Currently I can swap it between my T1x 17HMR, My T1x 22, my T3x 243, and when I get some more QR mounts it will also be fitted to my Howa 204....
The only thing you really need to consider now is getting a handheld...It is a lot easier to pick up critturs with a handheld rather than waving the rifle around, then using the rifle scope to make positive ID....

Most important thing about these thermals is make sure you familiarise yourself with all the buttons so you can use them in the dark......

Gotta go, the All Blacks are playing Fiji in San Diego....

[Wambli Ska]

I have the exact same model. Currently I can swap it between my T1x 17HMR, My T1x 22, my T3x 243, and when I get some more QR mounts it will also be fitted to my Howa 204....
The only thing you really need to consider now is getting a handheld...It is a lot easier to pick up critturs with a handheld rather than waving the rifle around, then using the rifle scope to make positive ID....

Most important thing about these thermals is make sure you familiarise yourself with all the buttons so you can use them in the dark......

Gotta go, the All Blacks are playing Fiji in San Diego....

Oh crap! I have to check to see if they’re showing it here!!!!!

[Wambli Ska]

Got it!!!!! Damn I need freaking subtitles

[Jay]

Finally got it zeroed.

Started off at 50 yards to make sure I could hit cardboard. Elevation was close, but it was about 18” left. Made an adjustment and tried again. Close enough to move to 100 yards.

First shot at 100, a bit high left. Made another adjustment. Next round was good. I had one more in the gun, so went with it to confirm. It’s sighted in on the 6x45.

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[Orchidman]

Excellent Jay. Look forward to seeing it blooded...

[Jay]

We did some coyote calling yesterday evening. A buddy bought the same scope as mine. We got both zeroed and went out to try calling a while. Never saw or heard a single yote. Then had two of them run across the road in front of us on the way home..

I’m sure we’ll be trying again in the near future.

[Zee]

Hard time to call now.

[Jay]

Definitely not the best time. It’s freakin hot…

We went out to “the pens” where we’ve had some success before. There was a dead cow layin a couple hundred yards out in the flat. We decided to set up in the pens with the call half way between us and the dead cow. Breeze was in our favor. Nothing. Just a couple cows and calves. Still a good time, getting to know our new equipment. My buddy with his new Foxpro Shockwave. Two new thermals. Good shakedown run.

[Zee]

Shockwave?!? Unspent some money on scope and call!

[Jay]

On sale on Amazon for $440. He had $200 in reward points. 200 and some change for a Shockwave. But, had to buy the rechargeable battery pack for it. Still a good deal.

[Zee]

Very much so!!!