Need a scanner or maybe a second thermal?

[Smid]

I’ve got 10 night trips on my Hogster 35, and I think I definitely need a spotter. My neck is getting more and more sore scanning with the gun and tripod.

Trying to come up with possible options, but not entirely sure what I want. My original thought was to go with another Hogster, use one as a scanner and one on the gun then have a spare if a buddy comes in town. The problem is, while the Hogster has a great picture, the zoom blows and I find myself wishing it had more magnification at times. I know the super Hogster is coming out, but not sure if the 2.9 vs 2.0 is that much of a jump.

Other options I’ve been kicking is something like an XM38 or 50. I don’t have much experience with the 640 cores, but if my understanding is correct, the first zoom would effectively cut me to 320 resolution, so it would essentially be about the same thing as the xm series at that point?

Any input or other suggestions are appreciated, I know I’m just kind of rambling on. I’m hunting coyotes in Ohio FWIW

 

[weekender7]

Just get a another Hogster in 25 instead of 35. Most folks call what you are looking for a "scanner" not a spotter. Most folks also want a wide FOV vs zoomed in detail. With a scanner, all most folks want to know is that there is something alive out there then switch to gun to get that detail and positive ID. Part of the equation depends on the terrain you are hunting. For Big wide open space you might want more native zoom vs wider FOV for more tight quarters.

 

[Smid]

Just get a another Hogster in 25 instead of 35. Most folks call what you are looking for a "scanner" not a spotter. Most folks also want a wide FOV vs zoomed in detail. With a scanner, all most folks want to know is that there is something alive out there then switch to gun to get that detail and positive ID. Part of the equation depends on the terrain you are hunting. For Big wide open space you might want more native zoom vs wider FOV for more tight quarters.

Thanks, I updated the title. Had a brain fart there, was reading another post about spotting scopes right before I made this post

99% of the property I’ll hunt are corn or bean fields. I don’t think the 35 has been restricting enough to go anything under 2x for a scanner or scope, although I did consider the 25 solely based on the price.

 

[weekender7]

I have yet to read anything negative about the Hogster line. I want one but just have other irons in the fire. I have a Key Axion I use for scanning now and have NV to shoot with.

 

[Smid]

I have yet to read anything negative about the Hogster line. I want one but just have other irons in the fire. I have a Key Axion I use for scanning now and have NV to shoot with.

Yeah for the price, I don’t there’s a better value. Better thermals for sure, but nowhere near the price point. I may just go with the super Hogster, but I don’t want to rule anything out yet. Except the halo LR Because the wife gave me a hard no on that lol

 

[weekender7]

Yeah I would need a lawyer and somewhere to sleep if I bought a Halo LR lol

 

[Family Man]

Long term you may want to consider getting something that can be used hands-free to scan.
Like mounting it on a helmet.
This is what I'm using for scanning. Mounted to a Team Wendy helmet.
IRay MH 25

InfiRay Outdoor MH25 640 25mm Mini Thermal Helmet Mountable Monocular

The iRay Mini MH25 is the smallest fully multi-functional 12 micron thermal imaging monocular on the market. It can be used as a handheld monocular or a helmet mounted monocular.

www.ultimatenightvision.com

 

[Smid]

Long term you may want to consider getting something that can be used hands-free to scan.
Like mounting it on a helmet.
This is what I'm using for scanning. Mounted to a Team Wendy helmet.
IRay MH 25

InfiRay Outdoor MH25 640 25mm Mini Thermal Helmet Mountable Monocular

The iRay Mini MH25 is the smallest fully multi-functional 12 micron thermal imaging monocular on the market. It can be used as a handheld monocular or a helmet mounted monocular.

www.ultimatenightvision.com

I have thought about that, but every time I look at the price of these, this is how I feel

Something in the Flir breach price range with a decent picture would probably be a hot seller. Either way it’s going to the back burner for a couple months until I save some more funds. Found a hot deal on an XP50 I could pass up and switching from 6.5 Grendel to .22 nosler put a dent in the fun money lol.

 

[sportsmans challenge]

Have you boys seen an agm 35 scanner? 384 core, internal battery, video, wifi, slightly less than the hogster.

The good thing about the hogster as a scanner is, if you ever had a buddy, kid or friend or a friend who wanted to go he could mount it for a hunt.

AGM asp 35mm scanner (short review)

So i have had the AGM asp 35 scanner for the last month and have used a it a few times. This is my opinions and observations from my experience with it. Pro's: Focus, great picture, easy to use, multiple pallets, pic and video and app Con's: Internal battery, slow start up and slightly large...

www.rokslide.com

For members here i can help just message me

 

[sportsmans challenge]

Long term you may want to consider getting something that can be used hands-free to scan.
Like mounting it on a helmet.
This is what I'm using for scanning. Mounted to a Team Wendy helmet.
IRay MH 25

InfiRay Outdoor MH25 640 25mm Mini Thermal Helmet Mountable Monocular

The iRay Mini MH25 is the smallest fully multi-functional 12 micron thermal imaging monocular on the market. It can be used as a handheld monocular or a helmet mounted monocular.

www.ultimatenightvision.com

The iray core in the new super hogster is supposed to be pretty awesome

 

[Capt. Max]

Here is my Opinion.

1. handheld optics are hard to resell so I like to use a weapons mountable optics they hold their value better. I make a single point connection to hang from a lanyard with a long pic rail, Magpul RSA-qd and sling. Currently I use a N vision Halo as a spotter or Atlas LR bino for long range PID. While hunting out of my Van I use a Helion 2 xp50 stream the image to a tablet then HDMI to a 22" tv in the back. The halo 25 has legs and its easy to measure distance with its low magnification when stalking.

2. Your hand held or scouting optic should be better then your weapons optic. If you need to PID at distance, walking hundreds of yards to figure out you just stalked up on a possum or family of coons sucks.

3. 320 core stuff is ok, and if you can close the distance it may be good enough for your application. 640 is better visually and spanks 320 stuff in foul weather. Pulsar is kicking ass with the internal screens being higher resolution. When magnified in an xp50 thermion it looks better than my Halo and Halo LR.

I like the thermion because it records when shooting but I like the N-vision for clarity at distance. I also have a Trijicon MK2 and Reap IR to show customers the differences in a variety of thermal. Hell 10 years ago optics were still 15k and you couldn't buy them all over the place. We live in a great time with great gear coming out.

 

[sportsmans challenge]

Here is my Opinion.

1. handheld optics are hard to resell so I like to use a weapons mountable optics they hold their value better. I make a single point connection to hang from a lanyard with a long pic rail, Magpul RSA-qd and sling. Currently I use a N vision Halo as a spotter or Atlas LR bino for long range PID. While hunting out of my Van I use a Helion 2 xp50 stream the image to a tablet then HDMI to a 22" tv in the back. The halo 25 has legs and its easy to measure distance with its low magnification when stalking.

2. Your hand held or scouting optic should be better then your weapons optic. If you need to PID at distance, walking hundreds of yards to figure out you just stalked up on a possum or family of coons sucks.

3. 320 core stuff is ok, and if you can close the distance it may be good enough for your application. 640 is better visually and spanks 320 stuff in foul weather. Pulsar is kicking ass with the internal screens being higher resolution. When magnified in an xp50 thermion it looks better than my Halo and Halo LR.

I like the thermion because it records when shooting but I like the N-vision for clarity at distance. I also have a Trijicon MK2 and Reap IR to show customers the differences in a variety of thermal. Hell 10 years ago optics were still 15k and you couldn't buy them all over the place. We live in a great time with great gear coming out.

I have heard from many guys the atlas sucks compared to the halo lr due to not an omoled screen. Whats your opinion

 

[Capt. Max]

Well, the Atlas is focusable and the Halo LR is fixed focus so the atlas can be finely focused for multiple distances to give you a great image. The screen is 4x larger in the atlas so it is easier to see smaller details using the atlas. What I wish it had was a lock out so the buttons couldn't get pushed and a tripod stud. I use a Helion 2 on my Van streaming to a iPad or samsung TABa 10.1 and than hdmi the image to a 22 inch LCD screen for passengers to view. The resolutions is by far better on the Tab A or ipad, but I can see way more detail on the 22 inch screen in the back. The only reason is because of screen size not screen resolutions. I am co owner of Shoot-N-Glow thermal targets and owner of Pig Problem Inc. I think there are a lot of great products on the market but there is no such thing as one tool for every job. What one company has the other does not, but they all excel in certain areas. N vision was the first to offer a 12um 640 core binocular that has no equal in the civilian market as of yet. Plus there are a lot of great dealers all over the country so availability is unreal compared to 10 years ago.