Thermal scope recommendations

[McCree]

Looking for recommendations for a decent thermal. Don't need the best of the best, just something to shoot a few coyotes here and there.

 

[Presswood_936]

What will be your average shot distance ?
What’s your budget ?
Ar15 or bolt gun ?

 

[songdog18]

I went from a older Pulsar therion 320 resolution with a base magnification of like 4.2 ... to the the Iray TH50 640 res base mag of 3.5. I ran the pulsar for probably 5 years and the iray for 2 .. im not completely sold on the iray. Even bein twice the res I still liked the high base mag. I hunt wide open flat farm country farthest kill last year was 495yards. I also run a pulsar scanner. I hunt with a couple guys running Bering optics that really like them. Look at base mag and what distance your going to be shooting.

 

[Nine Banger]

Looking for recommendations for a decent thermal. Don't need the best of the best, just something to shoot a few coyotes here and there.

I think you're going to find the best is what you want and will cost the same as all the stuff you're going to buy and set aside along the way to end up on that end of the spectrum down the road.

Get what used to be the best used or refurbished and skip all the new cheaper options.

 

[SloppyJ]

Following along. I'd love to have one for some night time fun.

 

[wyosteve]

I'm most familiar with iRay and they have worked well. My feeling is iRay or Pulsar are 2 of the better choices.

 

[songdog18]

I'm most familiar with iRay and they have worked well. My feeling is iRay or Pulsar are 2 of the better choices.

I change batteries when my external dies a lot of time thats mid stand. Changing batteries on Iray is a real bitch compared to Pulsar even at home in my gun room I dont like it. But iray batteries were way cheaper then Pulsar

 

[tmilam2002]

Iray and pulsar are reputable. Buy used—you can find a much better deal when others want to sell to fund a better thermal purchase.

 

[Georgedubya]

You definitely want a 640 sensor. I’ve got an NVsion Halo XRF in the classifieds. Used but perfect shape, with multiple mounts. Feel free to take a look and PM if you have any questions. I’ve run numerous thermals. Another excellent choice is the Pulsar XG50, which is frequently found on sale now because it’s a couple generations old but still great.

 

[Wprinkle]

Bought a Rix Storm 6S and am very pleased. Now they have a 6R which has a rangefinder. I will not own another Thermal without a rangefinder on it.

 

[coyotekilla]

Running an agm adder v2 50x640 and very happy with it. Also have a iray mk1v2 that does well. Look at iray / nocpix, agm, and pulsar. Run from atn. Expect to spend 4k plus.

 

[Georgedubya]

Bought a Rix Storm 6S and am very pleased. Now they have a 6R which has a rangefinder. I will not own another Thermal without a rangefinder on it.

LRF is key. My pulsar XG50 (no LRF) lives on a tikka 22-250 that I mostly use as a loaner gun. It shoots so flat that LRF isn’t needed within the normal ranges it gets used. My primary optic is the NocPix S60R, but was the Halo XRF for a few years.

 

[Wprinkle]

LRF is key. My pulsar XG50 (no LRF) lives on a tikka 22-250 that I mostly use as a loaner gun. It shoots so flat that LRF isn’t needed within the normal ranges it gets used. My primary optic is the NocPix S60R, but was the Halo XRF for a few years.

Thats funny mine is also in a 22-250 for the same reason. I will absolutely be upgrading this month to a LRF.

 

[Georgedubya]

Thats funny mine is also in a 22-250 for the same reason. I will absolutely be upgrading this month to a LRF.

If you want a Halo XRF, I know a guy!!!

 

[Nine Banger]

LRF is a good move.

Tiny foxes at 15 yards look like huge coyotes at 50 yards because that's what your brain wants to shoot.

We were looking at deer on the last hunt that seemed like they were 500 yards away and I passed by the area during the day and observed that the field is only about 300 yards long.

You need a really good thermal to shoot distance tho. Pulsar XL60 is amazing for this.

 

[Georgedubya]

Pulsar XL60 and XP60, as well as the NocPix Ace S60 and H60, are top notch choices. Members of my group hunt with all of them. Hard to choose the best from among them, but if I had to I’d say the S60R. I have shot coyotes out to 400 with the Halo XRF, but upgraded to an S60R for this year.

 

[Nine Banger]

I want the XL50 because I like the lower zoom ratio but the firmware update for the XL60 just makes it walk away and it was already good.

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

We’re a thermal dealer and can get you about anything!

Few questions:

• Budget
• Gas gun or bolt gun
• Average distance you’ll be shooting

Tons of great options out there right now.

 

[Hnthrdr]

We’re a thermal dealer and can get you about anything!

Few questions:

• Budget
• Gas gun or bolt gun
• Average distance you’ll be shooting

Tons of great options out there right now.

I have the same question as OP… would like to get a monocular and a scope combo for around 5k is that possible? Shot distances could range from 100-500 yards

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

I have the same question as OP… would like to get a monocular and a scope combo for around 5k is that possible? Shot distances could range from 100-500 yards

Definitely is!

Off the cuff recommendation would be a Rix L6R for $4,499 and a Rix K3 scanner for $899 puts you at $5,398 total. Lot of bang for your buck but that's definitely biasing the budget towards the scope vs the scanner. Dropping down to a NocPix Lumi P13 scanner would get you down to $5,048 but a 256 scanner is going to be rough. Could save some money on the scope and go with a Pulsar XP50 for $3,999.97 but you drop down to 2X base mag vs 2.8X on the L6R.

Would highly recommend an LRF for shooting out to 500. Ballistic calculator like on the L6R and XP50 will definitely help as well. Estimates distances in thermal can be challenging.

Before really providing a recommendation tailored to your needs I would want more info:

• Gas gun or bolt gun? Tube style scopes like the L6R work well on both, compact style scopes work very well on gas guns but have some ergonomic issues on bolt guns
• Taking more shots at 100 or more at 500? More base mag is better for further out but will hamper you up close.
• Do you prefer to have a better scanner or a better scope?

Lots of other combos out there that will work in that budget range. Feel free to PM me with more questions, can always find a time to hop on a call too.