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Thermal Scope ? #7031524
10/29/20 01:59 PM
10/29/20 01:59 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 306
Gilmer, Texas
R
Ranger109 Offline OP
trapper
Ranger109  Offline OP
trapper
R

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 306
Gilmer, Texas
I have been wanting a thermal scope for several years, but can not justify spending $2000, $3000, or $4000 for a scope! For those of you that have one, what argument did you use on yourself to justify getting one? If you had to make the same decision again today knowing what you know now, would you purchase one again?

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7031651
10/29/20 04:23 PM
10/29/20 04:23 PM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,220
SE NEBRASKA
NebrCatMan Offline
trapper
NebrCatMan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,220
SE NEBRASKA
No thermal for me .......... yet. Last year I invested in an ATN X Sight 4K Pro ( uses infra red light) for hunting at nite. Used it some. It's ok but hard on your eye. So I made a hand held scanner from a rifle scope, IR LIght and small monitor. Works great. Now I can scan for critters and then get my gun ready. I am looking at thermals in all price ranges. Even some clip ons for my regular scope. Kinda wanna try one out before I buy, so I'll tag along with some one who has a thermal. I would like a thermal hand held scanner before I would get the scope. But the night vision scope and scanner is working good for now.


Remember "Forbidden Fruit makes many Jams"
Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7031708
10/29/20 05:46 PM
10/29/20 05:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,147
Fontana KS
A
Andrew Eastwood Offline
trapper
Andrew Eastwood  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,147
Fontana KS
I finally pulled the trigger on one this past summer. I justified it as a ADC expense. I opted for the cheap version at $1,000 and will be getting a higher end one in the future. The cheap one works well to about 150 yards, but gets fuzzy to non existent image past that range. ATN is the brand I went with as they have a warranty and a gentleman that uses heck out of his equipment suggested them. If I had it to do all over again I would have gotten a higher end model to start, but as it is I will keep the cheaper one on a 22 for close work and get another for the long gun.

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7031756
10/29/20 06:48 PM
10/29/20 06:48 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,943
South Dakota
H
Hydropillar Offline
trapper
Hydropillar  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,943
South Dakota
following.........i sure want one


The only place you find free cheese is in a mousetrap !
Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7031763
10/29/20 06:57 PM
10/29/20 06:57 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,723
SW Georgia
W
Wanna Be Offline
trapper
Wanna Be  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,723
SW Georgia
This is one of those get before I retire items, lol. Definitely following.

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7031764
10/29/20 06:59 PM
10/29/20 06:59 PM
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 201
Lebanon, Missouri
H
H5Farm Offline
trapper
H5Farm  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: May 2014
Posts: 201
Lebanon, Missouri
following

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7031783
10/29/20 07:11 PM
10/29/20 07:11 PM
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 136
NW Illinois
R
Raizmup Offline
trapper
Raizmup  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 136
NW Illinois
Man I love thermal thermal hunting! I have a Flir PTS Pro233 thermal rifle scope. Right at $2k. Its hands down the coolest thing I own. We have a small farm and I pull the rifle/thermal out almost weekly to shoot some kinda critter. I picked up a handheld thermal to scan with also so I'm not having to have the gun shouldered all the time too. The handheld is a AGM TM160 micro. Picked it up for just under $500.
I use the crap out of them all year. And night hunting song dogs is an absolute blast.
Take a look at Night Vision Universe for purchases. I used him for both my thermals. Beats everyone's prices that I've seen.

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7031785
10/29/20 07:12 PM
10/29/20 07:12 PM
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 136
NW Illinois
R
Raizmup Offline
trapper
Raizmup  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 136
NW Illinois
And yeah I'd definitely buy a thermal again!

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7031824
10/29/20 07:36 PM
10/29/20 07:36 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,056
midland, michigan
M
midlander Offline
trapper
midlander  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,056
midland, michigan
Experience with Pulsar hand held thermal...excellent quality with great customer service. Prior experience with Flir, would not recommend. Cant speak for the rest, but I dont think you could go wrong with a Trijicon if you can stomach the capital outlay.

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7031920
10/29/20 09:15 PM
10/29/20 09:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,770
N.W. Iowa
T
Tactical.20 Offline
trapper
Tactical.20  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,770
N.W. Iowa
I thought the Thor4 would be a good one, 2000-4000$.
I was thinking the 2,000$ one, one guy said people have had a lot of issues with them

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7031942
10/29/20 09:29 PM
10/29/20 09:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
D
danny clifton Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
danny clifton  Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
I cant pull the trigger on one. maybe if coyote price goes up.

i see there is a calling contest in harrisonville mo if anyone is interested. saturday december 19. registration friday at 5 pm. 1500 south jefferson parkway. jackpot is 750. one day contest

jesse 816-738-6401 or harley 816-507-9313

Last edited by danny clifton; 10/29/20 09:32 PM.

Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7032027
10/29/20 10:23 PM
10/29/20 10:23 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,421
mn north of blakely
S
Steven 49er Offline
trapper
Steven 49er  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,421
mn north of blakely
Originally Posted by Ranger109
I have been wanting a thermal scope for several years, but can not justify spending $2000, $3000, or $4000 for a scope! For those of you that have one, what argument did you use on yourself to justify getting one? If you had to make the same decision again today knowing what you know now, would you purchase one again?


I borrowed a buddy's last winter, ordered on this fall. I am kicking myself in the butt for not doing it sooner.

I don't "justify" anything but if I had to it's because it allows 12 more hours of the day for me to hunt and in those twelve hours, I'm pretty much the only one out there.


"Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon". Milton Friedman.
Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7032043
10/29/20 10:40 PM
10/29/20 10:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 50
South Central Illinois
F
Frank Bates Offline
trapper
Frank Bates  Offline
trapper
F

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 50
South Central Illinois
I've had one now for three years and love it. Me and my buddy killed 85 coyotes last year. It was a blast. Its hard to believe that it's legal in the state of ILLINOIS.
My Pulsar records sound and video. I have my own YouTube channel with all the video action.

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7032052
10/29/20 10:47 PM
10/29/20 10:47 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,101
Northern Michigan
J
J.Morse Offline
trapper
J.Morse  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,101
Northern Michigan
I bit the bullet and ordered one from ATN earlier this week. I got the Thor LT 4-8 X. I am chomping at the bit and can't wait to try it out. Review to follow after I use it awhile.


Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7032079
10/29/20 11:11 PM
10/29/20 11:11 PM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,300
Custer SD
A
arcticotter Offline
trapper
arcticotter  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,300
Custer SD
I got the ATN Thor 4 about a month ago. It was $3800, I honestly haven’t got time to play with it yet. Soon I hope!

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: arcticotter] #7150164
01/22/21 09:06 PM
01/22/21 09:06 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 447
Kiel,Wisconsin
H
Hatchetman Offline
trapper
Hatchetman  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 447
Kiel,Wisconsin
ttt

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7150193
01/22/21 09:26 PM
01/22/21 09:26 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,771
Amite county Mississippi
Wolfdog91 Offline
trapper
Wolfdog91  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,771
Amite county Mississippi
Check out ed from outdoor adventures has lots of video on thermals

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7150197
01/22/21 09:30 PM
01/22/21 09:30 PM
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 180
Utah
J
Jasper69 Offline
trapper
Jasper69  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 180
Utah
Never have one.

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7150211
01/22/21 09:36 PM
01/22/21 09:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,862
Huntingdon Co. Pa.
F
forestman3 Offline
trapper
forestman3  Offline
trapper
F

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,862
Huntingdon Co. Pa.
One of two things I would love to have and the other is live scope fish finder.Both to much for me right now.

Re: Thermal Scope ? [Re: Ranger109] #7150214
01/22/21 09:40 PM
01/22/21 09:40 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,787
Asheville, NC
C
charles Offline
trapper
charles  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,787
Asheville, NC
Used a thermal hand held monocular in the Coast Guard back in the 80s. I am sure they have improved. I remember the images were all a luminous green. If the scope was pointed at a light, it took several minutes for it to work again.

The scope we had was not on a gun, but for observation. It’s case was as large as a suitcase. Probably cost a years wage back then.

What does the image look like in a modern night scope? Still green?

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