Anyone had any experience with these -- looking at getting one - but not wanting to waste 1000$. Any input would be appreciated.

Not familiar with that model but the difference between a $4000 scope and a $1000 scope is like night and day.

Pun intended?

I have an AGM TS35 640 as a back up that I use for scanning. I looked through a TS35 384 and it was a huge difference from the 640.
Personally I’d save my money and get a 640. Those thermals are pretty cheap as far as 640’s are concerned. I don’t think you’d be too happy with a 256.
With that said, there’s a huge difference between an AGM 640 and an iRay 640 as well.

I can only imagine the differences -- Neighbor had a pulsar monocular (320x240) that i played with it worked well. I was impressed with the definition out to 300yds or so. Are there huge differences in brands and definition as well as just the pixel count?

Without sounding like a jerk, you get what you pay for. What Newhouse said is 1000% the honest truth.
I have an iRay Bolt TH50 C that has a faster processor and a 640 resolution (absolute max I could afford) and the difference between it and the AGM is night and day and about $3K.

With that said, could I do everything the same with the AGM? Yes I could. I bought the AGM as a back up on another gun, but realized as light as it is I can easily use it to scan while riding or even walking. I’ve learned I can keep it to my left eye while driving slow and looking where I’m going with my right eye. I’ve spotted a couple coyotes this way. I just put the truck in neutral and grab the gun with the iRay and make my shot.
The AGM comes with a QD mount built in, so “if” something was to go wrong with the iRay I already have the AGM sighted in on an AR and marked where it goes and can slap it on and be in business.

Find someone with the scope you’re looking for and look through it. Or just find someone with an AGM and check them out. For the price of their 640 model I’d buy another, but I’d definitely buy another iRay if I could afford it again.
And for the record I’ve looked through a $17K iRay and it makes mine look like a child’s toy, lol!

Just buy the MAX you can afford as far as 640’s are concerned.

Don't settle for a cheap one. Buy the right one first and you'll only have to buy it once. I'm on my second one and already wished I had spent more.

Mine is 380 resolution, what a guy wants is 640 resolution.

This is a heck of a scope for $3,000
https://www.eurooptic.com/Pulsar-Thermion-XG50-3-24X-Thermal-Riflescope-PL76529.aspx

I see Pulsar is now making a 1024 with a built in range finder. Not a bad price considering what the first 1024s retailed at.

That sounds like an almost too good to be true price, lol. If that’s legit, YES, buy that! Heck I may rob my skivvies drawer and add another.

Save your money, Pulsar is offering a 1024 with laser range finder for 6500.

Something else to consider is power options. My IRay takes an external battery and I got 4 plus a charger for like $30. If a battery is installed when powered on it automatically starts with external power. If I have to change a battery out during the night it switches to the internal scope battery. Once I swap batteries it’s back to the external. They “say” you get 4hrs run time on the external batteries. I run about 3.25hrs of continuous use. So if I had to use all 4 plus the internal battery I’m looking at about 16hrs total time. I’m NOT staying out 16hrs, lol.
I ended up buying 4 CR123 rechargeable batteries for the AGM. It doesn’t have an internal battery so swapping out loses power. But so far we’ve never run into an issue when hunting with it.
Just something else to consider.

Also something to consider is humidity. I was really amazed the first time I used it on a “dry” cool night compared to the humid summer nights. Fog does limit clarity as well regardless. But, I’ve still killed quite a few hogs and coyotes under some hot miserable humid conditions.

For my hunting conditions a bolt action works just fine. I do have the AGM sighted in on an AR, but we’re talking an 8# rifle to a 13# rifle. Your area and terrain will dictate which is best for you.

When I was using the monocular I realized that 4 hrs was not enough run time for me. Anyone use an external battery for these. I have an ar upper that I was going to dedicate to it -- also liked and disliked the idea of being able to unclip it and use it as a monocular -- any problems with the zero shifting when you do that.

Haven’t done it but a couple of times, but so far no issues. With that gun/scope I don’t think we’ve shot farther than 75yds maybe.
I’ve made laser verified shots of 198yds on coyotes and 220yds on hogs, but that was with the iRay and Ruger.

It's getting alot easier to justify the expense when I lost over 2500$ worth of sheep this year. Wife is sorta onboard with it -- she thinks a 800$ one will work fine, I already know that isn't what will work for me and am just trying to see how far up the ladder i need to climb to get something reasonable. Most of my shooting is on farm fields and 200yds +/- for coyotes. I have also wondered how well nutria would show up - I presume the water animals being more insulated would be a little harder to pick out. I did get to see the difference in the sheep in full fleece vs freshly shorn.

I would go 384 minimum. 640 if you can afford it. I have shot quite a few nutria with thermal.

I use mine specifically for nutria control work. I have it mounted on a tripod and use it for spotting. Then flip on the red shooting light. If using a thermal rifle scope, you will often think you have a clear shot but there may be a mountain of grass and brush between you and your target. I am fortunate in that the government issued my scope to me, right along with my suppressed rifle. When I leave their employ, I might have to spring for one of my own.

I have already earned in confirmed kills what I paid for the AGM. The iRay was a Christmas gift from the wife so know need to reimburse myself that money back, lol.
Cameras tell me when the hogs are there. After that it’s just playing the wind and stalking in on them. Haven’t done any winter calling for coyotes yet, but Summer calling when pups are young was pretty fun.
Next purchase will be a very nice e-caller. Several coyotes were just spotted and squeaked in. I have a video that’s almost 3 minutes long where I watched a coyote from a very long distance on a calm night and would give just enough squeaks to keep him heading my direction. If he seemed to lose interest, I’d start squeaking again and get him back on the path. I think it was more curiosity than anything else. Ended up shooting him at about 75yds.

Wait a minute, your thermal can see through brush? If there’s brush in my way, I can’t see the target. In the videos I’ve posted you’ll see hogs/coyotes when they’re in the clear and won’t see them when they’re in the brush.
What kind of scope do you have?

my experience with the monocular was awesome and frustrating at the same time -- I could watch the coyotes play around in the field all night but when I tried to put a scope on them i couldn't. back in the old days i could light them up and catch up with them but my night vision and reflexes aren't what they used to be.