Totally agree, would I like one of the higher end units no doubt but what I have fits the bill just fine

Amazing just how fast they are advancing

Sure is...the model I bought reportedly has the sensor in it of a $4000 scope only 1.5 to 2 years ago.

Located 2 ferals that made ìt out of field. Shot one Friday night and another last night.

I’ve thought of getting night vision and would if I was a young man. I know a guy with a $1,000 one and he shoots coyote and wolves but said you can’t tell what you’re shooting. Last year in southern Wisconsin a couple buddies went out night hunting with the cheap ones and split up and one of them shot and killed his friend. 2 lives ruined. Be careful to anyone using a cheap one.

I have the strangest feeling I know why. I have had alot of guys say that and when I look at their rig they don't have their IR illuminator either on , zeroed or it's just way too low powered. That or your day time cap is still in .

This is @ like 175 with my x site 2 it's a 10-12 yr old model and with a

See my pics above. Not too hard to tell what you're shooting at. But this is a $2500 scope. In a year or two, the way the tech is advancing and prices are dropping, one like mine will be $1000.

BIG...BIG difference between night vision and thermal!!!

Yes there is but the problem is still not having positive ID on what your shooting at, what your looking through is immaterial to that (basic gun safety) a few years ago a couple out hog hunting using good thermal scopes and one sees a hot spot in some bushes and shoots at it, turned out to be a homeless man who had crawled into the bushes to sleep, they killed him

They were charged with manslaughter

Good grief! Why would somebody shoot at a target without 100% positive ID???

Here’s a deer at about 75yds or so…

Not only can you tell it’s a deer but you can tell it’s a buck.
I’ve called in a pair of bulldogs at night and could tell exactly what they were.
Hogs are definitely easy to pick out in a thermal. And just shooting at something “black or white” deserves punishment.
I’ve given this advice to everyone that’s new to a thermal. Take that scope out at night just to look. Go to known areas and look around and just try and identify everything you see. I don’t really ever take mine off base magnification, so look through it how you be shooting with it.

Very Cool Stuff

Mine stayed on 3x past 2 nights. I saw no need to zoom.

Last night, I saw a small creature about 60yds in front of me in some dead grass....it was hopping and standing on hind legs. Thought it was a young rabbit at first. It ended up being a field mouse. Had to get within 30 yds to positive ID....lol

I put my new iray to work last night as well. Forgot to record it though lol

Yes there is but the problem is still not having positive ID on what your shooting at, what your looking through is immaterial to that (basic gun safety) a few years ago a couple out hog hunting using good thermal scopes and one sees a hot spot in some bushes and shoots at it, turned out to be a homeless man who had crawled into the bushes to sleep, they killed him

They were charged with manslaughter [/quote]
Good grief! Why would somebody shoot at a target without 100% positive ID???[/quote]
Didnt you used to be a game warden? And you still have to ask that question?

Bearcat,
Failure to positively identify your target is the cardinal sin in hunting and shooting.

I've never got a clear answer to that question.

This group was my first thermal kills last Friday night. Never shot with a thermal until this first group of hogs. One appears to have escaped, but he came back out in field a few mins later....bad mistake.

First shot was off a tripod rest. Running shots were freehand and I struggled some.

https://youtu.be/8mFgVbBUcNM?si=8E9SdSPvDNIgjUeV

I didn't have the audio on....but I turned it on later that night. Still learning about the scope settings.

Nice shooting SWAMP!!! 5.56 at how many yards?

WRR,
Yes...5.56...hogs in video were about 75 to 80 yds.

Long ago when we first started getting these they were 12 grand! Nice to see the price is coming way down on them.