Anyone have any recommendations on one?

Scanning hillsides with binos is something I’m accustomed to and I don’t mind it but scanning with a thermal is WAY faster. I’ve had one in the past but it became unserviceable.

John,
I have the Rix K3. It's the size of a laser rangefinder like those used for hunting.

The K3 was $899 and it is 384 resolution. It has a lens cover that is manually slid open or closed with the thumb...a feature I like for protection of the objective.

I wear the unit on a lanyard around my neck. When I see a heat signature I go to the AGM Rattler scope on the rifle.

This unit serves my purpose very well. But there are many other options for about twice that amount of money.

https://youtu.be/F7u-XqBHOSw?

Bang for your buck I would go with the Nocpix Lumi H35, if you want a range finder the Nocpix Lumi H35R. (It's only $200 difference for the range finder I'd get it) $2400 with 640 resolution. They are small and run off a simple 18650 battery (which you can get re-chargeable for cheap).

If you're not opposed to a little extra weight, the Nocpix Vista either 35 or 50 are insane. I looked through one during a tournament this winter and the image was just like you were in broad daylight. Not sure on your budget but those are a little more pricey.

I have ran an AGM Taipan in the 384 resolution for years. Once you get in that 640 and up category it's hard to go back to the 384 resolution. For a little extra money it is well worth it. The prices on 640 scopes and monocular have come down so much in price I don't think 384 will be considered entry level in the near future.

https://www.midwayusa.com/s?Discoun...0Deals=Open%20Box&Savings=50+-+75%25

A couple Burris on sale there,,,, if they may suit your needs, that seems like a pretty good deal.

What is your budget?

Cattrax had a thermal pair of binos that would knock your socks off

^^^This. Spend the money on the front end. If memory serves me, those 384 AGM's were around $2-2500 depending on exact unit when they were first out. Those units are down to around $1500 currently. Take your choice in 640 makers from AGM, Nocpix, Pulsar, InfiRay. Unless of course youd prefer a 1280.

Started with the Rix3 and it was ok, till I looked through the Titan T6. Sold the Rix 3 and bought the Titan L6, Rix 3 has 384 Resolution, while the Titan L6 is 640 resolution and laser range finder. The higher the resolution the easier it is to id critters further out.

Feel free to PM me I’d be happy to chat through your needs. I used to deal them and am still looking through thermal plenty in my coyote hunting. Getting a thermal that fits your needs is most important. Base mag, resolution, battery life, screen resolution, will all be more or less important depending on what you want to do with it

AGM Taipan 640 can find deals all around on them …..

This one if you can find one, they aren't making this specific model any more.

That’s why they don’t make that anymore, lol.

I have an AGM Taipan V2 19x384. It’s a good scanner and I’m able to ID just about everything out to 300-400yds…when I can see that far. All my scopes are 640 and the next scanner I get will be another AGM in 640. When scanning for predators it’s really easy to ID them…they’re the ones on a mission. Deer and smaller prey are just doing their normal stuff. Minimum I’d go with is a 384.
.

Bernie,
Thermal image quality has advanced well beyond that FLIR unit and costs have came down as quality has gone up.

I will never buy another FLIR product. Have the phone dongle camera and used the heck out of it until FLIR deleted the app that made it work. Their answer was buy a new one, only a 10% discount.

Nope, nada, no way. Ain't falling for that BS ever again.

The way I see it is if I pay good money for something, it's mine, and the seller shouldn't be allowed to remotely brick it.

And that 10% only applied if I shipped them the old one.

That's pretty ridiculous, thanks for sharing

I have a Pulsar unit, can't remember the model with out going and looking at it, however it cost me over 3G a few years ago on
sale, it's way below that now if they have any left, Pulsar is always improving and then selling old models off, so they don't have to stock old stuff

It's all I need for everything, except have a pair of binoc's, It's very handy to have when hunting instead of trying to use your rifle on a stand all the time plus using the battery life to just keep looking where as the other last longer !

Thing I don't like is the eye piece isn't comfortable enough to use for a long time, so I call and then wait, search for a short period then wait and do again, it's amazing how your eyes will get used to the monocular, then have to re-adjust to the rifle.

Think I will invest in a pair of bino's now and might just let who ever is with me use the monocular !

I learned my lesson about night vison stuff when I spent dollars on regular night vision, the difference is really not describable, but I still have a small set of night vison binos for around the house and neighbor hood for quick use !

A thermal monocular (and scope) sure messes up my night vision in the eye I'm viewing with. I guess there's no way around this, but I'm basically night blind in that eye for several minutes when I look away from the thermal optic.

Can't see crap....until my eye adjusts.....

I’m actually wanting this for daytime use to scan hillsides for elk so I won’t be shooting in the dark. Those elk are easy to spot through a thermal real quick before making a move on them. I’ve scanned with bonus for elk for 30 minutes and didn’t see some that were laying right there before moving or when just a part of them is visible.

Me too Swamp Wolf. Takes my eye a couple of minutes in the thermal to actually get a good view. Takes even longer to see anything in the dark after looking into the brightness of it.

And my budget might be in the 2k range but I’d go more if something is worth going for.

Yup, discovered that in the service. Tried the keeping one eye closed/eye patch thing but it really screws with your perception, especially depth perception.