Night Vision Entry level clip on thermal

[Rerun7]

I’m toying with the idea of moving from a dedicated thermal sight and scanner to a clip on unit that can double as a scanner.

Tried searching but didn’t really see a lot of options under the $5k range. Looks like Pulsar had a Core that’s now discontinued and the Hogster C but it’s really new to market.

Is there a decent entry level clip on out there that people would recommend?

And for those that have used them, are they as easy to pop off and on as they sound so you can scan and shoot with it easily?

 

[Rerun7]

Insight/L3 LWTS

Thats way over the $5k price range I was asking about. Looks awesome though.

Anyone know how to remove a kidney?!?

 

[TheHorta]

L3 CRATOS

 

[Rerun7]

I guess that’s why I couldn’t find much when searching for entry level models, haha.

 

[kirsch]

You mentioned the Hogster C as a clip-on. It is a decent clip on, but when using it as a scanner is 3x, which for most people is too much mag for a scanner. It also requires you to remove an adapter and thread on an eyepeice. The standard Hogster-R 25 and 35 actually make great scanners and are very good weapons sight as well and are 1K less expensive. The 25mm is 1.4x native/base power and the 35mm is 2x. For 5K, you could have both and they come with a 4 year warranty. I use a 640x480 res scanner personally, and my hunting partner prefers using my Hogster as a scanner over it when I give him the choice of which one he wants to use. The 35 made it through a ND winter hunting with me with no issues at all, so that is saying something. I have attached a video with 20 coyote kills using it. Also, the crosshair can be turned off if you want to use it as a scanner without a reticle. The flashing reticle for the first 4+ minutes of the video was introduced by the DVR and doesn't happen through the eyepiece.

 

[Rerun7]

Thanks. I already have a scanner and dedicated weapon sight. My inquiry was more regarding the utility and economics of moving to just one do all piece but it sounds like having both may be the best way to go for now.

 

[wigwamitus]

... Is there a decent entry level clip on out there that people would recommend? ...

The Genesis T55 I've been testing (see night shooting thread) ... has shown price $6,200 on B&H ...

Street price might be pretty close to your $5k goal (I would hope) ...

You are correct, "entry level thermal clipon" ... is essentially an oxymoron ...

But the T55 comes closer than anything else I've tried ...
it can support 8x-10x on the day scope ... making it a long distance thermal clipon ...
Its under $10k MSRP
it's image trumps tthe trijicon SNIPE which has MSRP of $9999, thought the street price is usually $8k +/- ... and the image rivals the LWTS-LR image (as a clipon) ... details in my review ...
It has a built in laser range finder
very intuitive menu system (I still haven't read the manual) lots of image adjustment capability ... more than any thermal I've seen other than the COTI.
Also has additional eyepieces for dedicated thermal use and use as a scanner.
Has a metal housing !!

 

[kirsch]

Thanks. I already have a scanner and dedicated weapon sight. My inquiry was more regarding the utility and economics of moving to just one do all piece but it sounds like having both may be the best way to go for now.

There is no question having two is the best option. However, having a scanner that can also be a backup weapons sight is really nice.

 

[SkyScrapin]

What is your dedicated thermal?

I'd opt to keep what you have and get a helmet mounted thermal. Far and away the best thermal purchase I made was the Skeet, but I would trade it for the Iray if that's what was in the budget. Looking through both, I favor the Skeet, but the Iray is still very comparable.

 

[Rerun7]

I’ve got a trail on the rifle and a pulsar handheld.
I’ve also been thinking about moving to something I could mount along with my nv and may just look deeper into that

 

[Prebanpaul]

I picked up a pulsar fxq. They are bad ass and work amazing. There is a used on on down range thermal . You can use it as a monucular or sight. I freaking love it. I can see deer and tell what the are with a 4x acog our to 1k