Night Vision First Hunting Thermal

[YotaEer]

I’m looking to get into the thermal night hunting game and have some newb questions. This will be primarily for calling coyotes, but also raccoons, skunks and whatever other varmints come out. I have 3 options, I think...

1 - get a quality thermal scanner and a high quality gun light with a reostat to keep the animals from spooking, hopefully.

2 - dive In head first and get a thermal clip on for my zeiss v4. Any options here around the $2000 mark?

3 - get a dedicated thermal scope to go on in place of my zeiss. I know this will likely save me some money, but I am worried about constantly losing my zero as a swap back and forth for day and night hunting. Should I not be concerned about this?

The rifle is a 6.5 Grendel AR, for reference.

 

[shoots100]

I've been where you are and while a clip on attributes look amazing, you'll be better off getting a thermal scope with a QD mount, and a QD mount for your zeiss.
Even better, get a new 6.5 grendel upper that'll be dedicated for night use and leave the zeiss on your other upper for day use.

SJC

 

[YotaEer]

I've been where you are and while a clip on attributes look amazing, you'll be better off getting a thermal scope with a QD mount, and a QD mount for your zeiss.
Even better, get a new 6.5 grendel upper that'll be dedicated for night use and leave the zeiss on your other upper for day use.

SJC

Makes sense.

I currently use a GG&G fixed mount for my zeiss. I guess I could always retorque it to the same 55 inch pounds and torque the thermal mount to the same spec and get the same effect as a QD. Or am I off base?

 

[woodsy]

Thermal can be used during daylight hours too. Really no need to switch scopes unless you want the dayscope view.

 

[diggler1833]

I went dedicated thermal rig, and use the scope for scanning. Knock on wood - but the last time I messed with anything on it was over a year ago, and the zero is still good. Walk out, kill shit, take pictures, go home...

 

[tinytigers]

Before I got some duals I would use my FLIR RS 64 as a monocular until I’d spot a coyote coming in, then mount it quickly (key word there) to my AR sitting on a tripod to take a shot. Using a weapon mounted sight as a spotter is tough. The larue mount on the RS is nice for that and after getting used to the tactic it works quite well, but may not if you are hunting in not so open terrain.

I don’t have much knowledge about clip ons but I do know you won’t find anything good for 2k.

 

[jwhjwh54]

after flip flopping around doing similar things that you are looking at. I finally have a dedicated thermal on a single upper and it doesn't switch and feel much better about it and should have done that awhile ago.

If you have good mounts for the thermal and Zeiss, you can swop them out and 99% of the time it'll be fine but I just didn't like doing that. Plus the cost of two good mounts is $$$ and could be put toward a thermal or a new upper

 

[YotaEer]

after flip flopping around doing similar things that you are looking at. I finally have a dedicated thermal on a single upper and it doesn't switch and feel much better about it and should have done that awhile ago.

If you have good mounts for the thermal and Zeiss, you can swop them out and 99% of the time it'll be fine but I just didn't like doing that. Plus the cost of two good mounts is $$$ and could be put toward a thermal or a new upper

Good to hear from people that were in the same boat. Another mount is $150-200 but at least it’s cheaper than an entirely new upper.

Maybe I should just use the AR as my dedicated night gun and finally get a 6.5 CM bolt gun as my day gun. Move the zeiss 4-16 on that and call it a day

 

[jwhjwh54]

Good to hear from people that were in the same boat. Another mount is $150-200 but at least it’s cheaper than an entirely new upper.

Maybe I should just use the AR as my dedicated night gun and finally get a 6.5 CM bolt gun as my day gun. Move the zeiss 4-16 on that and call it a day

That’s exactly what I did

6.8 with a thermal is now my night hog gun instead of deer and hog

6.5 creed is deer/ range/ anything that moves during the day

 

[6brshooter]

I'm in the thermal weapon sight camp, especially dedicated upper. Correct me if I'm wrong, but arent most thermal clip ons not collimated? Meaning it will need rezeroed everytime the clip on is put on? My nv clip on was collimated and day optic was always within 1/2moa at night, of daytime zero.

 

[YotaEer]

Seems like all advice points to going with a dedicated night setup. Which makes the most sense.

What are everyone’s recommendations for the thermal scope? I’ve looked at the pulsar core RXQ30V and to a lesser extent the ATN ThOR LT. I don’t need or want any of the recording or smart features, just a durable and accurate night optic. Seems like the ATN’s have very mixed reviews and that’s not surprising considering the pricing

 

[6brshooter]

This old pulsar apex 38 has served me good for 5 yrs or so. It's got a bobro mount, and preset zeros for 3 different rifles. Rtz with presets have been very consistent.

 

[jwhjwh54]

Look on the night vision universe marketplace Facebook group. I stole a thermion off there

My dad has an apex 50 and it’s still going strong and I’ve killed a bunch of hogs with it. The apex line is good if you can find one

 

[lr123]

I was told to purchase the best scanner I can afford and you can get away with a cheaper thermal scope. You can always run a light on the rifle until you can afford the scope as well.

 

[YotaEer]

I’ve already begun my 6.5 CM bolt project and will be moving the zeiss to that for all day time hunting scenarios. Next step will be a thermal or at worst a sightmark wraith for my 6.5 Grendel AR for all night hunting

 

[diggler1833]

You don't have to have scanner if you have a thermal scope...it may make for some easier movement, but not a necessity.

Ice been walking around for 19 months killing shit with nothing other than a Pulsar Trail, a headlamp to cross creeks with, and a cell phone to photograph all the animals I've dispatched.

 

[NukeMan]

Yea you dont "need" a scanner. But after a couple years of scanning with your rifle you'll be ready for one. Personally I'd say spend your money on a good thermal scanner and put a night vision scope on your AR. Or go big and go all thermal, but there will be nights the night vision is better than thermal. If its snowing or raining my thermal picture is fucking shit. But my buddy has a sightmark wraith nv scope and gets better picture in those conditions.
I'd steer clear of ATN. Flir cut its outdoor thermal scope line completely so I'd also steer clear ( I have a flir PTS Pro233 that's a damn good entry level thermal.) . AGM is I'm told a bunch of the let go flir guys and are putting out damn good thermals. After running a Pulsar with the picture in picture model(?) I fucking love it.
I've never had any luck with the red/green lights for coyotes.
Once you start night hunting with thermals your fucked forever. Its awesome!

 

[PlinkIt]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but arent most thermal clip ons not collimated? Meaning it will need rezeroed everytime the clip on is put on?

Depends on how much you want to spend....

Most of the lower priced units seem to be the type that can be "zeroed" to a certain gun and then put on and off with good repeatability.
If you get into the higher price items you will find that some of them are using the correct rear end so that they will be truly COLLIMATED (as long as you keep you height above rail for scope mounts correct at least)

 

[YotaEer]

Yea you dont "need" a scanner. But after a couple years of scanning with your rifle you'll be ready for one. Personally I'd say spend your money on a good thermal scanner and put a night vision scope on your AR. Or go big and go all thermal, but there will be nights the night vision is better than thermal. If its snowing or raining my thermal picture is fucking shit. But my buddy has a sightmark wraith nv scope and gets better picture in those conditions.
I'd steer clear of ATN. Flir cut its outdoor thermal scope line completely so I'd also steer clear ( I have a flir PTS Pro233 that's a damn good entry level thermal.) . AGM is I'm told a bunch of the let go flir guys and are putting out damn good thermals. After running a Pulsar with the picture in picture model(?) I fucking love it.
I've never had any luck with the red/green lights for coyotes.
Once you start night hunting with thermals your fucked forever. Its awesome!

I’ve been looking at the wraith a lot. Like you said, it can be beneficial to use NV instead of thermal during certain weather. Would save me a bunch of money to “get started” this way