Any decent helmet mountable thermal monocular for under $3k? For coyote ID mainly. Open fields, max distance you can see is 700 yards
Night Vision Helmet thermal $3k
- Thread starter VandelayIndustries
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Skeetir-L can be had for that price with a little salt. Getting to 700 will depend on conditions. The new Armasight sidekick units should do what you’re looking for.
700 yards is asking a lot of a 1x unit. If that’s a hard requirement, I’d consider something with magnification. I’ve seen used Reap-ir go as low as 4k which would get you some range.
700 yards is asking a lot of a 1x unit. If that’s a hard requirement, I’d consider something with magnification. I’ve seen used Reap-ir go as low as 4k which would get you some range.
Doesnt have to go to 700, itd just be nice if it did. Just using to ID then switch to thermal that’s on the gun.
I’m assuming you mean “find” not ID. If you need to identify (distinguish between coyote and deer, fox, etc.) then magnification is significantly more important. But if you already have a weapon mounted thermal you’re probably familiar with what level of magnification/detail is needed in your area.
I use a head mounted Breach to detect, then my ELR to ID.
The image in the Breach isn't great, but if you can ID with something else it doesn't have to be.
The image in the Breach isn't great, but if you can ID with something else it doesn't have to be.
I'm waiting for my LGS to get one in to look thru it but the Armasite Sidekick 640 "seems" promising and at $3299.00 MSRP it would hit the budget-ish. Full disclosure, I know little to none about thermals. I've only had mine for 3 weeks or so.
What's in these open fields?
It wasn't till I got balls-deep into predator hunting with thermal that I found out how the world looks through a thermal with low/no magnification. It's kinda like last light with a conventional scope: all the animal-shaped bushes start moving at last light. With a thermal, it is all the heat-retaining things.
I started with a Breach on the helmet - I hated it and it hated me. If maneuvering in no light/low light, for me the answer was NODs with a hand-held scanner. If you are moving, seeing a yote at 700 yards don't matter much, in my humblest of yote-slaughtering opinions. If you are stationary, why helmet-mount it at all?
It wasn't till I got balls-deep into predator hunting with thermal that I found out how the world looks through a thermal with low/no magnification. It's kinda like last light with a conventional scope: all the animal-shaped bushes start moving at last light. With a thermal, it is all the heat-retaining things.
I started with a Breach on the helmet - I hated it and it hated me. If maneuvering in no light/low light, for me the answer was NODs with a hand-held scanner. If you are moving, seeing a yote at 700 yards don't matter much, in my humblest of yote-slaughtering opinions. If you are stationary, why helmet-mount it at all?
I'm in the same boat just getting into chasing predators at night, but have come to a different conclusion.
I ran dual 14's, NOX18 and 14, and now just a NOX. It's lighter, detects great, and is always on. I'll hunt with 2 or 3 guys running only thermal scopes and we move way fewer animals out of fields with head mounted thermal
I probably wouldn’t mount it most of the time but I’d like the flexibility to mount it down the road, maybe pair it with a 14 someday
That is both the beauty and the pain in this: there isn't a "one size fits all" solution. I tried breach+14 and hated it. Now I mostly run dual 14s for movement and a handheld, then dedicated thermal weapon - and often I too am hunting with guys running dedicated thermals.
And therein is the lesson for the day: almost no one strikes the exact right balance their first time out. Most of us try 3-5 different setups before we find the one that best fits shooter/prey/environment - and if any of that changes, so too may the setup.
And, truth be told, I am still looking to tweak to a better kit, and probably always will be...
Agreed!
From what I've heard, I would not be happy with a breach, but absolutely love my NOX. The new Armasight units should be interesting to try at the price point ant 640 resolution.
ETA: the only combo I haven't tried yet that I would like to is a bino setup with a COTI or ECOTI type thermal. I don't shoot with a laser enough to warrant that combo but will probably try it at some point
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