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Help overwhelmed first thermal

JMcQ

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 19, 2019
199
159
SC
Price point is capped in the $2000k range. I thought I was going to go with a Rix L3, but have stumbled upon the Athlon ATS models which offer better specs at the price point. At least as for as the sensor and objective size IE the L3 at $2599 is a 35mm 384 and the ATS-50 $1799 (@EO) is a 50mm 400-300 I’ve tried searching with some results for the L3 but very little info on the Athlon.
What I’m I missing between the two and what else should I be looking at.

I have 42 acres but most is wooded. My longest clear shot is 365 yards and coyotes are my target. I know I’m on the low end price wise so I’m sure written specs may not tell the story.
$2500 is the real max but I’d prefer to stay lower.
I’ve never even looked through a thermal scope so the lack of reference may be a good thing. I know once you look through a top tier optic it ruins the rest.
 
Would like to know also. Have been holding out for a while on a thermal. Watching and waiting, thermal game appears to be evolving in a good way. Probably going to get the ratler v2. Way my luck goes, something twice as good and half the price is released after I get it out of the box.
 
Would like to know also. Have been holding out for a while on a thermal. Watching and waiting, thermal game appears to be evolving in a good way. Probably going to get the ratler v2. Way my luck goes, something twice as good and half the price is released after I get it out of the box.
That’s exactly how I feel. Last year I was going to buy thermal and was looking at the AGM rattler setups. It seems like there is fierce competition is driving the market in favor of buyers
The reason I didn’t buy is that echo and save more money for better. Well that can be one hell of a rabbit hole. I have more than one hobby and the other is more expensive lol.
 
Yeah, @TheHorta will be right along soon to help you see your NEED to spend $10,000; right after he gets home from church, it is Sunday you know, and his wife gives him his electronic devices back so he can get on the hide. :)

Kidding aside, he is one of the most knowledgeable people around in this subject matter.
 
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I started with a Bering optics Hogster 35 384 about 4 years ago, no issues with it. Killed plenty of critters with it for sure. Back in October I ordered my second thermal scope. Went Agm this time and it’s been good from my limited time behind it. I went with the Varmint v2 lrf 384.
 
I really wish somebody would chime in with hands-on experience for Athlon units.
That DNT may have went to the top of the list though
If the clip on feature works well, that would be nice. I have a dedicated rifle. I was going to use but occasionally switching it over to a suppressed 22 would be really cool.
 
My brain hurts, but I decided to order a Pulsar XQ35. PSA had a deal with the scope plus a ADM QR mount for $1999. After I ordered it went to out of stock.

Most everyone is selling these for $2300 for the scope and that’s a $250-300 mount so maybe I did good maybe not. I wanted to go with a better known brand and for what it’s worth this is for sitting out back by the pool and shooting an occasional coyote.
 
Well I am a little late to this one but my first question would be" what are your hunting needs" such as distance, conditions, firearm setup.
I think these will help drive you to the correct thermal.

For a bolt setup, I really like the tube style scopes such as the Rix L3/L6 but for gas guns I think the compact scopes are a better fitment. I reference the Rix units as I have touched everything they make (except the DBH at this time) but I have ran IRAY,Burris and AGM.

I think the Athlon units are just a rebrand of the guide series stuff but I could be wrong.