So what's the best target to use for a thermal scope?

[giannid]

So today was a sunny day in Ohio and decided to put my Trijicon scope on my new AR that I've been working with. Haven't moved this off the old gun so it's been a few years since I sited it in. I've always used hand warmers but they gave me hell today with the sun. Is there anything out there that works better than a hand warmer? Also seems like it gave off a large blurry heat signature even though they were pretty small.

 

[hafejd30]

I use tin foil squares. But on a sunny warm day a black dot on a white paper would likely work well as the black picks up more heat than the white

 

[HOOFER]

I use tin foil squares. But on a sunny warm day a black dot on a white paper would likely work well as the black picks up more heat than the white

The best target to use is a thermal target with vitals outlined and easily identifiable bullet holes.

But for the cheap.
As mentioned above. Foil squares and blank paper is pretty easy to use effectively. I was shooting 1” groups easily with my GAP 10. 6 Creed with a thermal.

 

[Hobbes442]

Take a piece of plywood and drill a 1” hole . Put a hot hand behind it . Cardboard allows heat to bleed thru
I put target on plywood with bullseye over 1” hole

 

[TampaBud]

AC Duct foil tape. Just did it yesterday. Comes in a big roll cheap, sticky side. I build 2 targets with like 2" square squares and stick about 4-6" strip on the back. Shoot once, tear off small piece from back strip and put on 1st hole. Like the freeze frame approach. Took 4 shots to dead balls zero.

 

[diggler1833]

I just stick a steel target out in the sun an hour or so before I shoot.

I use the torso (2/3 IPSC) for a rough zero, and confirm on the 4x4 head.

Or you can go reverse, and just tape an ice cube in a sandwich bag over a cardboard target...you'll just be aiming at the opposite color (i.e. your white hot setting will have a black spot). Super easy.

 

[fanninland]

Started out with fancy thermal targets (free with $6k scope purchase!) then devolved to hand warmers and ice cubes in ziplock bags to 1” square tinfoil stapled to a board, or the ever handy HVAC foil tape. To confirm zero during the course of a night’s hunt I’ve resorted to foil gum wrappers (stuck to something with said gum) and spent shell casins poked thru empty Keystone Light 12 pack carton (don’t judge) and heated up with a lighter.

 

[acudaowner]

Id say a socialist they glow day or night ( but that's wrong to say true but wrong)

 

[Old Man with Gun]

My rifles use either a regular scope with clip-on thermal or the rifle has both a regular scope and thermal I QD between. I use a visable laser to zero the thermal from the regular scope.

I go out at dusk and match laser zero to regular scope for distance I want to zero thermal. Then I add clip-on or swap QD Thermal and zero thermal to laser. You cannot see a laser through a thermal, but it is easy to go back and forth or have a buddy with binoculars calling out where the laser is hitting compared to thermal aiming point.

In one case my rifle has an IR/Vis laser permanently attached and it is best. Not only can I hunt IR laser with PVS-14 left eye or thermal scope right eye. I can also use the IR laser to show a friend hunting NV game I find using my thermal.

You can do this with an IR laser, but not as easy. If you do not want to hang a laser on your rifle, you can temporarily add one. I have an old laser laying around that I will slap on whatever for the task.

I started doing this to "rough" zero, but find it is as accurate as shooting hand warmers and such by day, probably more. It can be a pain getting a target on some days small enough for a fine sight in.

 

[Dough300]

The hand warmers are the easiest and last the longest. I have used this method twice. I have also used a rock placed on the edge of a fire pit to heat the rock up, and then tape it to the target. I also know of shooters who used a simple propane torch to heat up a piece of metal or rock. Anything with a heat source will work.

 

[cantankerous]

I like to use aluminum foil or foil tape, then lean the target slightly backwards to reflect the cold from the sky.

this method seems to give the sharpest target image, and you don't have to worry about it cooling off.

I've also recently experimented with metallic silver spray paint on my steel targets and it's worked very well so far.

 

[Meuse]

I used an incense stick stapled to a cardboard backer with the lit tip centered over a dot/point on the card board. Slide the stick in the staple as it burns down to keep the tip centered over the dot.

Created a small aiming point in the thermal with very little bloom. Worked great and was easily repeatable when I got a good zero and shot the tip off.

Rinse and repeat as needed.

 

[Jumper]

Tagged.

 

[JohnK]

Good ideas, thanks.