After stalking this big pig from 10:15 last night when I first saw him until 3:30 this morning when I gave up on him, I have decided thermal is the only way to go. I have a thermal spotting scope and I kept watching him - sometimes 30 minutes at a time - but he was usually at a range that was beyond my X-Sight, so I was trying to use my NightForce with a green light attached. However, I would never even be able to get my scope on him because he was spooking every time the green light would come on ( I will say that he was very skittish, watching him from even a couple of hundred yards away things would spook him and he would run off from time to time - I guess that is how he got big), even when I would start it out pointing up in the sky. I could just never get him in my crosshairs. Green lights might work for some people, but I am just going to go ahead and bite the bullet. Sorry - long night - just had to vent.

Or maybe I just need a Gen 3 NV to reach out a lot further than my X-Sight will? I am constantly confused - can you tell?

At what distance was the hog?

First 3 - 4 times I watched him 180 - 240. The last 30 - 45 minutes he was in and out at 120-125. My X-Sight will get to about 125 (although not good), but I chose not to have it with me at the time of course.

Go thermal and be done with it,,,,, nightvision outfitters in the classified section has a
Pulsar trail XQ38 that is right balance of performance ,price and has built in redcorder

Thanks!

Also you can go to NightVisionUniverse.com and look at the ATN ThorHD and use promo code TXGH10 to get 10% off.

- HD Recording (WITH SOUND)
- Obsidian App
- Smart Shooting Solution
- HD Display
- up to a 64g Micro SD Card (Not internal recording)
- Blue Tooth
- And a cheaper price

Of if you want more range on your night vision go to PredatorTactics.us and look at the Reaper IR - Up to 400 yards Easy! TXGH for 10% off there too!

What is it exactly that is "EASY" at 400 yards with this particular scope?

I cannot think of a single reported instance of a 400 yard shot recorded on video or even spoken of (highly exaggerated) on these message boards in the past few years....

Frankly - I've seen your work (JTProcaddie) , you can't consistent connect on target at 100 yards much less 300 yards so I highly doubt 400 is "EASY"....

I hunt with a photon, and recently I had to move my set-up due to them changing locations. I wired up a12VDC IR spotlight on a motion sensor mounted in a tree. Has made life a lot easier, no onboard IR needed. They don't pay attention to it, and gives plenty of illumination at 150 yards. Cost of the battery, light and motion sensor was around $85. Amazon is your friend.

I use cheap sidewalk solar lights on my feeder. With this setup I have problem seeing at 100 yards with my Photon or x sight.

Is photon thermal or nv ?

It's digital

I know the feeling, just upgraded myself to thermo over NV

See once again shows you speak before you know what you are talking about..

The Predator Tactics Reaper IR is an IR light for his X-Sight. Will EASILY allow him to see up to 400 yards for spotting game and then can stalk within a closer shot.

Hadn't seen your video proving that claim.....

I have two Gen 3 riflescopes, one quite old and the other reasonably new. The real advantage of thermal over Gen 3 is rarely mentioned, and that is the fact that Gen 3 is very recoil sensitive. In fact, the better it is, the more sensitive to recoil it becomes, or so I've read. I have pretty good Gen 3 (newer one) and the optical quality is very good, certainly good out to two or three hundred yards with illumination, but anything over 200 yards at night with a 4x scope requires some attention to technique, unless you don't care whether you recover your target. My longest non-illuminated night shot with the older Gen 3 was a lasered 175 yards and that felt l was really pushing things.

For me the question of range comes down to intent: are you hunting or are you performing pest control? The answer to that question will tell you your limits.

Well, I ordered a thermal (Armasight Zeus) - supposed to be here today. However, after watching him for 4 hours (!) Saturday night, I was able to get this one in close enough to take him with the X-sight. He had been stealing our corn for months and was very skittish, so glad to finally get him.

Now you can go shoot all the others when you get your thermal

Good job

Good Job!

that is something I need to move to also.

Once you go Thermal, there is no looking back in my opinion. I made the jump straight to Thermal and didn't even mess with night vision. I'm using an Armasight Zeus and can honestly say it is an awesome piece of equipment. Good luck!