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Best thermal scope for the money? #5551355 01/19/15 02:44 PM
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Randal Offline OP
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Looking to get a thermal scope for hogs and coyotes, what the best bang for your buck?? Willing to spend around 5-6k but don't have to spend that much..

Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: Randal] #5551607 01/19/15 04:23 PM
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I would wait till Pulsar officially comes out with their new line of thermal scopes. Their price range will be in the $3-4k range and will be TOUGH to beat for that price. Look into the XD38A and possibly the XD50A.

If you want something NOW and don't mind spending a little more look at the ATN Thor 336 or the THOR 640 which is arguably providing some of the best performance on the market.

Another option that would be cheaper than your budget. Look at getting the Pulsar HD19A handheld unit for scanning and one of the digisights also from Pulsar. This combo will run you a little more than $3k but you would have the best of both worlds.

Last edited by stxhunter; 01/19/15 05:23 PM.



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Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: Randal] #5551776 01/19/15 05:30 PM
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I use a Pulsar HD38 for scanning and a digisight for taking the shot, just like the above post suggested. It works great. I did have the opportuity to play with the new Pulsar Thermal Scope this weekend at the Dallas Safari Club show. The rep there acted like it would be not much more than $3000. I cannot wait until it is available in the next coulple months. Since I got my handheld thermal last year, the digisight is just not the same for night time hunting... I am a bit spoiled with the handheld thermal and cannot wait to get a thermal scope.


Take your kids hunting and you won't have to go hunting for your kids

Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: Randal] #5556062 01/21/15 07:20 PM
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I hope you are right about the Pulsar, but I don't know how they are coming out with a thermal scope for $3k when their handhelds are $3 to $5k.

I have a thermal scope and thermal handheld, but my X-sight is probably good enough to shoot with as long as I am using the handheld thermal to scan and find them. They both have about the same effective range (where you can see pigs in the dark), but the X-Sight can zoom in a little better.

Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: Randal] #5556154 01/21/15 08:15 PM
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You can see the Pulsar apex XD38A here done by Bearclaw: http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/5240609/Pulsar_Apex_Thermal_Weapon_Sig .

I haven't gotten any in yet, but they should be shipping soon




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Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: Randal] #5556919 01/22/15 02:43 AM
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The Pulsar that is going to be just under 3 grand is a 1X scope. Hogs look like BB's at 50 yards...

The ATN 336 line has sold very well and I would consider the new IR Defense scopes. They are really coming on. Don't care for the FLIR RS series....most are not manual focus. The Aramasight Zeus is a good scope also.

Last edited by dfwroadkill; 01/22/15 02:49 AM.
Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: Randal] #5557540 01/22/15 02:13 PM
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The FLIR RS 32 in either the 1-5 or 2-9 is awesome. I run the 1-5, and like it a lot. For the extra few hundred dollars, I'd recommend the 2-9 with the bigger lens.


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Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: Randal] #5557705 01/22/15 03:19 PM
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Armasight is introducing new thermals at SHOT

Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: ccoker] #5557766 01/22/15 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted By: ccoker
Armasight is introducing new thermals at SHOT


Everyone is introducing new thermals at SHOT grin

Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: elkaholic] #5557769 01/22/15 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted by elkaholic
I use a Pulsar HD38 for scanning and a digisight for taking the shot, just like the above post suggested. It works great. I did have the opportuity to play with the new Pulsar Thermal Scope this weekend at the Dallas Safari Club show. The rep there acted like it would be not much more than $3000. I cannot wait until it is available in the next coulple months. Since I got my handheld thermal last year, the digisight is just not the same for night time hunting... I am a bit spoiled with the handheld thermal and cannot wait to get a thermal scope.


Here is a video I took from an HD38A mounted to a Golight

Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: dfwroadkill] #5558091 01/22/15 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted By: dfwroadkill
The Pulsar that is going to be just under 3 grand is a 1X scope.



Really? I thought the XD38A was going to be 1.45-2.9x and the XD50A was 1.9-3.8X. Anyone confirm wether it's 1x or variable?

Last edited by stxhunter; 01/22/15 06:12 PM.



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Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: Randal] #5558154 01/22/15 06:34 PM
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As with all these companies, something could have changed, but that is what the first word was on it. It was also supposed o be here by now.

Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: stxhunter] #5558182 01/22/15 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted By: stxhunter
Originally Posted By: dfwroadkill
The Pulsar that is going to be just under 3 grand is a 1X scope.



Really? I thought the XD38A was going to be 1.45-2.9x and the XD50A was 1.9-3.8X. Anyone confirm wether it's 1x or variable?


Apex scopes are fixed magnification with digital zoom, manual focus adjustment

Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: Randal] #5558212 01/22/15 07:08 PM
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I guess it was the digital zoom that I was seeing reported as "zoom"




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Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: stxhunter] #5558221 01/22/15 07:11 PM
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Originally Posted By: stxhunter
I guess it was the digital zoom that I was seeing reported as "zoom"


It changed for both of us... up

...and I still haven't heard that they are bringing the 50 here... confused2

Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: Randal] #5559183 01/23/15 02:40 AM
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All,
Check out the new pricing on ATN thermals.
We are back to being very competitive and the best bang for the money.

640 THORs for as low as $5495?


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Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: stxhunter] #5560163 01/23/15 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted By: stxhunter
Originally Posted By: dfwroadkill
The Pulsar that is going to be just under 3 grand is a 1X scope.



Really? I thought the XD38A was going to be 1.45-2.9x and the XD50A was 1.9-3.8X. Anyone confirm wether it's 1x or variable?


They will have the 38 and 50 in the states. Not sure if they will be A models or not. The 38 is a 1.45 or 1.5 depending on the display and the 50 is a 1.9 or 2x depending on the display. All of the units have a 2x digital zoom so just x2 the listed optical magnification. I looked through both at SHOT yesterday and they are nice. I would go with the 50. With the 388 core and 2x optical mag a 200 yard night shot is no problemo!

Re: Best thermal scope for the money? [Re: Randal] #5560173 01/23/15 04:58 PM
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Originally Posted By: Randal
Looking to get a thermal scope for hogs and coyotes, what the best bang for your buck?? Willing to spend around 5-6k but don't have to spend that much..


At this point the ThOR 336 is still the best value under 5K in my opinion, and it's in stock.
If you are going to wait for the next big thing there is always a next big thing and you will never end up getting anything.
My advice is to find somewhere you can try a unit in the field and on your gun to make sure it fits your bill.

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