Per my research, this is the way to go for my uses. Mostly at home. I can see a maximum of 500 yards across mowed short pasture. Most likely the closest shot is 50-100 yards.

Unless yall tell me I got it wrong.

1024 X 768 display
3-12X
Eight color pallets
Mil reticles available

https://www.eurooptic.com/Pulsar-Thermion-2-LRF-XQ50-Pro-Thermal-Riflescope-PL76555.aspx

You didn't get it wrong. I enjoyed mine for a couple of years until I decided to step up to a 640 Iray(RH50R) mainly because the conditions here in South Louisiana are horrible most of the time and I wanted a scope that perform a little better in lousy thermal conditions and the Iray does that. You're gonna love the ease of use of the push button knob to enter and scroll around the menu system instead of having to press a menu button then scroll around with two other buttons. Was always a problem for me with fat fingers in the dark. Stream Vision 2 big improvement over old app. Balastics Calculator was dead on and easy to configure. You're gonna love it.

Thank you for the reply.

The IRAY RH50 V2 is on sale for the same price and is better without any doubt. Their Bolt model would be the way to go for a tube thermal. The Pulsar isn’t bad, but there is better for the same money.

I'm not seeing Infiray with a range finder built in.

I can't find pics of the reticles. To see if they have a Mil based reticle.

Sales don't matter. I've got dealer accounts with optics suppliers.

I believe the Pulsar with the LRF he's looking at is on sale for $3500. The RH50 V2 is $4000 without LRF. If he could do without the LRF no doubt the extra $500 is a no brainer to step up to a 640 unit. If budget is no problem get the RH50R that has the LRF, magnification zoom lever and magnetic charging.

The Pulsar Thermion is a 640 unit.

Then it's an XP not an XQ.

So dang confusing!

This is on the list:

"High-Contrast 1024x768 HD AMOLED Display"

J.G.,

I may be wrong but I think sensor resolution is more important than display resolution. Thermion XQ50 Pro Thermal (sensor) resolution is 384x288, XP50 PRO sensor is is 640x480. My AGM monocular is 384X288 which is pretty good but not nearly as clear as 640x480.

J.G., let me do you a favor. With your dealer discounts buy the IRAY RH 50R and never look back. Buy once, cry once as they say. You can think me later. I got $500 off just asking around. Caveat is it's MOA if that's a deal breaker.

MOA is a deal breaker. I only own Mil based scopes. Shooting with Mils is second nature to me. When I've got to use MOA, it's like putting me in a right hand drive, manual transmission truck. I've got to think about it.

Having a range finder is a must. It will mostly be used at home, which I know how far everything is. But it will also be used in other places.

Oh, and the display resolution is 2560X2560.

Just read your post above. Never mind.

Yes.

It's sensor resolution you want, and if you want to be able to identify something at 500 yards you definitely need to go higher than 384. I'd look for 640 at a minimum. The LRF XQ50 Pro is no doubt a nice optic but I think you'll do much better with a the LRF XP50 Pro.

Mil dot reticles are there in the menus, standard.

One thing I know about Pulsar is the warranty. They'll treat you right.

I had an AGM and it was a nice optic but I have no experience with their warranty support.

^^That is what I needed to know. Thank you!

I just went coyote hunting with a buddy who has the Thermion on his gun and I used my IRAY RH50 V2 as my rifle scope. I have been buying Pulsar thermal products for a decade and have never been disappointed so it hurts to post this. He looked through my IRAY for a few minutes and when he back to the Pulsar, he tried to adjust it for a sharper image and then realized that it was so much worse than the IRAY, that it was just all it could do. Pulsar is going to have to do some major changes if they want to compete.

Again, is it available with a Mil reticle and a laser?

You're trying to pimp them without answering if they meet ALL of my requirements.

Pulsar is a solid option. Only limiting factor is your budget, and you can’t say budget doesn’t matter because if that’s the case then I’ll turn you on to a $18,000 unit that will blow your mind in clarity.

There are clearer better resolution units, but Pulsar is a damn solid unit and has the customer service to back it up which is important with digital optics in my opinion.

One thing I've heard that separates entry level from mid grade from higher grade is the pixel size. The Bering Optics Super Yoter LRF gets tons of good reviews as an upgrade from the Super Hogster unit that I have. It's a 12 micron pixel vs the 17 micron in the Pulsar (lower is better). It's a 640 unit roughly the same price as everything else being discussed.

I don't know about the mil reticle. All I can find is it has 9 reticle options, 4 of which are BDC. Here's the kicker - reticle 9 is one you can build on your own and then upload into the scope and use. So I'd think you could build a mil reticle and use it no problem, but I'm sure there are limitations on what you can and can't do.

IRAY also has the 12 micron pixels, same as super yoter, better than the Pulsar.

Jason - imagine the difference in the SWFA 3-15 non-HD vs the 5-20 HD. That's the difference in 17 micron vs 12 micron pixels. It's not insignificant. We just need to find a 12 micron option that definitely has a mil reticle option.

That's why I'm asking. Electronics are not my expertise.

There is a ceiling to the budget. But I'm prepared to spend $5k if it gets me what I want. I've put this off long enough. It's just like my first Nifht Force purchase. I saved my money until I could afford to do this right.

Yall hurry up. It's getting dark at 6 pm now.

Pixel size IS important and so is the sensor sensitivity figure. The Thermion 2 LRF XP50 Pro uses a 17 micron pixel size and is rated at NETD < 25 mK and a detection range of 1800 meters. These are made in Belarus, I believe.

The iRay RH50 V2 does have better specs, using a 12 micron pixel size and is rated at NETD < 20 mK and a 2400 yard detection range. It is made in China.

I do not see a LRF offering from iRay. That's one feature Jason says he wants, and I know why he wants it---he needs it. I cannot speak to iRay's customer service reputation, but I do know and have dealt with Pulsar's customer service.

One thing to scrutinize is the power scheme. Some thermals will allow you to stay out 12 hours or more without having to recharge or change batteries. Battery types vary as well.

Jason, if you have not done so, maybe you ought to talk with the guys at Outdoor Legacy. They won't steer you wrong.

Makes sense. Yoter is at 35 on sensitivity, so it falls behind in that category

It will be used here, as well. That's part of the ranch. Yeah, I need the range finder built in.

I will give Outdoor Legacy a call. I've only seen positive feedback about them. Thank you for your scientific approach to my problem.

Not a big time hunter but some info for JG. #1) 5k$ is about break point for commercial vs industrial units. #2) there is NO long range IR sniping with commercial units. Ask experienced yote hunters if they USE Mil dot hold over (or any hold-over). Or even take a shot at over 200 yds? Target range is difficult to guess so LRF tells you if it's close enough. The non-LRF method of the IR scopes is ridiculous (get rid of it-target not still enough to use it). The quality of the IR sensor and germanium lens is the most important. BAE makes good military stuff. Of course durability of the housing & mount matter too.This is a rabbit @ 100 yds, 16 mag, AGM 640 rattler. Maybe focus was off a bit-no time to adjust. Yote @200 would be about the same.

In a life long ago I designed electronic stuff for IR seekers and FLIR. Kinda fun scanning ships @ a few K yds.