Help with first thermal

This is a major purchase for me so i want to do it right. I would definitely like the power of the xq 50 but wonder if that will limit its scanning abilities. I wont be shooting very far but it will be on a 5.56 so ill need to make head shots on boars and bull nilgai. Even after checking their website, im not really sure what the difference between the trail model is, but from what i read it is mostly video recording ability and a few more reticles. Thanks in advance

The difference between the trail and apex is the trail has video recording and wifi.

Unless you hunting less than 100 yards on average I would stick with the 50.

However I don't recommend you scan and hunt with the scope. Scanning with the rifle is a beat down and kind of unsafe.

Save some more money and get a hand held to scan with. I like the quantum xq30 also made by Pulsar. You will enjoy hunting much more with both.

Thanks for the recommendation. I was thinking myself also to purchase a handheld first, then stalking to shooting distance and using coyote reaper light for the shot with my ACOG 4X32 (the red reticle against the green light is pretty good). Any of yal using this method? It will take me another year to save for both so this may be my best option then get a scope later.

my only suggestion is watch the detection range. I think the XQ50 is only 500 yds or so. If your doing spot and stalk that may be a little short.
Just my 2 cents worth

Apex 50 = solid performance and good value for your $ spent, an external battery pack is a smart buy if you intend to hunt through the night or often. If you don’t intend to record your hunts this is a very nice unit with a rock solid housing and simple layout of buttons/controls

Trail 50 (XQ) = new design (housing / battery pack) with recording onboard other than that , no significant difference in performance

I agree that a monocular is in order for scanning

That would be the way to start for your application IMO.

You should look at the hand held I mention. On sale for 1999.00.

If you can find a way to eventually do both, I'd start with a handheld thermal. I know a lot of guys don't use them but once you use one for a few nights you realize that you look through it 100x more than you do your rifle scope. Holding your rifle up all night long is extremely tiring.

On a budget I'm a fan of the Pulsar Quantum Lite XQ23V with 1.8x optical magnification for $1,699. The XQ30V with 2.5x optical magnification is nice as well if you need it and right now it's only $1,899. Both of those monoculars are great on a budget. I used the XQ23V along side my Trail XP50 for over 6 months and really enjoyed it. The Pulsar Helion monoculars will have a better image quality but they start at $2,500, so you've got to decide if it's worth the extra $600-$800 to upgrade. On a budget the Quantum Lites will probably suite you just fine.

As for rifle scopes, let's go over the differences between the Trails and the Apexes. The Trails have 3 distinct features that the Apexes do not. Internal video recording, a removable/rechargeable battery pack and WiFi streaming to you smart phone or tablet. Take those 3 features away and you basically have an Apex. The Apexes have the same image quality, just not those 3 bells and whistles. Alternatively, for the Apex you can buy an external video recorder and cable for about $250 and Pulsar has 2 external batteries for the Apexes ranging in run time from 8 hours up to 20 hours. Prices are $130 and $150 respectively and we currently include one for free with every Apex purchase.

The Apex XQ38 has the same image quality and 2.1x optical magnification as the Trail XQ38 and the Apex is $800 cheaper. The Apex XQ50 has the same image quality and 2.7 optical magnification as the Trail XQ50 and the Apex is $1,000 cheaper. At the end of the day, let your budget and feature needs/wants make the decision for you to get the Apex or Trail. If you don't care about the 3 upgraded features of the Trails, then your decision is easy.

As for the XQ38 vs the XQ50 (Trail or Apex, it doesn't matter)....I'm a big fan of the XQ38 for most shots being under 100 yards. I greatly prefer field of view over magnification. A lot of guys on THF disagree with me and prefer the XQ50 and that is perfectly fine, I sell all the models. I'm used to using the 1.6x of the Trail XP50 and there are many times I wish it had NO magnification. But almost every shot I take is going to be under 100 yards with most being under 50 yards. If you want to take head shots on a nilgai at 100 yards, the 2.7x of the XQ50 is probably a wise decision. I really wouldn't stress over that decision either. Let your shooting distances and budget help make that decision. I don't believe you will be disappointed in either the XQ38 or XQ50, both are awesome.

I've used all of these optics in the field, so I can usually help clear up any questions or misunderstandings you might have about the different models. I hope this helps a little and if you have more questions feel free to call me anytime.

- Jason

If you're hunting rabbits at night, OK. If you're hunting hogs and the like, you won't be "a little short".

Thanks for all the info. I'm gonna go with the hand-held xq30v for now and use it with my predator light/scope. So how does the video output work...I just run a cord to a phone or something to record?

I meant to address that Charlie. That information posted above is incorrect. The shortest detection range on any current thermal line up is over 1,000 yards. The XQ38 has a detection range over 1,600 yards and the XQ50 has a detection range of over 1,900 yards.

And let's remember that detection and identification range are two totally different things. Pulsar officially measures detection as being able to detect a 5ft 3in tall target.

- Jason

No unfortunately you can't run the cable to a phone. It will have to be run to a recording device with a video input. For night vision/thermal the vast majority of people use the UNV MDVR and it sell for $199 and it's highly recommended that you buy the custom recording cable for an additional $40 for the best recording quality. You only other option is going to be some sort of small recording device you might find somewhere but it is going to have to have a video input on it.

- Jason

You won't be disappointed. I have the older model and it rocks. The new one has a range finder as well.