Pulsar thermal

Trail and Helion both have new firmware updates ( greatly increases image processing) and a few control button changes. So who’s done them I’ve done my two haven’t had a chance in the woods yet to see the difference.

I looked through a trail yesterday that was just built in the last couple of days. Very impressive.

Im currently trying to decide between a trail 38 and the newer thermion 38. Ive been using a sightmark NV 4.6x. Not sure between the 2.2x or the 4x of the thermion.

I’m not trying to be funny about this, but 2.8x really is the sweet spot in my opinion .

That’s why I liked the xq50 apex so much, I wish they hadn’t discontinued that line of quality scopes .

I’m of the belief to go smaller on native mag and use 2x digi zoom in a pinch versus too much native mag and no way to back it out...

I was pissed to here they discontinued the Apex. I have the 38, and wish I had bought the 50 for the wider FOV. Also wish it was a 1.5 base mag

I keep getting a download error. File is broken.

If you plan on shooting a lot at 80 plus yards, you'll be happier with the 4x. I tend to promote wider field of view with return to zero mounts so thermals can double as good scanners and weapon sights. My shots on pigs typically start at 30-40yds before the group takes off running, I prefer 2x at those distances.

Are you getting a error when you download to stream vision or from stream vision to your device?

I'm a low magnification, wide FOV advocate and I agree with PigPopper that something in the 2x range is a real sweet spot. However, I sell a whole lot of 4x scopes to hunters who can't imagine using any less base mag. It really comes down to your hunting style and person preferences.

In my opinion, if you're taking a lot of shots under 75-100 yards, 4x is a little too much magnification. I would definitely lean towards a 1.5-2.5x base mag for lots of shots under 75 yards. On the other hand, there are thousands upon thousands of hunters using the Sightmark Photons, Wraiths, NVRS, ATN X-Sights etc and they are almost all 4x+ magnification. The point I'm making is, it's definitely possible to use higher magnification for closer shots but the lower mag and wider FOV is a benefit at close ranges.

I think in a situation like this, you have an advantage because you've been using the 4x NVRS so you know what works for you. Is 4x ok? If so, the XM38 is a great choice. If you really feel like sometimes you're squeezed and wish for less magnification, I'd consider the XQ38 or XQ50.

Hope that helps.

Jason

It's obviously a personal preference, but put me in the higher magnification camp. I had an IR Hunter MK2 35mm with 2.5X native magnification. I found I was shooting on 2x (5X actual magnification) more often than not. I upgraded to the 60mm with 4.5X native magnification and have been quite happy with the result.

I'm not a great marksman. I virtually always use a tripod or other shooting rest, and I limit my shots to under 100 yards most of the time. In other words, I want every advantage I can have in order to compensate for my lack of talent. The higher magnification helps.

When I download it through stream vision.on my phone.

You may have to delete the stream vision app and download it again. I did all my firmware updates on my phone but then nothing would work on my iPad with stream vision until I deleted the app on my iPad and reconnected the scope then it worked fine?

Thanks for the heads up on the firmware update. Took a few tries to get it to load on my Trail XP50 but it finally worked. Any online literature on the changes? I sent a message to Pulsar but they didn't respond yet and I couldn't find anything on their website.
Looks like mostly the front button changed to contrast and hold it down for black/white hot. I'll have to get used to the wifi only being in the menu now.

When you go to their site the info what little there is located under press releases & blog

Thanks KK for the help this morning in updating my Trail to the new update!
Hope we get some cooler weather soon so we can get serious on the hogs together.

Does the update have any effect on your zero?

sorry no idea mine just came back from warranty work so I had to sight it back in anyway. Probably better safe than sorry

Generally the updates do not affect your zero but Pulsar always says to write down your zeroing coordinates just in case something happens.

I was thinking last nite after sighting in a thermal yesterday afternoon....do all the Pulsars run close. Meaning if I have a CORE and upgrade to an XP...will the coordinates be close enough that is where I should start?

Thanks!

I’ve used pulsar scopes for years - I don’t find that coordinates for 1 model are useable for another .

Furthermore I have experienced variance between scopes within the same model.

Each scope and it’s mount may come to rest a bit differently and therefore effect zero coordinates.

With respect to safety: much like ammunition reloading where you start 10% below max load and work up . As a rule, you’d be best served to not plugin coordinates across scopes due to variance much as you should not shoot loads reloaded for 1 rifle in others without working up from the 10%.

Now if you have a 30 foot tall berm and no neighbors within miles then you could probably key on the x/y across models and see what happens.

I know the public range where I shoot has narrow shooting lanes and a modest berm so if the x/y aren’t close I could be sending bullets to an undesired trajectory.

That's what I was looking for and figured...but a guy can dream.

Thanks.

Really? Does it work that way with regular scopes of the same make and model?