Thermal Monocular ??

I am looking for a good monocular to team up with my ATN Gen3 NV weapon sight. 3k is my budget. I have considered the FLIR PTS 223 to use but it is a bit bulky since it is a scope. Give me your experiences / opinions. I’ve heard horror stories on Flirs customer service. I want the best all around product I can afford.

FLIR Breach is $2k'ish and little bitty. I have (2) ATN OTS's with FLIR cores that have never let me down (knock, knock).

Assuming you're really looking for a true monocular and not a scope to use as a monocular (which will work), I'd suggest the Pulsar Helion XQ38. It's $2,999, 3.1x base magnification and all the Pulsar features like 6-8 hour removable/rechargeable battery pack, video recording, smart phone app, really good image quality, great ergonomics and positive ID range is easily 300-350 yards. It's a really great optics for the money.

You could drop down to a Pulsar Axion XM30 for $2,199, 4x base mag, 3+ hour removable/rechargeable battery pack, video recording, smart phone app, really good image, amazingly small, great ergonomics and a positive ID range is 200-250 yards. I absolutely love the size and weight of the Axion, it's the best designed thermal monocular ever made in my opinion. What you're giving up is image quality, dropping down from something like the Helion line. Great optic and will suit most average needs but the image quality is a $800 step down from the Helions.

A Pulsar Core RXQ30V (they have black and white displays now) or a FLIR PTS233 are extremely similar in size, weight, quality and price. They work well as a handheld if you take the mount off but I'd only do this if you plan on shooting with it at some point. Both of them have a positive ID range of about 175-200 yards, depending on the conditions. Both are fixed focus and that brings their ID range down some.

Pulsar has excellent customer service and you can't go wrong there. FLIR has really improved their warranty repair service in recent months. The last return I heard first hand about was 2 weeks ago and the guy got a brand new scope in 2 weeks total turn around time. That's down from 3+ months normal turn around time last year. I still wouldn't plan on getting anyone on the phone at FLIR that can help much but they are doing really good with their automated online return system.

I hope that helps, feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

Jason

Thanks Jason, yeah that helps a lot. Talked to Todd at UNV and he is suggesting Pulsar Trail 38 with DLock. It would be a plus to have use as a weapon sight or to use as a scanner. I was leaning towards the PTS223 but like the 38 better, especially with the manual focus and just higher quality unit. Hopefully I’ll be ordering something in the next two weeks. I’m in no rush and want to find the best unit for my needs

Yep I'm friends with Todd and the guys at UNV, their good folks.

If you're willing to spend a little over $3,000 the Trail XQ38 is a great scope. I think the decision you need to make is, do you want a scanner or a scope or both. If you want both, will you use it as a scope more or a scanner more? I ask because in your first post you were concerned the PTS233 was too big to use as a handheld. The Trails are a lot bigger than the PTS23 and a lot bigger than I'd want for regular hand held use. They're good if you want a scope that you'll take off your rifle to scan with but they're pretty big to be a dedicated scanner most of the time that you'll just occasionally shoot with. I've got my Trail XP50 off my rifle now that I'm using the Thermion XP50 and the last few weeks I've grabbed the Trail off my gun safe several times each night to scan my pasture off my back porch. The image quality is great but man it's just big and bulky compared to my Helion or a smaller scope like the RXQ or PTS233. Don't get me wrong, it's works but it's big. Not something you'd want to slip into your bag or hang around your neck to use a dedicated scanner. But.....if you want a thermal scope, it's awesome and it will work as a scanner if you need it sometimes.

I'm definitely not trying to muddy the waters on you but I'd just think it out from a usability standpoint and how you'll use it the most...scanner, scope or 50/50. The Trail XQ38 definitely offers a better image quality than the PTS233 or RXQ but it comes at a higher price and a much larger housing.

Good luck!

Jason

I agree with Jason and the above advice. Pulsar RXQ30V, Pulsar Axion series and also consider the PRG / AGM TS35 or 50. They're on sale right now and make a really good dual purpose scope / mono when combined with the new Bobro QD mount. Especially the TS35. It's tiny and has a very good image. Well within your budget.

Thanks guys, this is exactly the info I’m looking for. When I saw the Trail 38 on a rifle it looked a bit big. Needing something more for scanning and smaller. I’m hunting some pretty larger fields so need something with distance, at least 600 yards of clear detection if this helps any.

Most of the units mentioned will detect 600+ no problem. For extended handheld use, I find the trail to be pretty bulky personally. As mentioned above, RXQ, PTS233, Axion, PRG TS Micro, and the helion are all ones to consider. If you'd like some pics of that TS35 or TS50 just let me know. I currently have a TS35 in demo use with staff and several of the TS35 and 50 on the shelf. I really like that micro unit for handheld scanning and of the units listed, it has the best image quality.

Shoot me a PM with pics of the TS models. Was just looking on UNV at the Axiom XM38.

PM inbound brother

Thanks Myron for the great deal

Glad to help brother. Sure appreciate it!