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Anybody have a Pulsar or IR Defense thermal unit?
Nothing here yet, but the Pulsar HD38S is what I'm hoping to have funded before the current coyote season ends in MA. After reading reports of LCD displays being effected by cold, I'm wanting the OLED flavor. And it uses AA cells, which I'd favor over embedded rechargeable.
I doubt I'll get enough shots at coyotes that unsuppressed night hunting will annoy my neighbors... much.Nothing here yet, but the Pulsar HD38S is what I'm hoping to have funded before the current coyote season ends in MA. After reading reports of LCD displays being effected by cold, I'm wanting the OLED flavor. And it uses AA cells, which I'd favor over embedded rechargeable.
Damn that's a cool IR Scope, I'd love to get one but I don't think I could talk the wife into $4k for a scope. Maybe if they get silencer hunting approved in NH, I'd like to night hunt Coyote's with a silenced 300blk.
Biggest downside of the Seek is that it is not weatherized. Here's a video of the Seek XR showing how it fares at 100 yards:Has anyone used the seek XR thermal imager adapter for the phone. I just ordered one for detecting heat loss in homes but I can't see why it wouldnt have value otherwise in a hunting environment.
Nothing here yet, but the Pulsar HD38S is what I'm hoping to have funded before the current coyote season ends in MA. After reading reports of LCD displays being effected by cold, I'm wanting the OLED flavor. And it uses AA cells, which I'd favor over embedded rechargeable.
I have the HD19A, it has the LCD screen and i've had no issues with it thusfar. I've been told it will only freeze up around 0 degrees and that if you tape handwarmers to it when it's that cold it fixes the issues of the screen freezing. If you wan't to fork over the extra cash for the HD50 and the OLED feel free.
The HD19 uses (4) AA batteries and IMO they last a long time, i've gone out two consecutive days/nights and it didn't drop below full. I leave it on the entire time while calling.
Love mine, highly doubt you'd be disappointed. Forget anything that doesn't have 30HZ frame rate.
Edit: thought i'd add a little more info.
With the pulsar you can see clearly across fields at night- 500-1000 yards no problem. Also the 1X with the 2X digital zoom is perfect for scanning, it provides you a wider FOV and also thermal IS NOT used for identification just detection. You can tell what something is by the way it walks, however you cannot see high detail until its inside 100 yards. You will still need some form of night vision, or a moonlight night to identify/make a shot. I've only used mine for predators, haven't used it for deer as the thread is titled so no experience there.
Great feedback. Thanks for posting.
I should have also mentioned that the picture is highly adjustable for contrast/brightness which allows you to adjust it for any scenario. It will need to be adjusted/calibrated onsite, and I pretty much only use the white-hot setting. Something to consider if you are selecting a different unit, make sure it's fully adjustable.
What are you using for a sight?
I doubt I'll get enough shots at coyotes that unsuppressed night hunting will annoy my neighbors... much.
The Pulsar Quantum HD38S gives 384x288 @ 30hz which is good enough for hunting, but I'm not sure about the fixed 2.1x optical zoom or utility of the digital 2x zoom.
Unlike other sights in this price range, the Quantum line is not designed nor waranteed for use as a weapons sight, has no recticle. So how much do you want OLED?
Biggest downside of the Seek is that it is not weatherized. Here's a video of the Seek XR showing how it fares at 100 yards:
Budget FLIR monocular due out later this year, $599
http://www.flir.com/hunting-outdoor/display/?id=72845
Not bad for a 160x120 sensor.
Seems like at the moment there isn't anything of too much value for less than $4k or so. Hoping those prices come down over the next couple of years.
Actual production costs have come down over the past few years, but with so few companies making uncooled thermal imager cores, they are keeping their margins up.Seems like at the moment there isn't anything of too much value for less than $4k or so. Hoping those prices come down over the next couple of years.
Just curious, do thermal scopes pick up IR lasers? It seems every time I see a rifle with a thermal scope it has some kind of IR pointer on it. Is that because if you have thermal money you probably have a PVS14 hanging on your lid as well?
ATN has a $2000 thermal scope on the market now. http://www.atncorp.com/thermal-scope-thor-hd
I would be surprised if it was below 30. If anyone is thinking about jumping on to this ATN thermal you should probably wait for some in depth reviews on this unit come in.
I didn't realize the x-sight had some issues, reading a bit it looks like they addressed a bunch of them with updates. I was considering an x-sight for a deer rifle so I could have video.
This has been big news among predator hunters, HOWEVER look at reviews on the X-sight and their poor performance. This is the same unit except with a thermal core. ATN has a VERY bad wrap as of late. Many have doubts this unit will even function properly.
I'll be the first to say I hope it's great because it's at a very good price. Nothing mentioned about the refresh rate, which is a very important specification.