Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Thermal best deals/prices?

If there’s a better package than the the Bering Super Hogster, for the $, I’d like to hear about it.

Also, anyone know where the best deal on them is?

I think the AGM rattler is my 2nd choice, for value, right now.

I’d suggest doing some research on, and look at the reviews of, Pulsar compared to those other brands. Pulsar may be a bit more money on some units, but overall from the unit itself to customer service, you will be much more satisfied, in my opinion, in the long run. Pulsar thermal scopes price range anywhere from $2,300 up to $6,000 so there is broad range and variety to choose from. Buy once, cry once and get quality

In the price range you're looking - I'd throw the Pulsar Thermion 2 XQ38 in the mix.

You'll get a rechargeable battery (and external power availability - same for Hogster), a wee less magnification on the bottom end and a bit more refined menu/user interface with both video in/out. The downside to the XQ38? Availability.

There are no flies on the Super Hogster though - if you do some searching, I'm sure someone has done a head-to-head review on the two.

Go over to predator masters and go to the night calling forum. Lots of info and reviews there.

Thanks….just sort of a final check here for any known specials. I’m not enamored with the looong, Pulsar stuff that resembles a Chinese air soft scope…..plus, the combination of specs on the Bering Super is a bit unique and will likely perform better in my conditions than other, typical 384 devices. I don’t normally track latest, greatest civilian stuff. I do spend a lot of time behind some other thermals. I’ll check again with the predator forums, to see if there’s anything new…..but reviews were a wash, and there’s an upside to the Bering in regards to size vs performance potential in bad conditions vs base magnification, that I’m not seeing in other stuff right now.

I have a Bering Hogster 35 and absolutely love it. Looking to purchase either a super hogster or super yoter this year and turn the 35 into a scanner.

In that niche, the iRay stuff is pretty impressive, also….but it’s so new, not sure I’ll take a chance.

I'll travel a short limb and assume you're mounting on an AR?

Among others. I have a couple of bolt rigs that get predator duty at night, and some 22s.

Getting the optic back far enough (on bolt gun) is the reason I went with the one that resembles a Chinese air soft scope.

The extended rails and bolt action adapter mounts have worked fine, across all my platforms, thus far. They may grow on me, eventually…..but none of the thermal stuff I use is limited to just sitting on a gun, either. That could change, too. It’s as much what I’m used to over the last 4-5 years, I’m sure. I also run a clip on quite a bit, as well. A 384 sensor, with 12 micron pp, 35mm objective, PIP, 50-60hz refresh, and 3.9x native, could act more like a 640 than some 640s….at least in the field and in less than optimal conditions. That’s what’s been interesting me lately.

Pulsar Thermion. You'll not be disappointed.

I just got a Trijicon REAP-IR V2 60mm. Paying for it hurt a lot, but that went away once I fired it up and started looking through it. I replaced a Pulsar Trail RXQ30 and wanted an upgrade and skipped over the midrange.

I use an original UTM a lot, as a scanner and a clip on. I’m not going to spring for anything of that caliber, just yet. I may later, if I see the 640 stuff really gaining me much for my use. When I do, it’ll be interesting to see who offers what and if Trijicon keeps up with features and cores.

I have binos and have played around with a rifle scope. To say I’m impressed would be an understatement. Quality is never cheap….

What (exactly….by the specs, materials, service, and warranty) makes pulsar ‘quality’ vs (say) iRay, Bering, or others? They definitely beat everyone on advertising/websites, etc. I-still can’t find their sensor material (silicon vs VOx), in their spec lists. I think it has always been silicon, but maybe they’ve switched?

I've been using pulsar NV and thermal optics for a long time.
You need to figure out your cheek squeeze price limit and requirements before making a decision.
There are a lot of scope options that need to be taken into account before making the purchase.
I currently have a Thermion Xp38 and it's a great scope.
I prefer the traditional tube style design of the Thermion, as it fits into my Eberelstock gunslinger backpack without issue.
Not so with the box style scopes.
I had an Apex and Trail before the Thermion.
The Thermion also enables the use of very zero repeatable QD scope mounts.
In a side x side comparison, the super hog beats the Iray.
The super yoter is another great choice, but it's on backorder and costs more, but it's really a one and done scope, if it fits your requirements.
It was easier to pick out scopes in the early days, as you only had a few scopes to choose from.
Not so now a days, which is a blessing or a curse.

Actually, I think some things about the newer scopes make it easier to part with my $, vs what has been typical: the materials, specs, and sensors of the mid range thermals are FAR closer to the higher end, military stuff of the last 7-10 years, that I’ve been spoiled with…..at least in some makes, than the $3-$6k commercial thermals of 3-5 years ago. I may get a Super Yoter next…..I don’t mind the form factor, if the specs/sensors are better vs other make packages in the same range…..35mm vs 25mm, 12um vs 17um, vanadium vs silicon, etc. I think there’s gonna be some leap-frogging, but I’m no expert…..just think Trijicon will start adding features and lower $ options, Pulsar will upgrade some components/specs, etc…..to gain back turf these newcomers are cutting into…..but (again), that may not be the right angle for the thermal market.

If your used to using high end thermals, skip the BS and save your pennies for one of the newest Nvision X thermal's or eat no frill crackers for a year and go fusion.

I put this question to my Pulsar Rep and this was his reply:

"To start with Pulsar, the customer service an end user will receive is top of the line. A person wanting a Pulsar thermal can call up and just about anyone at Sellmark (the parent company) is going to point them in the best direction of what Pulsar thermal fits their needs. Next would be we are ISO certified meaning we have a less than 2% defective rate on every single unit we send out on the market. We also have a three year warranty with any Pulsar unit sending it directly back or through your dealer. Pulsar is also a European brand in which every single unit is hand put together in three different European factories unlike some other Chinese brand thermal. Pulsar continues to stay ahead of the game with new releases and some of the latest/newest technology. To get into specs, I would recommend looking at pictures and videos on the internet comparing Pulsar units to other thermal units on the market."

Please feel free to reach out to us to discuss this or any other topics, thanks