Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Night Vision or Thermal question

I have a Pulsar thermal scanner and a Sightmark 4K Mini NV scope. I very much like this combo. Having said that, I have had the opportunity to use my friend's Trijicon IR Reap Thermal scope and it is a true game changer. However, this setup is much more expensive. If you got the $ and don't mind spending it, I would recommend a thermal scanner and scope. One thing I have done to avoid having to buy CR123 batteries for my Sightmark is buying a 10,000 mAh external battery pack with a QD lever mount that attaches to my rifle's pic rail directly in front of my 4K Mini (bought mine from a company named Perceptive Outdoor Gear). BTW I use this on my bolt-action hunting rifle (don't have an AR) and I mount my 4K Mini far enough back to get good eye relef, which leaves enough space in front of the scope to mount the external battery. The external battery is supposed to be good for about 8-10 hours.

If you want to compare cheap, DNV vs a decent 384 thermal in the $2-2.5k range, then it’s fishing bass tournaments in a canoe vs a Ranger boat. I’m not going into the weeds, but the thermal works day or night and your discernment can be refined by utilizing your palettes and learning your optic’s features for varying conditions. The few DNVs I’ve used often only give you eyes at night from the IR reflection at range, while you can’t even see the animal behind them. Decent mounts that retain zero allow having dedicated day and night optics for the same rifle, without losing zero….assuming we’re talking ARs mostly. Plus, most thermals can be zeroed for up to 5 different guns. I doubt I ever go back to any form of NV, other than thermal….and I’ve used and had access to some top tier night devices for over 20 years.

this is going to be an ignorant question, how do you zero a thermal during the day or do you have to do it at night with some type of heat source?

You can do it in the daylight using a handwarmer or square of foil being hit by sunlight.

Normally use an ice cube in a baggy stapled to the target. Foil tape works great if the sun is reflecting off of it.

If you have a steel gong, you can either heat it or put it in the freezer for a while. Have done both, and it works very well.

I get it, also need a secondary day spotting scope to see the holes to make adjustments?

I have found that one or two of the Hot Hands hand warmers work excellent.







Minute of hoglet @ 100 yds.




ya!


GWB

Or you can walk to the target…..

With handwarmers, you’ll see evidence you’re ‘on’ in the thermal….heater will get ‘smeared’ or leak heat in your viewfinder. I generally send two more, then walk to it or use a spotter to check the group. I’ll also set up 3-4 ‘heated’ targets, with the handwarmers folded in half. Toe warmers with the sticky back are a better size, imo. I’ll also tape some to the backside of my steel plates for ‘play’.

Easiest I found is to just use Duck brand chrome duct tape from Wally World or where ever.

Cut to the size you want & stick it to your target.

Angle it up slightly to reflect better. You can cut little squares to repair previous holes.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Duck-Tape-Brand-Chrome-Duct-Tape-1-88-in-x-15-yd/23212759

I use the two hothands method myself.

Place one... Aim and shoot.

Take second hothand and put it centered on your bullet hole.

Make adjustment... Verify.

I use the base power for sighting and hunting as well.

Hang a small fender washer on a nail . Stick the nail in target backer. Heat the washer with a torch.
Much more precise aiming point than a hand warmer.

Yeah, that two shot check I posted above on that hand warmer shows just how horrible they can be for accuracy.

Most of the guys I've seen shooting thermals on base power are lucky to hit the hand warmer, but seem to do okay on hogs and coyotes...

Skin the cat however you want, but I like to get more than one shot on a target. I also don’t like to ruin all the paper I just put up with spall from any metal too close by.

As mentioned previously



minute of hoglet!

ya!


GWB

I take those handwarmers and fold them in half. I dial to get 1" high at 100yds with my 6.5 or 308

Most all my shots are 120 yds and under.

Longest shot to date w/Thermal



+/- 160 Yds, 100 yd. Zero




ya!

GWB

My longest was 246 measured yards on a solitary boar meandering through the mesquite on a hillside. I was in an elevated blind and I could see him appearing and disappearing in the mesquite. I popped him and it was a bang flop. The next morning, my daughter and I walked out and used my Leica rangefinder to get the distance.

That's a good poke!


ya!

GWB