Best Thermal Scanner and Scope Combo?

[Gargoyle]

I can get a decent discount on Pulsar, FLIR, ATN, and Trijicon. Will consider Nvision if I can find it at a decent price. 8-9K budget. Coyotes & Hogs.

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

Pulsar Thermion 2 XP 50 scope and Bering Optics Phenom 640 scanner!

 

[GAnderson]

Hillbillysniper is spot on. Right now the units that seem to not be having issues are the Pulsar Thermion Scopes and the Bering Optics Scanner. The Bering Optics Hogster/Yoter line up of scopes seems to be a hit or miss thing that you will get one that will hold point of impact or zero correctly. Also the Bering scopes have some button issues.
The Pulsar Thermion 2 XP50 scope is bullet proof...no issues zeroing it and no POI shifting...for the money, the Bering Optics Phenom scanner is the best thing going now. Pulsar does offer a scanner, but it is the XQ50 and the XP50 Helion...however the base magnification is 2.5x and you don't have much field of view...for scanning, you want a wide FOV.
If you are getting a discount on some of these brands, then you should be able to stay within your budget of 8-9k

 

[Gargoyle]

Thanks guys. If the Thermions aren't in stock, any problems with the trail 2 LRF XP50? Also for scanner, how would the FLIR SCION OTM 366 640 60HZ 25MM stack up against the Bearing Phenom?

 

[Gundog]

Thanks guys. If the Thermions aren't in stock, any problems with the trail 2 LRF XP50? Also for scanner, how would the FLIR SCION OTM 366 640 60HZ 25MM stack up against the Bearing Phenom?

Gargoyle,
I have the Trail 2 LRF XP50. All I can say is that it is amazing! I hunt a lot in sub zero weather and the battery life is great. My scanner is the Pulsar Axiom. I got this to keep the menus the same between the Trail and the Axiom. Plus it along with the Trail have the ability to change batteries instead of waiting for the unit to charge. (They both have a usage rating for the max cold that I hunt in.)

My original scanner was FLIR, It has been relegated to use while deer hunting.

Gundog

 

[GAnderson]

Some of the original Trail models had issues with POI changing...it too was a hit or miss thing. Pulsar did make some changes to the housing and todays newer model may or may not have any issues...from what I have read, for the most part the Trail 2 XP50 LRF seems to be doing good, so yes that is an option. I have no experience with FLIR equipment, so cannot comment on it.

The Thermion line of Pulsar Scopes can also change out batteries...don't know if the previous post was indicating that the Thermion doesn't have a changeable battery or not, but it does.

 

[Sniper338]

Wtf is a scanner? This stuff has gone nuts. I still want a real good set up...

 

[GAnderson]

Scanner is a handheld Thermal monocular...this saves you having to use the thermal scope on your rifle to scan with. You will spend most of the time behind the "scanner" than the scope, so getting a good scanner is a must.

Just think of it as a binocular...if you are hunting in daytime, would you rather scan with binoculars or your rifle/scope?

 

[Gargoyle]

Gargoyle,
I have the Trail 2 LRF XP50. All I can say is that it is amazing! I hunt a lot in sub zero weather and the battery life is great. My scanner is the Pulsar Axiom. I got this to keep the menus the same between the Trail and the Axiom. Plus it along with the Trail have the ability to change batteries instead of waiting for the unit to charge. (They both have a usage rating for the max cold that I hunt in.)

My original scanner was FLIR, It has been relegated to use while deer hunting.

Gundog

Wow that’s some great insights about the cold and batteries. Didn’t think of that, and I want to get this right the first go! Lol

 

[ND shooter]

Scanner is a handheld Thermal monocular...this saves you having to use the thermal scope on your rifle to scan with. You will spend most of the time behind the "scanner" than the scope, so getting a good scanner is a must.

Just think of it as a binocular...if you are hunting in daytime, would you rather scan with binoculars or your rifle/scope?

^^^^^^^ spot on. You will want a scanner if you are gonna be serious. Scanning with rifle is a pain.

 

[Gargoyle]

What if I can scan from a truck across selected fields, see some targets. and then just shoot them? Seems like a QD scope mount would allow that. Scan with scope. See critters. Mount scope and shoot?

 

[GAnderson]

What if I can scan from a truck across selected fields, see some targets. and then just shoot them? Seems like a QD scope mount would allow that. Scan with scope. See critters. Mount scope and shoot?

I wouldn't recommend this. Mounting and un-mounting will probably not be the best for accuracy and you will end up with missed, wounded and ultimately, educated coyotes. Some makes/models of thermal scopes can be a little finicky with potential POI shifts, so QD mounting to use as a scanner/scope could just add to this potential problem as well.

You said you had an 8-9k budget...Thermion 2 XP50 or XG50 are $5k and a Bering Optics Thermal scanner is $3k...the Trail 2 XP50LRF is $6k, still at the top of your budget. Myself, the LRF is not a must, but a scanner and dedicated scope is a must. Buy once, cry once, but you will not regret it.

 

[Gargoyle]

I wouldn't recommend this. Mounting and un-mounting will probably not be the best for accuracy and you will end up with missed, wounded and ultimately, educated coyotes. Some makes/models of thermal scopes can be a little finicky with potential POI shifts, so QD mounting to use as a scanner/scope could just add to this potential problem as well.

You said you had an 8-9k budget...Thermion 2 XP50 or XG50 are $5k and a Bering Optics Thermal scanner is $3k...the Trail 2 XP50LRF is $6k, still at the top of your budget. Myself, the LRF is not a must, but a scanner and dedicated scope is a must. Buy once, cry once, but you will not regret it.

What if I put the thermion 2 XP50 into a Laure Tactical LT-104 mount that is return to zero?

 

[6.5grendel]

What if I can scan from a truck across selected fields, see some targets. and then just shoot them? Seems like a QD scope mount would allow that. Scan with scope. See critters. Mount scope and shoot?

For me with hunting coyotes, that doesn't work. Most of the time they are moving along fast enough where you don't have time to remount the scope. I'm also normally in the dark and would have a hard time getting it mounted up correctly in the dark, especially quickly. I've never hog hunted before but it might work in that situation. You might be able to catch them grazing in a field or under a feeder and have time to remount the scope with a qd mount.

 

[Sniper338]

Scanner is a handheld Thermal monocular...this saves you having to use the thermal scope on your rifle to scan with. You will spend most of the time behind the "scanner" than the scope, so getting a good scanner is a must.

Just think of it as a binocular...if you are hunting in daytime, would you rather scan with binoculars or your rifle/scope?

Well thats interesting. Sounds expensive

 

[Intell]

Pulsar makes good stuff. I have a pair of the rangefinder thermal binoculars and they work well. It’s sometimes hard to judge distance at night if your hunting a new area.

 

[GAnderson]

What if I put the thermion 2 XP50 into a Laure Tactical LT-104 mount that is return to zero?

It sounds like that is what you want to do, so I won't try to talk you out of it...your original post gave a very reasonable budget that would allow you to get some of the best of both pieces of equipment. You also basically stated you wanted to get it right the first time. So it sounds as though your budget wasn't as big as you originally anticipated and you now want to just get by with the minimum amount of equipment. So do what you think is best for you. Good luck.

 

[GAnderson]

Well thats interesting. Sounds expensive

Yes, it can be a deep rabbit hole to go down but really not much more than some of our competition rifle/scope set ups. There is the cheap stuff and there is the good stuff. Just have to make do with what your budget will allow and your level of seriousness.

 

[YBPS]

Pulsar Thermion 2 XP 50 scope and Bering Optics Phenom 640 scanner!

This is my exact set up. I did a lot of research and I am very happy with what I got.

 

[YBPS]

The scanner is a must. I went out with the scope only while the scanner was in the mail. What a pain in the ass that was. Buy a 640 scanner then purchase the best scope you can with the money you have left. If you can get a 640 scope as well, do it. I’m already thinking of upgrading the 384 scope.