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?
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! LolGargoyle,
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
^^^^^^^ spot on. You will want a scanner if you are gonna be serious. Scanning with rifle is a pain.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?
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.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?
What if I put the thermion 2 XP50 into a Laure Tactical LT-104 mount that is return to zero?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.
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.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?
Well thats interesting. Sounds expensiveScanner 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?
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.What if I put the thermion 2 XP50 into a Laure Tactical LT-104 mount that is return to zero?
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.Well thats interesting. Sounds expensive
This is my exact set up. I did a lot of research and I am very happy with what I got.Pulsar Thermion 2 XP 50 scope and Bering Optics Phenom 640 scanner!