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Posted: 1/13/2024 7:50:43 PM EDT
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Poll options are pretty straightforward. I'm in the market for a scope. I want to buy once, cry once, but also want my purchase to be justified. Adding the LRF option to a scope is a pretty significant cost upgrade. So let's hear your opinions on it's value. I currently hunt with a Sightmark wraith and AGM Taipan scanner. One thing I've noticed is that judging distance in the dark is damn near impossible. That being said, with a fast, flat shooting round, how necessary is it? |
| buy handheld thermal LRF and scan/take ranges with that |
USS Ranger (CV-61)
‘86-‘90
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. Hence, dealing with this fact is not difficult. It is only hard for those still living around you.....It's the same when you're stupid.
‘86-‘90
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. Hence, dealing with this fact is not difficult. It is only hard for those still living around you.....It's the same when you're stupid.
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Originally Posted By IwearMossyOak: Poll options are pretty straightforward. I'm in the market for a scope. I want to buy once, cry once, but also want my purchase to be justified. Adding the LRF option to a scope is a pretty significant cost upgrade. So let's hear your opinions on it's value. I currently hunt with a Sightmark wraith and AGM Taipan scanner. One thing I've noticed is that judging distance in the dark is damn near impossible. That being said, with a fast, flat shooting round, how necessary is it? That's true about judging distance at night w/o a LRF. Just my opinion, but with something like a Sightmark Wraith Mini thermal that doesn't have a LRF, you're just going to have to accept shorter shooting distances on the 'yotes with a rifle zeroed for a MPBZ distance with a particular cartridge. Typically that'll be inside 250-yds. So for example, a Wraith Mini mounted on a 5.56 AR that's been zero-ed for a MPBR of 200- or 250-yds with 55grn Match OTMs. Know the areas where you hunt and pre-range them for your MPBZ distance. In my area with large farms fields - some of them 400-yds across and maybe 300-yds wide to a tree line, I know where an MPBZ distance of 250-yds is. Any 'yote responding to a call that comes within that MPBZ is a simple hold-on and shoot. I already know what the distance is - maybe it's a stump out in the field at 200yds that the 'yote passes coming in. A buddy who lives in a similar rural area in another county sets up deer gut-piles out in the fields around his place at known distances (e.g., 300-yds) and zeroes for those. No LRF needed. |
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Originally Posted By doubleshot00: My night hunting is usually in wooded areas where the shots are short 50-75 yards. Now I do wish I had a LRF on my thermal but its not a deal breaker for me. I just wish i had the extra $ to buy a nicer thermal. What thermal are you running? |
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I voted have one and glad I spent the money on it. But what I actually have is a scanner with an LRF. I had been kicking around upgrading my scope to LRF but went with a Pulsar Axion XG35 instead. I spend 10x time looking through a scanner as the rifle scope so it seemed like a better option. I generally have the stand ranged out before I go to the rifle so it works. There is definitely a downside on follow ups though. If you miss at 200 then get him stopped you would have to get off the gun to range. I'll probably end up with an LRF rifle scope also. |
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I don’t have one and I agree that judging distance is difficult. But, here’s the thing, many thermals don’t lend themselves to quick DOPE adjustments anyway. So, no matter the range, you are still limited to maximum point blank range. For what I do, the stadia metric ranging works fine. |
Distinguished
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I've always had the opportunity to view my areas ahead of time. A quick scan with the LRF and I'm set. Truth be told, most of us are probably shooting within 200 yards anyway... I don't see the need or value in a LRF under most conditions guys hunt in. I suppose where the shot opportunities can be far and pressure has coyote often holding up it would help. My longest night kill was 375ish yards... I just estimated a hold and had no problem... plenty of 200ish kills, same thing. |
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For those wishing they had a LRF with their optic, this is a good option. I have been using it, and it’s fairly accurate https://fallrivershooters.com/products/rmh1200lrf-side-mounted-laser-rangefinder |
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Originally Posted By Xerith: For those wishing they had a LRF with their optic, this is a good option. I have been using it, and it’s fairly accurate https://fallrivershooters.com/products/rmh1200lrf-side-mounted-laser-rangefinder How does that work in conjunction with a thermal optic at night? |
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I got a 640, glad I ponied up the extra coin. It's from Armasight, they went on a long vacation and no longer support my model. Truth be told their support was shit from day 1. If I was doing it over I'd save more money and get a trijicon |
I know I'll never go home.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free.
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Originally Posted By TNC: I got a 640, glad I ponied up the extra coin. It's from Armasight, they went on a long vacation and no longer support my model. Truth be told their support was shit from day 1. If I was doing it over I'd save more money and get a trijicon A cousins husband showed me his reap ir several years ago. I googled it later and it was $12k. Two years ago it just stopped working. He sent it to trijicon, they couldnt fix it and sent it back with a sorry that sucks letter. Wish I knew more of the details and I'm sure the warranty was up but hes not a big hunter and I doubt it saw heavy use. |
I'm not here because I make sound financial decisions.
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Originally Posted By swampfoxoutdoors: Think if I lived in an area where greater than a 200 yard shot was possible I’d need / want it. But living in North Ga it’s just something that I don’t need. Kinda thought that way as well living in North Ga, but I know for a fact around 75 dead coyotes wish I hadnt had thermal Most shots here are around 50-60 yards |
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Originally Posted By Bowhntr6pt: I've always had the opportunity to view my areas ahead of time. A quick scan with the LRF and I'm set. Truth be told, most of us are probably shooting within 200 yards anyway... I don't see the need or value in a LRF under most conditions guys hunt in. I suppose where the shot opportunities can be far and pressure has coyote often holding up it would help. My longest night kill was 375ish yards... I just estimated a hold and had no problem... plenty of 200ish kills, same thing. You’re in Florida. In the west a 300 yard shot is common and 600 yards is not uncommon. |
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If you can't see well enough to shoot past 150-200 yards, a 50y zero will get you on at any range without the need for any LRF. If you have a high magnification and resolution that will allow over 200 yard shots, it will be a different story. What objective size, magnification, and resolution are you going to buy? Any under 2x 640 or a 3x or under 320/384 won't have any need for a LRF IMO. If you go 3x and up with 640 resolution and up, it can be incredibly useful. |
| Depending where you shoot, how often you shoot and what you shoot e.g. small pest such as foxes - its well worth it, particularly WRT flat open spaces at night where distance is hard to judge. Most of newer decent thermals and IR scopes have good LRF ranging and ballistic calculators making for quick shots. My current go to for feral pests is the Panther 2 PQ35L. Good form factor for a pic rail, 35mm focal length, 12 micron, <20mK NETD, 640 x 512 with 1.8x base magnification. |
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Originally Posted By rock71: I don’t have one and I agree that judging distance is difficult. But, here’s the thing, many thermals don’t lend themselves to quick DOPE adjustments anyway. So, no matter the range, you are still limited to maximum point blank range. For what I do, the stadia metric ranging works fine. This, you would think a company like Burris who makes the eliminator and thermals would merge that tech. Having range is nice for judging animal size and holding over but you still don’t have a way to dial dope. |
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