User Panel
Posted: 12/19/2017 3:01:50 PM EDT
If you're hunting many folks say that it's best to have a scope, whether thermal or NV combined with a handheld monocular of the opposite. You could use goggles and helmet also, but I wouldn't want to do that. A lot of folks on here say that you should have good NV to identify the game your shooting, but I don't know if that should be your scope or your handheld. I can see why you want a handheld to scan the area and locate your target because by using your rifle scope you're sweeping things you may not want to shoot, making a lot of movement, tiring yourself out, and making it harder to easily search.
I'd think that you'd want a handheld thermal to scan the area and then when you find the target animal, ID it with the scope and shoot. Maybe I'm wrong. I can see how with a thermal scope you can ID hogs and cattle and people fairly easily, but I can see how you could mistake a dog for a coyote or wolf and you wouldn't want to shoot the neighbors pet when predator hunting. So, what's better, thermal scope with NV handheld or NV scope with thermal handheld for hunting? |
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Thermal mono. NV Scope. You will most likely need better magnification with NV to properly ID said target.
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If you're hunting many folks say that it's best to have a scope, whether thermal or NV combined with a handheld monocular of the opposite. You could use goggles and helmet also, but I wouldn't want to do that. A lot of folks on here say that you should have good NV to identify the game your shooting, but I don't know if that should be your scope or your handheld. I can see why you want a handheld to scan the area and locate your target because by using your rifle scope you're sweeping things you may not want to shoot, making a lot of movement, tiring yourself out, and making it harder to easily search. I'd think that you'd want a handheld thermal to scan the area and then when you find the target animal, ID it with the scope and shoot. Maybe I'm wrong. I can see how with a thermal scope you can ID hogs and cattle and people fairly easily, but I can see how you could mistake a dog for a coyote or wolf and you wouldn't want to shoot the neighbors pet when predator hunting. So, what's better, thermal scope with NV handheld or NV scope with thermal handheld for hunting? View Quote If you said that you could navigate your AO in the dark without NV and without white light, then of the two choices you listed, I would pick thermal monoc and NV scope. If you said you need light in order to navigate where you are, of your choices I would pick an NV monoc and a thermal scope. |
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I go out 3-4 night a week. For a long time, only had a scope . Would use it to scan, and shoot. Was t ideal, but worked . Then I got a monocular, and I wondered how I ever did without it . Then finally got helmet /pvs14. Was very helpful when driving , and walking when extremely dark . That’s best combo . But I could live without it. I personally have no use for a nv scope . Was told long ago I needed one for id, that’s never been the case . But I use ird/trijicon, not a low end unit. Pretty easy to clearly I’d pigs and coyotes way further away than I ever shoot. Honestly, I can id sooner with either one any of my thermals, while the pigs are still just a faint blob with pvs14 . Hope this helps
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Night vision with ir laser and handheld thermal for scanning works if hunting open fields. Get into the woods and it is a different story. Really sucks when you pick up things with thermal and cannot see it to shoot with night vision.
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what are you going to be hunting, and will you have to walk on nice trails or hike thru more challenging terrain? or are you just going to drive somewhere and set up a tripod and shoot from that?
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Night vision with ir laser and handheld thermal for scanning works if hunting open fields. Get into the woods and it is a different story. Really sucks when you pick up things with thermal and cannot see it to shoot with night vision. View Quote |
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Wouldn't an IR light help with the darkness in the woods? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Night vision with ir laser and handheld thermal for scanning works if hunting open fields. Get into the woods and it is a different story. Really sucks when you pick up things with thermal and cannot see it to shoot with night vision. |
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Depends on your state. Mine won't let you use NV for hunting bit thermal is ok.
Although a NV monocular with no laser and a thermal sight might be ok |
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I'm slowly finding that I use my nv less and less since getting the REAP-IR, navigation and a backup shooting method in case the thermal dies seem to be the only roles the nv is filling at the moment.
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Quoted: Take it from someone that actually hunts. Thermal weapon sight is king. If you want to be ninja, nv. View Quote As for people saying that you can identify easier with NV than thermal... i strongly disagree. A quality thermal scope like a reap-ir is significantly better for identification than current gen NV. |
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Quoted: Fact. If you are actually hunting, NV is almost worthless. I usually walk around without white light or NV in the dead of the night no problem. I have a helmet mounted L3 Gen3 white phosphorus PVS14 and I never use it. Also, a weapon mounted IR laser is a pretty crappy solution compared to a thermal scope. As for people saying that you can identify easier with NV than thermal... i strongly disagree. A quality thermal scope like a reap-ir is significantly better for identification than current gen NV. View Quote |
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Fact. If you are actually hunting, NV is almost worthless . I usually walk around without white light or NV in the dead of the night no problem. I have a helmet mounted L3 Gen3 white phosphorus PVS14 and I never use it. Also, a weapon mounted IR laser is a pretty crappy solution compared to a thermal scope. As for people saying that you can identify easier with NV than thermal... i strongly disagree. A quality thermal scope like a reap-ir is significantly better for identification than current gen NV. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted: Take it from someone that actually hunts. Thermal weapon sight is king. If you want to be ninja, nv. As for people saying that you can identify easier with NV than thermal... i strongly disagree. A quality thermal scope like a reap-ir is significantly better for identification than current gen NV. |
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The ir seems to be getting good enough that you can take your pick.
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If hogs are your target, you're very incorrect View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Quoted: Take it from someone that actually hunts. Thermal weapon sight is king. If you want to be ninja, nv. As for people saying that you can identify easier with NV than thermal... i strongly disagree. A quality thermal scope like a reap-ir is significantly better for identification than current gen NV. |
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I’d like to hear this explanation as well. View Quote In no specific order: Attached File Of course, YMMV on ALL of this and this info will not will not pertain to everyone. This may all seem pessimistic about NV, but it is in relation to thermal. Why do I still keep my NV? Well, it's better than having nothing, it's cool to see the stars, and I'm just a gear whore. Plus lasers are pretty neat-o. Oh, and an ideal setup would be thermal rifle scope and thermal handheld monocle kept on a lanyard, or a pouch. Preferably on 6.8spc or 308 for hog, but that's another topic. |
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Quoted: Let me explain a little more why I no longer use my night vision ( which is an excellent tube). These are just my thoughts that I am just now pulling together and typing out on my phone (and then edited laptop of course). They are not planned out, just the observations I have made through use. Please forgive me if this is disjointed/redundant/already widespread info/doesn't flow together. In no specific order: Of course, YMMV on ALL of this and this info will not will not pertain to everyone. This may all seem pessimistic about NV, but it is in relation to thermal. Why do I still keep my NV? Well, it's better than having nothing, it's cool to see the stars, and I'm just a gear whore. Plus lasers are pretty neat-o. Oh, and an ideal setup would be thermal rifle scope and thermal handheld monocle. Preferably on 6.8spc or 308 for hog, but that's another topic. View Quote |
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Quoted: Let me explain a little more why I no longer use my night vision ( which is an excellent tube). These are just my thoughts that I am just now pulling together and typing out on my phone (and then edited from my laptop of course). They are not planned out, just the observations I have made through use. Please forgive me if this is disjointed/redundant/already widespread info/doesn't flow together. In no specific order: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/171044/IMG_7355-404103.JPG Of course, YMMV on ALL of this and this info will not will not pertain to everyone. This may all seem pessimistic about NV, but it is in relation to thermal. Why do I still keep my NV? Well, it's better than having nothing, it's cool to see the stars, and I'm just a gear whore. Plus lasers are pretty neat-o. Oh, and an ideal setup would be thermal rifle scope and thermal handheld monocle kept on a lanyard, or a pouch. Preferably on 6.8spc or 308 for hog, but that's another topic. View Quote This definitely makes me feel better about getting the thermal scope. |
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I hunt with a D760 on my 6.5 Grendel, had this scope for 10 years now. I can ID ANY ctitter close range or out to 500 yards for most. I am about to splurge and get the D-790 Magnus that beats out the famed Raptor and beats down most everything else in the ID dept. with some of the finest detail. l feel this is the absolute best glass and resolution out there. The contrast and resolution is so impressive. We've tested a 50BMG with it several months ago along with a 300WM with a unfilmed L3 WPT with no issues. Not that I'm killing yotes and hogs with a fifty (a hog would be fun at long range), but it's built like a tank and for how I hunt I can't ask for anything more when I need to absolute PID any critter at a multitude of ranges.
I also use a hand held thermal for spotting (love the Triji Patrol 250XR and still use my older Pulsar HD19). Use dual NV Sentinels and/or 14 (yes 1.1x magnification) on my melon as it's still very effective for navigating ground or vehicle and I hate pointing my rifle at everything I want to look at, which to me is unsafe and very tiring vs. NV on my melon and I'm in "adequate shape". I'm no Cola Warrior but do play lots of ice hockey and in the weight room (but more hockey than weights). |
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Quoted:
Let me explain a little more why I no longer use my night vision ( which is an excellent tube). These are just my thoughts that I am just now pulling together and typing out on my phone (and then edited from my laptop of course). They are not planned out, just the observations I have made through use. Please forgive me if this is disjointed/redundant/already widespread info/doesn't flow together. In no specific order: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/171044/IMG_7355-404103.JPG Of course, YMMV on ALL of this and this info will not will not pertain to everyone. This may all seem pessimistic about NV, but it is in relation to thermal. Why do I still keep my NV? Well, it's better than having nothing, it's cool to see the stars, and I'm just a gear whore. Plus lasers are pretty neat-o. Oh, and an ideal setup would be thermal rifle scope and thermal handheld monocle kept on a lanyard, or a pouch. Preferably on 6.8spc or 308 for hog, but that's another topic. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I’d like to hear this explanation as well. In no specific order: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/171044/IMG_7355-404103.JPG Of course, YMMV on ALL of this and this info will not will not pertain to everyone. This may all seem pessimistic about NV, but it is in relation to thermal. Why do I still keep my NV? Well, it's better than having nothing, it's cool to see the stars, and I'm just a gear whore. Plus lasers are pretty neat-o. Oh, and an ideal setup would be thermal rifle scope and thermal handheld monocle kept on a lanyard, or a pouch. Preferably on 6.8spc or 308 for hog, but that's another topic. |
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