Thermal scope

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06-05-2022, 07:28 PM
Frogfeatures

Thermal scope

Question
What would those of you who use these recommend ?
Budget $6k
Pest control, 22 cal, usually under 60 metres.
Different manufacturers, pros and cons, aftersales service, etc
Cheers
06-05-2022, 08:03 PM
Cordite

I'd not immediately think thermal sight for that. A cheap 1st gen image intensifier tube sight (NOT a CCD type) with inbuilt LED Near-infrared illuminator.
- Animal eyes reflect NIR light too, but OK you can't locate them by their body heat..
- Very long battery life.
- No measurable delay in image refresh.
- Inexpensive as it's old tech.
06-05-2022, 08:46 PM
Mintie

I run a Pard SA45LRF for exactly this kind of work, its amazing how many animals I've shot that I would have otherwise just walked straight past.

Main reason I got this model was its size and weight, I run small and light weight rifles for this work and didn't want to put a big pulsar etc on them.
06-05-2022, 08:48 PM
hotbarrels

Thermal hand held for spotting, IR scope on the rifle for shooting.

Where in Auckland are you? If you want, you can come and have a look through mine. I have a Pulsar thermal bino for spotting, and PARD 008 and Syton IR scopes for shooting.
06-05-2022, 08:59 PM
Frogfeatures

Based on the Shore.
I’ve read good things about the Sytron HT60, anyone used one ?
Are Pard and Sytong much the same ?
06-05-2022, 09:01 PM
Mintie

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotbarrels

Thermal hand held for spotting, IR scope on the rifle for shooting.

Yeh I run Sytong NV as well but I've had some situations where I can clearly see the animal though my thermal handheld and just can't find it through the NV gear, using the thermal scope takes those situations away
06-05-2022, 09:21 PM
hotbarrels

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frogfeatures

Based on the Shore.
I’ve read good things about the Sytron HT60, anyone used one ?
Are Pard and Sytong much the same ?

I'm in Drury if you want to look.

If you are only shooting out to 65m, go for the 3x magnification (Sytong).
If you are shooting out to 100m, 6.5x comes in handy (PARD 008)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mintie

Yeh I run Sytong NV as well but I've had some situations where I can clearly see the animal though my thermal handheld and just can't find it through the NV gear, using the thermal scope takes those situations away

I have had the same thing happen, which usually means that you haven't got a clear shot.
I had the situation occur this Easter where it looked like I had a clear full body shot on a deer via the thermal, but when I turned on the IR, 3/4 of the body was behind brush. Forced me to take a head shot, whereas with the thermal, you would have been convinced that a body shot was acceptable.