Thermal Scope

I have been reading up on thermal scopes till my eyes have bled I am looking at $1500-$3000 I don`t care how much I have read with not actually being able to see feel and look thru one it is very frustrating. Of course no one around here has one to even compare and none of the gun shops carry any. Talk about spending a ton of money going in blind not sure what I am going to do or get yet.

Anyone have experience or opinions?

because he wants to and he can. what’s it to you?

bigeyeslayer wrote:

WHy in Gods green earth would some dumb ass go spend $3000 on a scope there is no bear,deer or pig worth that much.

HUH?

Tom P. wrote:

I have been reading up on thermal scopes till my eyes have bled I am looking at $1500-$3000 I don`t care how much I have read with not actually being able to see feel and look thru one it is very frustrating. Of course no one around here has one to even compare and none of the gun shops carry any.

IMO, Tom, you really have to go to one of the big shows like SCI, SHOT, etc to be able to compare. You’re absolutely right, as it stands this is the only real way to get in-person with this type of equipment.

Last year at SCI, I can hardly think of a large optics brand that WASN’T there either with a factory stand or as part of a dealer display.

Also, most of the real experience with this gear resides with hog hunters, so the big national shows are also a way to pick the brains of these folks. Not to mention, the shows are terrific fun in thier own right.

Grouse

bigeyeslayer wrote:

WHy in Gods green earth would some dumb ass go spend $3000 on a scope there is no bear,deer or pig worth that much.

I’m glad it’s not your decision on how the OP spends his money. Also shows your lack of respect for a fellow sportsman for calling them names right off the bat…move along, nothing for you to see here. Go slay your big eyes and leave the civil folk to their conversation.

To the OP, I’m sorry, I do not have any recommendations for you in regards to a thermal scope other than to check your local regulations and ensure they can be used for hunting purposes. I know in MN that it’s not legal for night vision, I’m guessing thermal falls under that category but I could be wrong.

In Wisconsin it is legal and I want it for Coyote hunting since hear in Wisconsin we cannot use a any type of light for scanning only at the point of actually shooting. Coon hunting a thermal would be so great finding them in the trees especially early season. With some of the new thermals they are daylight usable of which I could find a ton of uses for.

Is it going on an AR platform? No matter what gun its going to be a sweet setup.
DT

bigeyeslayer wrote:

WHy in Gods green earth would some dumb ass go spend $3000 on a scope there is no bear,deer or pig worth that much.

wow, prime example of engaging mouth before using a brain.

Tom, I’ve used nite site dark widow the most. ATI DROPPED THE line in 2016 because low sales. Like Grouse said, your only going to see all the models and get your hands on them at major shows like SHOT. Because it’s a high priced low volume market, the vast majority of buyers for stores will not stock it. All the dealers I work with in wi and IL wanted a drop ship program and wouldn’t stock them.

Have you checked sportsmans guide? They seem to have a lot of oddball gear in stock in st.paul. I know they advertise a few lines of thermal and gen 1 and gen 2 night vision.

I have a couple of different rifles I would like to try one on depends on what I would be going after. From .22 to .243.

Usually night vision in not thermal it is infrared. I did get to see one at one of the local gun shop it was pretty much what I was looking for and the price was pretty good. After doing some goggle searches on that particular scope they were not getting very good reviews the company was having software problems and not getting any updates out for that thermal.

It was pretty impressive looking thru it as it was a daylight usable looking outside into the trees and such you could pick out every bird hiding, actually stuck out like a sore thumb. The only place they had that was totally dark was the restroom could not see your hand in front of you face pick that scope up and could see everything.

After getting my hands on this one I am getting pretty pumped to get one, the skunks around here during the summer would not stand a chance
r

Thanks for the heads up from the people that sent messages.

BigEyeSlayer has been shown the door.