Budget Thermal?

[3Crows]

Is there such a thing? And which model/brand has had the best success?

My immediate need is for night time elimination of pests with a fairly powerful PCP type air rifle. However, in due course the scope would most likely wind up on a .308 bolt rifle for hogs.

I see a lot of thermal products but they seem to be geared to high rise mounting on AR type rifles.

Anyways, just beginning to research this. Budget, that means $1K plus or minus. It would be a toy, not something for that once in a lifetime hunt or irreplaceable moment.

 

[kje54]

Both the ATNs & Sightmarks typically have very good reviews. Even some of Sightmarks under $500 are highly rated typically the Sightmark Wraith 4-32x50mm Digital Riflescope.

https://www.targettamers.com/best-night-vision-scope-under-1000/

https://www.targettamers.com/best-night-vision-scope-under-500/

 

[jmorris]

I picked up one of these for $495 awhile back.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0988TDVTW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

It was noticeably better than this one I bought at the same time for $423, so this one went back on their free returns.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CRZZXDL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There is a larger price gap between them now but if you get one of the inexpensive digital NVD’s above, the thermal will help you locate things.

The Pulsar core is discontinued now but it’s the least expensive thermal rifle scope I have used ($1600) it works well for the ranges and animals I use them on.

 

[illinoisburt]

There isn't a ton of good thermal weapon sights in your price range, however for short range affairs like ratting a PCP you would probably be okay with an ATN Thor 160 or base model AGM Rattler. Both have limited usefulness for longer ranges with lower resolution sensors and known issues with recoil on heavier guns. They would probably excel at sub-75 yard shooting on an essentially zero recoil platform.

https://www.amazon.com/Thermal-Hunt...63&sprefix=atn+thor,aps,169&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/AGM-Global-V...82702391&sprefix=thermal+mono,aps,153&sr=8-40

 

[3Crows]

I know I said a .308 but primary use or only use would be I suppose either my 1022 or a high power PCP for getting rid of pests at under 100 yards or closer. I looked through the $899 ATN and I was impressed if there is reliability. It was completely adequate I felt for close in varmint hunting. They have them at Academy.

 

[illinoisburt]

I know I said a .308 but primary use or only use would be I suppose either my 1022 or a high power PCP for getting rid of pests at under 100 yards or closer. I looked through the $899 ATN and I was impressed if there is reliability. It was completely adequate I felt for close in varmint hunting. They have them at Academy.

I would suggest you also see if you can handle an AGM to get a good comparison. From what I have read the AGM is a more robust and reliable system. Also, if you do decide to buy from Academy you may want to check online sales as they regularly post 10% to 20% coupons which may be significant towards your purchase.

 

[jmorris]

for getting rid of pests at under 100 yards or closer.

What kind of pests?

Cheap ones don’t have a lot of detail. Like the aforementioned Pulsar, I can tell the difference between a raccoon and an armadillo with it at 50 yards.

First time I played with a Oasys thermal I was looking at our propane tank’s level (can see that with any of them) and noticed what looked like a cigarette burning under one end of it (~60 yards). Went down stairs and walked out to it with a light and there was nothing there. Looked back through the thermal, located it again and again with the flashlight and it was a mouse.

Cheap ones don’t do that, yet. These things are getting cheaper by the day. If you can’t get what you want, at the price you want, wait a few years. When I started looking at these things, even low end units were 5 figures.

I have been pretty impressed with that first hand held I linked to in #3, for the money. I have even used it during the daytime to let people see the deer hiding out in the brush near a feeder. It won’t help you shoot them but is lots easier than finding what your looking for through a rifle scope. Especially if you are like me and might be walking and scanning for a few hours. Using the rifle will keep your arms stronger though…

 

[3Crows]

What kind of pests?

The kind that just cost me $1,900 to shore up my front door sidewalk and stairs and a damaged area in the drive. For the second time. Mostly skunks, armadillos and rabbits tunneling under the structures. And this despite trapping, chicken wire buried in the ground, noise makers, lights, coyote scent and animal repellent and you name it. Them kinda pests mostly.









Oh, and some beavers that are chewing up my trees. Those may get a good shoot'n too.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Friends don't let friends buy ATN. As someone who used to work for a thermal retailer and someone who still tests thermals from various manufacturers, it is my opinion based on experience that ATN has the worst customer service around. Really, it is hit and miss. Maybe they take care of you, maybe not.

Right now if you can find anything approaching $1k for a thermal weapon sight, it is going to be very lower resolution and is going to be more of what I would call a barnyard thermal, good enough for getting pests and stuff at barnyard distances, which means you can hunt with it, but it will offer challenges.

It was suggested you get a handheld and then go with digital NV on your rifle. That is an outstanding idea. I hunted like this for years and you can make it work fine. You can get a fairly cheap thermal handheld that will let you spot hot targets even if you can't identify them with it. Then you use the NV to make your identification before you shoot.

 

[jmorris]

Mostly skunks, armadillos and rabbits tunneling under the structures.

I try and just let skunks come and go as it stinks a lot less than whatever place they die. Armadillos can be a little bit tricky, they don’t seem to go after bait like other animals so it seems like I catch everything except them and I put the trap up after catching a skunk (a bed sheet over the trap and I was able to let it go without spray).

I have read about giving armadillos a little help finding the trap.



They are also not a very illusive animal but you do have to know what time of night they are out there tearing up the yard. One of the wireless driveway alert systems will tell you when stuff is moving around outside and are a lot cheaper than a thermal.

https://www.amazon.com/Hosmart-Rech...7f6-a170-6d10ed86e937&pd_rd_i=B07PRGGRGW&th=1

Then I can come around the house on them and get them it’s about the only time I have ever used a projected laser to shoot something but rigs like this are cheap and effective at the very short distances we are talking about.



They just kept coming though, getting chickens fixed the problem because they ate all of the food the armadillos were digging for but then you have to deal with every predator in existence because everything likes the way they taste.

If you don’t have a lot of places for rabbits to hide out already and have a problem with them, you probably don’t have a lot of predators around though.

 

[greyling22]

I try and just let skunks come and go as it stinks a lot less than whatever place they die. Armadillos can be a little bit tricky, they don’t seem to go after bait like other animals so it seems like I catch everything except them and I put the trap up after catching a skunk (a bed sheet over the trap and I was able to let it go without spray).

I have read about giving armadillos a little help finding the trap.
View attachment 1149199
View attachment 1149200

They are also not a very illusive animal but you do have to know what time of night they are out there tearing up the yard. One of the wireless driveway alert systems will tell you when stuff is moving around outside and are a lot cheaper than a thermal.

https://www.amazon.com/Hosmart-Rech...7f6-a170-6d10ed86e937&pd_rd_i=B07PRGGRGW&th=1

Then I can come around the house on them and get them it’s about the only time I have ever used a projected laser to shoot something but rigs like this are cheap and effective at the very short distances we are talking about.

View attachment 1149202

They just kept coming though, getting chickens fixed the problem because they ate all of the food the armadillos were digging for but then you have to deal with every predator in existence because everything likes the way they taste.

If you don’t have a lot of places for rabbits to hide out already and have a problem with them, you probably don’t have a lot of predators around though.

That's very good advice, and no fun at all.
Hunting with thermal is fun. I was given a terrible old atn Thor thermal, the kind that was $950 6 years ago. 1x zoom, poor resolution..... It is very bad for hunting hogs unless you are right up on them, but it would be more than fine for anything 50 yds and under. Pair it with something suppressed and subsonic and you're in for a fun time

 

[jmorris]

I understand fun and do that myself.

I was aimed more at the OP’s immediate need to eliminate pests. Lots better ways to do that than sit outside all night long, every night.

Same goes for hogs, I can walk around for a few hours at night and clean up a few lone pigs, here and there.



However, it’s a heck of a lot easier and more effective, to set the traps and drop the gates when they are there. Then go back in the morning and get them.





At least from a pest elimination standpoint.

 

[3Crows]

It is a skunk that is costing me money that I most immediately am trying to rid myself of. They transit a field to and from. Animals run a pattern, this particular one shows up around 4AM. The one last year that made afternoon visits, well, I did not need a night scope:



But this one I do, stinky or not, he must go.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

So you want some thermal skunk action? Skip to 4:38 in the video.

 

[jmorris]

Animals run a pattern, this particular one shows up around 4AM.

That would be a trap or motion alert solution for me.

 

[3Crows]

That would be a trap or motion alert solution for me.

It won't trap, at least not so far. I do have a motion alert. I got a glimpse last night when the alert sounded but it moved fast, not like a skunk or armadillo. Might have to pull the Ring camera down and set it in the area like I did the skunk before to see what it is. But whatever it is, there are more of them and thus the need, I tell my wife, for a thermal scope.

 

[mcb]

Have you guys seen the rash of reviews of the new Sightmark Wraith thermal?

https://sightmark.com/collections/wraith/products/wraiththermal

It seems decent for the ~$2k price tag. I just wish I could use it in Tennessee.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I just saw this yesterday. They did a great job with the Wraith NV series. I suspect the thermals will be well done as well, but I have not gotten my hands on one.

 

[jmorris]

But whatever it is, there are more of them and thus the need, I tell my wife, for a thermal scope.

I understand, I’ll keep my mouth shut.

 

[3Crows]

I think the @jmorris solution of a thermal monocular and a NV scope might be more what I need but thermals have a cool factor. The Wraith Mini looks great but for now outside of my budget for an air rifle scope. Well, I just wrote a check for the concrete repair for $1,900 dollars, could have bought a Wraith Mini but instead ------ .