Integrated Laser Range Finder Thermal Scope & Hunting

[Double Naught Spy]

These scopes have been out for a while with a couple different brands, but this has been my first experiences using one. For those of us that night hunt with thermal or night vision, we have to deal with the issue of 2D images and lack of depth perception in a 3D world. The problem is further compounded when your target species vary considerably in side (particularly hogs) and/or when you are hunting in a location not familiar to you and you are unsure of the relative scale of everything you are seeing. Is that a 200+ lb boar at 200 yards or a 100+ lb boar at 100 yards? Is the tree line 200 yards away or 350 yards away? So can I am aim point blank or do I need some holdover?

For me, the problem is further exacerbated by the fact that I get to try out various optics from different companies and none of them have the same base level of magnification and the ones that are close often look different when compared side by side. So while I most commonly hunt with my own gear and am much more familiar with hog animals look through it, going to another scope can be a bit disorienting. Enter the integrated laser range finder.

Press a button to turn on and show the ranging reticle. Press again to laser the distance. See the distance in the corner and determine if that is a distance you want to be shooting.

I started off my hunt in a field that is being hit by hogs, hoping to see hogs. Instead, I got coyotes. This isn't a field I hunt very often and when I do, I usually hunt another part of it. So none of the distances to trees or other landmarks were what I was used to seeing. Coyote comes in, ranged it, not too far. Same on the second. COOL! This differs from seeing the critter and making a mental analog assessment as to whether it looks to be within range or not.

After that, I got on a sounder of hogs that were crossing a field. I managed to get to the last few before they entered a 'no shoot' area of the property. The range finder was quite helpful here as well.

Here is the video of the hunt.

 

[FL-NC]

Pretty cool- what does one of those units run about?

 

[der Teufel]

And that's how it's done!

Nice!

 

[LRDGCO]

That integral Range Finder is a real treat!

 

[cheygriz]

what's it cost???

I looked at TI a few years ago, and they started at about $11,000.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Prices have come down on thermal in general over the years. Compared to what you could get a few years ago, cheygriz, you get more scope and/or more capabilities for less money.

This particular model as a minimum advertised price of $5500. The same model of scope without the rangefinder can be had for about $1000 less. Is the rangefinder worth that kind of money? By itself, no, but as it is integrated into the system, you can do more with it than you could if you just bought something like a Sig Kilo LRF which isn't very useful in the dark.

For folks shooting beyond point blank ranges, or who are shooting subsonic, a LRF can be really useful. For the vast majority of my hunting, I just need to know if the animals are or are not beyond about 200-230 yards, which is the distance I need to worry about adding in elevation depending on my particular rifle and ammo. Anything inside that and I am golden as far as the rifle and ammo are concerned.

 

[MCgunner]

I wouldn't mind an integral range finder, but those ATN scopes are basically a computer on your rifle. Something about that just puts me off. Some will automatically adjust your reticle for you. You have to enter the ballistics of your load into it.

One of the guys at church has two thermal scopes, nothing that fancy, just thermal scopes. He uses one while the other is sent off for repair, then when the one he's using breaks, he swaps. I just don't care for computers on my rifle. That's just me, to each his own. And, I mean, I don't need such range finding in the woods here. I have a range finder and mostly use it when bow hunting. My "night vision" is a green laser spotlight on a Bushnell Banner 3x9x40, poor man's night vision, but it works.

 

[Flintknapper]

For folks shooting beyond point blank ranges, or who are shooting subsonic, a LRF can be really useful. For the vast majority of my hunting, I just need to know if the animals are or are not beyond about 200-230 yards, which is the distance I need to worry about adding in elevation depending on my particular rifle and ammo. Anything inside that and I am golden as far as the rifle and ammo are concerned.

Even for shooting inside of PBR it would be handy. I know that in your situation you are mostly concerned with putting lethal shots into a predetermined maximum Circle Size/Vitals. But your targets aren't always the same size (hogs in-particular) and other animals (Bobcat, Fox, Small Yotes) require more accurate shot placement if we are to be ethical.

So....assuming you also know your ballistics, then you know at what distances the bullet is crossing 'line of sight' (same POI as your Zero) and where the bullet is between your Zero and Line of Sight. The point of MPBR sighting is of course to allow hits (bullet never striking higher or lower than a prescribed amount at a maximum distance) using the same 'hold' each time. It works..but is best used on targets with a generous kill zone.

By knowing your ballistics (and yardage) you can really fine tune your 'aim'. Sometimes being 3"-4" off would make a big difference. Consider also the accuracy of your rifle/ammo. A rifle capable of 1 MOA (roughly 1" @ 100 yds.) is only going to hold 2" (if you do your part) at 200 yds. Even if your rifle is more accurate than that (many are)...under field conditions...it can be difficult to shoot to the rifles potential. So anything we can do to mitigate variables will only help. Knowing the yardage past 100 yds. would be one of those things.

Anyone that has hunted hogs for very long...could easily 'scale' one in the daytime, but that all changes at night. Hogs would be the hardest to judge owing to the differences in their size. Coyotes, Fox and Bobcat (mature) all tend to be close in size. But hogs vary significantly in length and weight (at the same age). Height tends to be pretty consistent. Trying to judge 'distance' based solely on perceived body size would be pretty tricky. Piglets and Shoats are easily distinguished from mature animals...but its still good to know your distances.

 

[wankerjake]

Sweet.

At 2:50 when you panned over and had that closer hog... I couldn't help but think "sucker."

You still calling them in with hog distress sounds once in awhile?

 

[cheygriz]

Thanks, Double Naught! Good info. For that price, I might consider it.

As electronics advance, I look forward to the day that automatic range finding and crosshair adjustment will be built in!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Sweet.

At 2:50 when you panned over and had that closer hog... I couldn't help but think "sucker."

You still calling them in with hog distress sounds once in awhile?

As for calling, once in a while, but I generally don't use it unless the hogs are not on my property I am allowed to hunt or are moving away from me and I can't catch them on foot for a shot. I have had far too many instances where using calls has driven the hogs away. So calling, if I have the caller with me, is a last ditch attempt. If hogs are on my property, I am much better off trying to stalk them.

 

[MCgunner]

Thanks, Double Naught! Good info. For that price, I might consider it.

As electronics advance, I look forward to the day that automatic range finding and crosshair adjustment will be built in!

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...n=CI&msclkid=6ffba9777a091cf3c720f56b5e9ac455


Smart Range Finder: Two clicks and you're on the money. Every time.
Guessing? Forget about it. Calculations? Wasted time. ATN's patent-pending Smart Range Finder makes your life easier than ever. With only two clicks and a simple shift of the scope you'll re able to range your target. Once ranged in, your reticle will automatically adjust its point of impact. All you have to do is pull the trigger.

 

[wankerjake]

As for calling, once in a while, but I generally don't use it unless the hogs are not on my property I am allowed to hunt or are moving away from me and I can't catch them on foot for a shot. I have had far too many instances where using calls has driven the hogs away. So calling, if I have the caller with me, is a last ditch attempt. If hogs are on my property, I am much better off trying to stalk them.

That's how it is with deer and elk distress sounds. They come to it, mostly the females, but their anxiety is high and when the sound is done they get out of the AO.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Yeah, I don't know if I am doing something wrong or just getting real world results. People in the vids online make it look like it is nearly 100% successful, LOL.