Looking for Advice on Thermal for Coyote Problem

Redfox

New Member
You get get a Silencerco radius for ranging.

You can snag deals on used equipment in the various forum for sale sections. Lots of people buy stuff, don't have the time to use it, then dump it. I have a gen 3 pvs 4 and another gen 3 scope I am about to sell. You could pick up something like that cheap enough and then target id is a lot easier. Detection is harder though.
 

AF_Vet

New Member
I have decided to save up another $1k (wife gave approval) and I will go after a Pulsar Apex LRF XQ38 Thermal Weapon Sight with Rangefinder or the Pulsar Apex XQ50 LRF Thermal Weapon Scope with Rangefinder when they come out. I appreciate all of the input and education on thermals and night shooting. I should have the funding in about a month but I would be willing to bet the rangefinder option will be further off than that. In the meantime, I will keep my animals locked up until the threats are eliminated.
 

FrankT

Destin FL
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The Amasight scopes are $1000 off over at Night Vision Guys, go take a look and see what deals are there
 

theblakester

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Personally I would prefer to spend the extra money on the Trail over the LRF. The rechargeable battery that lasts 7+ hours and the ability to zero it to 3 different guns makes it a better value for me over the laser range finder. You could swap the trail between your .308 and your 5.56 in seconds without having to rezero (just make sure u get it shipped with the new factory pulsar mount or upgrade to the UNV D-loc mount.. just don't get the older original big factory bulky mount it came with bc that mount doesn't return to zero. Overtime it loosens up and doesn't hold). Plus it's smaller and lighter. And u also get the other features like recording and streaming to your phone screen, even though those aren't important to you. If you zero your guns 1.5" high at 100 yards, you will be good out to 200 yards without having to hold over or under. And most hunters that use thermal (even higher end thermals... well except Brian, his MKIII 60mm is capable of pure awesomeness for identifying and shooting past 200 yards) rarely shoot at coyotes past 200 yards at night. I would be cautious of shooting anything beyond 200 yards without having a 640 resolution thermal bc you will have a more difficult time getting a positive ID on your target anyways.
Either way congrats on getting the go ahead nod from your wife. Thermal is on a whole nother level. You will surely enjoy it whichever route you choose.
 

der Teufel

Livin' the Dream …
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Again, I want to emphasize that I'm no expert, but I agree with theblakester in that I'd probably lean toward the Pulsar Trail model and forego the range finder. Particularly so since it sounds like you'll be on your own property where you will know the lay of the land. In the worst case you could set up a couple of marker stakes to give you a range indication if the terrain is so featureless that you need the help.

But then, did I mention that I'm not an expert?
I actually have bought a thermal weapon sight, but I had knee replacement surgery about six weeks ago and haven't been able to get out yet to use it. :(
 

FrankT

Destin FL
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Again, I want to emphasize that I'm no expert, but I agree with theblakester in that I'd probably lean toward the Pulsar Trail model and forego the range finder. Particularly so since it sounds like you'll be on your own property where you will know the lay of the land. In the worst case you could set up a couple of marker stakes to give you a range indication if the terrain is so featureless that you need the help.

But then, did I mention that I'm not an expert?
I actually have bought a thermal weapon sight, but I had knee replacement surgery about six weeks ago and haven't been able to get out yet to use it. :(


Hope the new knee is working ok, that is a tough surgery, get better soon!
 

AF_Vet

New Member
Again, I want to emphasize that I'm no expert, but I agree with theblakester in that I'd probably lean toward the Pulsar Trail model and forego the range finder. Particularly so since it sounds like you'll be on your own property where you will know the lay of the land. In the worst case you could set up a couple of marker stakes to give you a range indication if the terrain is so featureless that you need the help.

But then, did I mention that I'm not an expert?
I actually have bought a thermal weapon sight, but I had knee replacement surgery about six weeks ago and haven't been able to get out yet to use it. :(

Are you referring to the Pulsar Trail XQ38 Thermal Riflescope 2-8X38? That one is a bit over 3k. Are you trying to get me killed by the wife? :) I also hope the knees get better. The doctor told me I needed to replace both but he wants me to wait until I am 50.
 

der Teufel

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Are you trying to get me killed by the wife? :)
That's not actually my intent … :rolleyes: Truthfully I'm not fully versed on the details of the various Pulsar models. The main point I intended to make was that I would not spend the extra money for the rangefinder feature. Then again, I haven't used it so what do I know?

I also hope the knees get better. The doctor told me I needed to replace both but he wants me to wait until I am 50.
The one piece of advice I would give someone is — don't do both of them at one time. I only needed one, but I just don't see how someone could handle two knee replacements at the same time. I know some folks do it, but I wouldn't. Then again, maybe those folks are just tougher than I am? :confused:
 

FrankT

Destin FL
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No most do 1 at a time, too hard a recovery for both
 

AF_Vet

New Member
That's not actually my intent … :rolleyes: Truthfully I'm not fully versed on the details of the various Pulsar models. The main point I intended to make was that I would not spend the extra money for the rangefinder feature. Then again, I haven't used it so what do I know?


The one piece of advice I would give someone is — don't do both of them at one time. I only needed one, but I just don't see how someone could handle two knee replacements at the same time. I know some folks do it, but I wouldn't. Then again, maybe those folks are just tougher than I am? :confused:


I have six acres sitting the middle of a 175 acres of farm ground. My driveway is 4/10ths of a mile long. My thoughts were to shoot any coyote that gets within a hundreds yards of my place. This farm ground is all flat with no features for me to gauge distance. That is why I was thinking the range finder would be pretty useful. I don't own the farm ground and the owner probably would not mind me placing markers but it is not my ground so I would feel bad about it.
 

WhoCares

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It’s rare that u will need a range finder when hunting at night with thermal. Although some times it’s nice to know. For coyotes Many guys use a caliber that shoots flat enough where you can hit a 4” circle from 0-300 yds or further. Then you just aim for center mass and your bullet should hit the kill zone. Past those distances you will need a range finder as well as some accurate handloads and ballistic software Or a Lot of luck
 
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WhoCares

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Also, if you have any tiny amount of calling skill either manual or electronic you should be able to get a coyote within 50-100 yds pretty easily. Most of my called coyotes at night have been 30-50 yds max.
 

Brian Shaffer

Hog Hunter
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It’s rare that u will need a range finder when hunting at night with thermal. Although some times it’s nice to know. For coyotes Many guys use a caliber that shoots flat enough where you can hit a 4” circle from 0-300 yds or further. Then you just aim for center mass and your bullet should hit the kill zone. Past those distances you will need a range finder as well as some accurate handloads and ballistic software Or a Lot of luck

While some guys do hunt with ammo faster than a 50 gr. .22-250 (4000 fps and a 5" spread at 300 yards), most are not shooting rounds with so little drop or so high of velocity and the OP won't either, opting for a .223 or a .308 and so that makes everything beyond 220-250 yards outside of that 4" circle and he certainly may be shooting farther than that. For many of us who shoot 6.8 spc and 6.5 Grendel, the point blank distance is cut to ~190-220 yards.

Here is a classic example from this last weekend...

 

AF_Vet

New Member
While some guys do hunt with ammo faster than a 50 gr. .22-250 (4000 fps and a 5" spread at 300 yards), most are not shooting rounds with so little drop or so high of velocity and the OP won't either, opting for a .223 or a .308 and so that makes everything beyond 220-250 yards outside of that 4" circle and he certainly may be shooting farther than that. For many of us who shoot 6.8 spc and 6.5 Grendel, the point blank distance is cut to ~190-220 yards.

Here is a classic example from this last weekend...



Brian,

I am looking at the Thermal Imaging Sight Trail XQ38 and it says it has a Stadiametric rangefinder. Do you have any experience with using this?
 

theblakester

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Brian,

I am looking at the Thermal Imaging Sight Trail XQ38 and it says it has a Stadiametric rangefinder. Do you have any experience with using this?
The stadiametric rangefinder is not a real feature IMO. If u see a hog in your thermal, and u use this feature to range your target, it could be way off depending on the size of the hog. A 275 lb boar at 250 yards will affect this feature much differently than a 75 lb sow st 150 yards. However it will help in a situation where u have a known object with a known size at a known distance.
 

Msnix123

LSB Member
Great thread. I'm in a similar boat trying to decide what thermal to purchase for hog hunting in lower Alabama.... I think there is a slightly used Pulsar trail XQ38 listed for sale in the classifieds. Good luck
 

ballistic1

New Member
To the OP:

Where in Iowa are you located?

I ask because I live near the northeast corner .. could possibly arrange
something where we could get together and you could try some of my
thermal gear.
 
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