Recommendations for a Thermal Rifle Optic

[FP1201]

With the idea of Hunting using subsonic .338ARC on a MSR platform at Ranges of 100yds or less, can someone offer their experiences with a Thermal Optic:
Anyone using a monocular ahead of a scope?
Dedicated Thermal Scope? If so, magnification?

 

[Bustedknees]

Tag the guys from the varmint threads.

 

[Tisto]

@Shoots100 this one is all you, baby !

 

[RedBreast21]

100 yards or less? AGM TM15 384 unit for a monocular would work. No focusing and it has a wide FOV at 100yrds.

The AGM Rattler V2 25-384 for out to 200 yards. I have both and for budget units work very well.

Of course the sky is the limit and you can go up to 684 resolution unit and higher.

There are also other manufacturers out there that use the exact same internals packaged differently.

I would watch some YouTube videos on the thermal stuff. Not the which brand is better BS but watch how thermals tech works and what the different spec terminology means.

 

[FP1201]

100 yards or less? AGM TM15 384 unit for a monocular would work. No focusing and it has a wide FOV at 100yrds.

The AGM Rattler V2 25-384 for out to 200 yards. I have both and for budget units work very well.

Of course the sky is the limit and you can go up to 684 resolution unit and higher.

There are also other manufacturers out there that use the exact same internals packaged differently.

I would watch some YouTube videos on the thermal stuff. Not the which brand is better BS but watch how thermals tech work and what the different spec terminology means.

Hundred yards or less
Rattlers are both out of stock and priced very modestly compared to other models.
USDA guys have thermals and cans; we can't have cans...yet.

 

[Tisto]

My first thermal was a FLIR and although it was a decent scope, I outgrew it's capabilities quickly. Since then I bought a INFIRAY RICO . It had a few problems after about a year and I had a bit of trouble getting them to fix it properly. Before the issues with the RICO developed, I purchased a INFIRAY ZOOM handheld mono. That has been flawless. Would I recommend an INFIRAY product ? Yeah, probably. I think they've worked out the bugs by now. Neither of the Infiray products I own are valu priced.

I saw these and honestly they have piqued my interest. Not so much for hunting, but to mount on the primary battle rifle.

DNT ThermNight Multispectral Scope: Thermal & Digital Night Vision Combined

ThermNight by DNT Optics combines thermal imaging and digital night vision in one versatile system. With clear, high-contrast visuals and long-range detection, ThermNight ensures accurate performance whether you're night hunting, conducting search and rescue, or operating in tactical scenarios...

us.dntoptics.com

 

[Shoots100]

What's your budget ?
Once that's known then I can give recommendations.

SJC

 

[FP1201]

What's your budget ?
Once that's known then I can give recommendations.

SJC

Was hoping to get in around a grand (wholesale)
Sports South carries a good selection of AGM.
The intent for all this is putting together a 16" MSR upper for night time use filling nuisance Deer Tags at ranges at or under 100yds.

 

[Shoots100]

If it's just for deer culling, any digital NV scope with a 4x base mag using an IR illuminator will work.
Looking over the sports south site at what's available in your price range, I would say the AGM spectrum LRF DNV scope would be a good choice for your needs.
Spectrum
I advise digital because it's protected from accidental light exposure, which is going to happen.
I would say that any thermal monocular in the 384 minimum resolution category will greatly improve your animal detection and be the perfect accoutrement to the DNV scope.
SJC

 

[FP1201]

If it's just for deer culling, any digital NV scope with a 4x base mag using an IR illuminator will work.
Looking over the sports south site at what's available in your price range, I would say the AGM spectrum LRF DNV scope would be a good choice for your needs.
Spectrum
I advise digital because it's protected from accidental light exposure, which is going to happen.
I would say that any thermal monocular in the 384 minimum resolution category will greatly improve your animal detection and be the perfect accoutrements to the DNV scope.
SJC

Thanks, this is new ground for me.
Rough handling is likely as well as errant light exposure.
the .338 ARC in sub-sonic looks very promising!

 

[Shoots100]

Thanks, this is new ground for me.
Rough handling is likely as well as errant light exposure.
the .338 ARC in sub-sonic looks very promising!

Subsonic 338 ARC is meant to be used with a suppressor.
It's still handgun loud when not using a suppressor, but will be a little quieter than std velocity ammo.
The spectrum scope has an on board ballistic calculator, so it'll make longer shots taken with the anemic 338 ARC subsonic ammo possible.

SJC

 

[FP1201]

I understand that Subsonic is to be used with a suppressor, however that's not an option here.
The 16" barrel with a noise attenuating device is about as close as we can get.
Sound isn't that much an issue as it's very rural with few houses (and folk know what's going on out there) I think the idea is just launching a fat, heavy pill into thin skinned animals with less possibility of going out of bounds. Shotguns with Slugs work well enough, but aren't as accurate not platformed for all the optics.
The Gas (or lack of) isn't really an issue as we're going Side-Charging manual operation.

FWIW: I asked Faxon "when" and this was their response:
Thank you for taking the time to contact us! We have submitted the 338 ARC barrels to dealers and distributors but they are still in production. We are working on feeding issue currently as Hornady did not have much data on that and we don't want to send out brand new barrels with the wrong feed ramps on them.

With that said, they are being worked on currently, but I do not have a firm launch date for them. Sports South will be receiving some of the 16" versions as soon as they launch.

Regards,

KAK had Barrels in stock (I think)...should have snatched one up right away.

 

[FrankenCub]

Hundred yards or less
Rattlers are both out of stock and priced very modestly compared to other models.
USDA guys have thermals and cans; we can't have cans...yet.

I’ve been looking at the AGM Rattler v2 25-320 the past couple weeks. But have been considering a 19-256 for the wider fov seems I’m not interested in any long distance.
Really though, the previous generation Rattlers are better than my NV I’m using now.

 

[Shoots100]

I’ve been looking at the AGM Rattler v2 25-320 the past couple weeks. But have been considering a 19-256 for the wider fov seems I’m not interested in any long distance.
Really though, the previous generation Rattlers are better than my NV I’m using now.

I would stay away from scopes using proprietary batteries and anything under 384 resolution.
The RIX storm S3 is a great optic.
SJC

 

[Jem45472]

I’ve been looking at the AGM Rattler v2 25-320 the past couple weeks. But have been considering a 19-256 for the wider fov seems I’m not interested in any long distance.
Really though, the previous generation Rattlers are better than my NV I’m using now.

Check out some YouTube videos of dnt optics thermnight scopes. Night vision, thermal, range finder all in one. Can also use pic in pic- use scope in nv mode with smaller thermal image at same time for scanning.

Has great reviews, and would be on my list if I was looking.

 

[Shoots100]

Like ATN, DNT optics are hit or miss and there's a reason most of the top optic sellers don't sell DNT.
It's not worth the risk getting a lemon when there are so many quality and tested thermal optics out there to choose from.
SJC

 

[FrankenCub]

I would stay away from scopes using proprietary batteries and anything under 384 resolution.
The RIX storm S3 is a great optic.
SJC

Proprietary batteries from known good brands don’t bother me at all. DeWalt, Milwaukee, EGO, Canon, etc etc. Everything has them. Chinese knockoffs are a problem.
And AGM has a great warranty.
I am looking at the previous TS35-384 though, better price on a lightly used unit on eBay.
I personally don’t like those cr123 batteries but I could buy rechargeables.