2023 Thermal & Night Vision Thread

[Outdoor Legacy]

Hey fellas I figured since 2023 has rolled around it was time for a new thermal and night vision thread. Someone asked me why start a new thread every year and I think it's important to note that thermal and NV scope models can change quickly and the technology is advancing and in just a year's time a lot of information can become outdated.

This thread is for pictures and videos of your night hunting kills, rigs and for any questions related to the subject!

Outdoor Legacy has been the Texas Bowhunter thermal and night vision sponsor for at least 8 years, maybe longer. We pride ourselves on the fact that we test and use every single optic we sell in the field. And if we don't like an optic, don't believe it's a good value for the dollar or it doesn't meet our standards for some reason, then we just don't sell it. Period. We also have a podcast called The Late Night Vision Show that one of my salesman and I have hosted every Thursday for 244 weeks straight (as of 1/5/23) and we offer up scope reviews and all kinds of night hunting talk. You can find the show on Youtube or any podcast app.

If you're looking to purchase a thermal or night vision optic we would absolutely love to have your business and we'll be more than happy to talk to you over the phone and offer advice and suggestions on what optic will work best for you in whatever your price range is. Feel free to call us any time (877)350-1818 or check out our website Outdoor Legacy. If you don't have any clue where to start but you know you want a thermal or night vision scope, give us a call. We're glad to help.

Also, if you purchase your optic from us we are happy to help you with that optic for as long as you own it. Questions on setup or maybe you forgot how a function works or maybe you're having a problem and have questions....we're glad to help our customers with that.

So here is to a great 2023! Let's get out there and do some night hunting!

(877)350-1818
Outdoor Legacy
The Late Night Vision Show

[Outdoor Legacy]

I'll get the party started. Here's a Pulsar Thermion 2 XQ50 Pro on an American Defense 12" 6.5 Grendal ready for action.

[tazhunter0]

I have watched y’all’s videos and contacted you several times with questions. Always got great info back and will soon be getting my first thermal. It will be getting set up on a Airforce Texan PCP chambered in .457 and a second one in .308 calibers.

[sahunter]

tagged

[Centraltexan]

You guys are great! Just received the pulsar Axion XG35 to go along with the Super Hogster. Thank you for helping my wife with the purchase. Put them to work last night.



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[Bazo]

Looking forward to another year!

Thermion 2 XQ38




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[Outdoor Legacy]

Originally Posted by Centraltexan

You guys are great! Just received the pulsar Axion XG35 to go along with the Super Hogster. Thank you for helping my wife with the purchase. Put them to work last night.

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! That's a happy young man and a proud dad I'm sure!

[Fordnandez]

My BIL and I had some pretty good hunts around Christmas. One of the hunts resulted in a coyote triple.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=hD9B6D4s...SIkaIECMiOmarE

[ShoootLow]

Finally got some time on a new IRay Bolt. This scope is amazing and I was really impressed with how it performed. Big shout out to Jason, was awesome to deal with.

[imyomama]

Originally Posted by Outdoor Legacy

I'll get the party started. Here's a Pulsar Thermion 2 XQ50 Pro on an American Defense 12" 6.5 Grendal ready for action.

you mean ready for shootout with ATF in 120 days ?

[ATI]

Originally Posted by Centraltexan

You guys are great! Just received the pulsar Axion XG35 to go along with the Super Hogster. Thank you for helping my wife with the purchase. Put them to work last night.



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Well done Jr.!

what caliber is that gun sir?

[Centraltexan]

Originally Posted by ATI

Well done Jr.!

what caliber is that gun sir?

That is a 6.8. Been very effective on the swine.


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[okiepighunter]

jason please update us from shotshow on what trijicon comes out with!!!! hopefully something with 18650 batteries

[ATI]

Originally Posted by Centraltexan

That is a 6.8. Been very effective on the swine.


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I have yet to kill a pig with my .223 Wylde/.556. (finishing up some fine tuning) I wonder if it will drop them as good as that...

[mkk]

Originally Posted by ATI

I have yet to kill a pig with my .223 Wylde/.556. (finishing up some fine tuning) I wonder if it will drop them as good as that...

What bullet?


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[ATI]

Originally Posted by mkk

What bullet?


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Mostly 55 grain 5.56 soft tips.

[Fordnandez]

Originally Posted by ATI

Mostly 55 grain 5.56 soft tips.

With good shot placement you will be fine. Now there are better options IMO but it will get the job done.

[ATI]

Originally Posted by Fordnandez

With good shot placement you will be fine. Now there are better options IMO but it will get the job done.

Ya, I may order some heavier grain bullets for hunting and specially Hogs.

[Bazo]

Originally Posted by ATI

Ya, I may order some heavier grain bullets for hunting and specially Hogs.

I shoot Frontier 223 55gr hollow points and hit the hogs hard. I've been pleased with them.

Another round that I have used that worked well on hogs were the Hornady Full Boar.

[ATI]

Originally Posted by Bazo

I shoot Frontier 223 55gr hollow points and hit the hogs hard. I've been pleased with them.

Another round that I have used that worked well on hogs were the Hornady Full Boar.

Thank you!

I have some Frontier Soft Tips but haven't seen any hollow points. Do you have a link for the ammo you mentioned?


Thanks again!

[Bones_Jones]

I mounted my thermal reflex sight to my bow. It was surprisingly easy to get sighted in out to 40 yards and have done quite a bit of shooting with it. My groups are actually better than with my traditional sight. Took it out one night trying to do a spot and stock on a hog but was only able to get within 70 yards before the wind switched. Im planning on sitting over a feeder when I get some time to see if that will be more successful. Anyone else out there interested in or tried hunting with a thermal on a bow?

[Bazo]

Originally Posted by ATI

Thank you!

I have some Frontier Soft Tips but haven't seen any hollow points. Do you have a link for the ammo you mentioned?


Thanks again!

This is what I have but hollow point not FMJ.

Looks like lower on the page they have the hollow point in 55 and 68gr.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/fron...ire-rifle-ammo

[dustoffer]

Originally Posted by Fordnandez

With good shot placement you will be fine. Now there are better options IMO but it will get the job done.

Can’t begin to count how many hogs I’ve killed with my .22-250 and 55-gr ballistic tips or my .223 and 55-gr bullets. The big thing is bullet placement and I shoot ‘em in the ear hole and it’s down right there.

[gonzaleziam]

Originally Posted by Bones_Jones

I mounted my thermal reflex sight to my bow. It was surprisingly easy to get sighted in out to 40 yards and have done quite a bit of shooting with it. My groups are actually better than with my traditional sight. Took it out one night trying to do a spot and stock on a hog but was only able to get within 70 yards before the wind switched. Im planning on sitting over a feeder when I get some time to see if that will be more successful. Anyone else out there interested in or tried hunting with a thermal on a bow?

WOOOOW. Never knew that existed. I’m interested in that. What do they go for?

[Bones_Jones]

Originally Posted by gonzaleziam

WOOOOW. Never knew that existed. I’m interested in that. What do they go for?

I think the whole setup ran me about $2200.

[imyomama]

holosun is coming out with a red dot fusion thermal device ... i wonder how well they will work ... a long long time ago i had a holographic bow sight that was awesome .. bushnell i think , it had the 2 circles to line up and make sure you were not torquing in any way ... now fast forward to today and put these new holosun on a crossbow and it's pretty much game over ... all it takes is money!

[imyomama]

Originally Posted by dustoffer

Can’t begin to count how many hogs I’ve killed with my .22-250 and 55-gr ballistic tips or my .223 and 55-gr bullets. The big thing is bullet placement and I shoot ‘em in the ear hole and it’s down right there.

boy you ain't kidding ... took the new sfar out this weekend .. big boar came out early .. 60 yards away ... 150gr nosler bal tip 308 ... like a dumb as$ i aimed at the shoulder.. what was i thinking? he was massive and muscular... smacked hard .. he bolted .. not a drop of blood .. never found it .. oh i'm sure he's dead somewhere ... at least that saved me having to drag him ...

learned my lesson , same night , later after dark .. another group at another feeder ... sneak to 80 yards ... placed it on front of shoulder in neck area .. pop! dropped like a stone ...

conclusion .. can't think deer hunting when hog hunting. shot placement is different ... just because you have a bigger caliber doesn't mean it's always going to do the job ... as in dropping it drt ...

[Bazo]

I like the base of the neck/in front of the shoulder placement too.

.223 55gr hollow point






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[Fooser]

Awesome thread!! So, I need to outfit my new friend with thermal optics and could use some recommendations….

.300 Blk, AR platform (suppressed)
Longest spotting range will be 200yds, but 99% of shots will be under 120yds, with the vast majority of shots within 50-75 yds
Minimum of 2.5hrs of battery life
Needs to support multiple reticle/trajectory calibrations (ie super & sub-sonic)
Within $4k….
I don’t really care for the riflescope style… but not totally against it.
Would Love something in dark drown to match rifle

[Outdoor Legacy]

Originally Posted by okiepighunter

jason please update us from shotshow on what trijicon comes out with!!!! hopefully something with 18650 batteries

Nothing improved. Just the same thing they've been doing since they bought out IR Defense in 2015.....new exterior, same old guts and image quality. They're a good company but they've essentially given up the civilian thermal hunting market. You can get optics for half the money with the same or better image quality and much better warranty and service. Sad but true.

[Outdoor Legacy]

Originally Posted by Fooser

Awesome thread!! So, I need to outfit my new friend with thermal optics and could use some recommendations….

.300 Blk, AR platform (suppressed)
Longest spotting range will be 200yds, but 99% of shots will be under 120yds, with the vast majority of shots within 50-75 yds
Minimum of 2.5hrs of battery life
Needs to support multiple reticle/trajectory calibrations (ie super & sub-sonic)
Within $4k….
I don’t really care for the riflescope style… but not totally against it.
Would Love something in dark drown to match rifle

Hey Fooser there are a lot of good options in that fit that bill. Still some more questions to be asked as well. I'd suggest giving us a call one day and we'll be glad to talk it out with you over the phone and offer a few suggestions for you to research more. Give us a holler any time. (877)350-1818

[Hunterdan]

Originally Posted by Fooser

Awesome thread!! So, I need to outfit my new friend with thermal optics and could use some recommendations….

.300 Blk, AR platform (suppressed)
Longest spotting range will be 200yds, but 99% of shots will be under 120yds, with the vast majority of shots within 50-75 yds
Minimum of 2.5hrs of battery life
Needs to support multiple reticle/trajectory calibrations (ie super & sub-sonic)
Within $4k….
I don’t really care for the riflescope style… but not totally against it.
Would Love something in dark drown to match rifle

I have this same setup and I’m running the Behring Optics Super Hogster. It works incredibly well and I’m really happy with the scope.

[Fooser]

I usually over analyze things taking a long time researching technology. Last night made a very rash decision and bought a trijicon IR-Hunter for which I’m now stressing over.

They were giving you a free Tenmile riflescope if you purchased before Jan-31. Since I needed the scope for another project, the $2k savings will offset the cost of the thermal and put me right at $4k. So, I figured it was a win-win, but I cant find anything on this thermal. Is it the same thing as the MKIII??

With the ITAR certification, i still have time to cancel…. Am I better of with the Trijicon at $4k or am I stull buying the brand/label?

[Brannon74]

I am running 6.5 Grendel currently with an armasight predator thermal. I use pulsar thermal binoculars for scanning. I want to upgrade my riffle scope. I hunt saw ok and are looking at animals as far Ada mile at times. Want a 640 resolution scope. I am a buy right the first time person. Very interested in the iRay due to their warranty but am open to pulsar, AGM, Hogster, I need tough durable optic. What would you recommend. Will use for coyotes and pigs.


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[Drycreek3189]

Axis doe with the Wraith on a frankenAR. Delton upper rebarreled to 6.8 SPC, AR Stoner barrel, and a Rock River lower. It has slayed many hogs up to 270 lb., most of them DRT with a high shoulder shot.

[bowtecmike]

Originally Posted by Drycreek3189

Axis doe with the Wraith on a frankenAR. Delton upper rebarreled to 6.8 SPC, AR Stoner barrel, and a Rock River lower. It has slayed many hogs up to 270 lb., most of them DRT with a high shoulder shot.

What is that out on the front? And dose it not block the view of the scope? Nice groceries, congrats.

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[Drycreek3189]

That’s the IR torch that I used with my NV scope before I bought the Wraith. I think I need to take it off, but it doesn’t block the view. I do think it renders the IR light on the scope useless though, it “whites out” if I turn it on. That was my maiden voyage with the Wraith, I’m still learning it !

[Fordnandez]

Did some rabbit hunting for my dad, they been tearing up his garden the past few seasons and he finally had enough of it.

Thermal Rabbit Hunt - YouTube

[okrattler]

This is probably going to be a stupid question but here it goes. Will light whether it be red,green,amber or white light hurt the internals of a thermal scope or scanner? I've looked at a coyote through night vision while someone shined a white light on it and it completely whites out everything. That's why I wondered if it would mess with a thermal. I don't know if it will hurt night vision either. I just know it doesn't work very well because it whites out the scope.

And yes, that coyote got away. It heard me cussin because I thought the scope jacked up on me all the sudden. I was about to shoot it in the chest and everything turned white. Son of a.... biscuit eater.

[imyomama]

Originally Posted by okrattler

This is probably going to be a stupid question but here it goes. Will light whether it be red,green,amber or white light hurt the internals of a thermal scope or scanner? I've looked at a coyote through night vision while someone shined a white light on it and it completely whites out everything. That's why I wondered if it would mess with a thermal. I don't know if it will hurt night vision either. I just know it doesn't work very well because it whites out the scope.

And yes, that coyote got away. It heard me cussin because I thought the scope jacked up on me all the sudden. I was about to shoot it in the chest and everything turned white. Son of a.... biscuit eater.

thermal put out a graphic view of minute temperature differences .. light has no effect whatsoever on it ... you can look at a car driving toward you at night and you can't see the headlights at all aside from a different shade from the rest of the body of the car because it's not exactly the same temperature...

[okrattler]

Originally Posted by imyomama

thermal put out a graphic view of minute temperature differences .. light has no effect whatsoever on it ... you can look at a car driving toward you at night and you can't see the headlights at all aside from a different shade from the rest of the body of the car because it's not exactly the same temperature...

Oh okay. I didn't figure it would but I figured I'd ask to be sure.

[hpdrifter]

Originally Posted by okrattler

This is probably going to be a stupid question but here it goes. Will light whether it be red,green,amber or white light hurt the internals of a thermal scope or scanner? I've looked at a coyote through night vision while someone shined a white light on it and it completely whites out everything. That's why I wondered if it would mess with a thermal. I don't know if it will hurt night vision either. I just know it doesn't work very well because it whites out the scope.

And yes, that coyote got away. It heard me cussin because I thought the scope jacked up on me all the sudden. I was about to shoot it in the chest and everything turned white. Son of a.... biscuit eater.

light per se will not. However, we used thermal for maintenance problem discovery at work. We have two very high temp furnaces and it states "do not" view excessive temperatures. Both Fluke and Flir stated this. So, there may be certain light that damages it, but everyday normal activities will not/should not hurt them.

[westtexducks]

Well finally got me a thermal. Got a used pulsar core rxq30v for cheap. Should do everything I need till I upgrade in a couple of years. That said can't decide what I want to put it on. Be used for pigs and coyotes. I have 2 ARs I can stick it on. Would you put it on the 7.62*39 or the 5.56?

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[okrattler]

Originally Posted by westtexducks

Well finally got me a thermal. Got a used pulsar core rxq30v for cheap. Should do everything I need till I upgrade in a couple of years. That said can't decide what I want to put it on. Be used for pigs and coyotes. I have 2 ARs I can stick it on. Would you put it on the 7.62*39 or the 5.56?

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For pigs I'd prefer the 7.62x39.

[Bazo]

Coyote bit the dust tonight.

Also, forgot my flashlight so I’m really glad my iRay handheld has a built in flashlight. That’s what I used to take the picture.




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[kkp005]

Got another thermal from Jason @ Outdoor legacy a few weeks back. Another great transaction and like always phenomenal customer service



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[Big H]

Originally Posted by kkp005

Got another thermal from Jason @ Outdoor legacy a few weeks back. Another great transaction and like always phenomenal customer service



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What model is that?

[kkp005]

Originally Posted by Big H

What model is that?

Iray bolt tl35 v2

[Fooser]

360lbs .300blk w/ IR-Hunter…. sadly, the tusks were broke

I believe this was him, going after a coon…. The barrel is 8’ high.

[hpdrifter]

one way to get rid of coons!