There has been relativley little I could find about use of front-end digital nighvision add-ons, other than people knocking them and recommending PARDs. So I thought I would report on a couple of outings, both using a Pulsar Helion XQ38F thermal for spotting and then a Pulsar F455 for NV.
First outing was after rabbits on a permission I know extremely well. The F455 was on my .17HMR with Swarovski Habicht 4-12 x 50. I have this set up with the adapter so that cross hairs are about central and I can see the S (Sumlight) symbol and the IR setting. The adapter manual is specific about how it should be fitted, and I followed the instructions exactly. It was a brief outing about 7pm, with 4 chest shot rabbits between 60 and 80 yards (I paced them out). So I had problem with the zero this time. Eye relief is a bit tricky on this combination, and you cannot see most of the bottom of the screen. I am still getting used to the IR, and focus is a fine adjustment. I am relatively tall so can manage the controls and IR button without too much trouble.
Second outing was after foxes and then deer this morning. The F455 was moved onto my .243 with Zeiss Duralyt 3-12 x 50. Similar setup to the Swarovski, but eye relief is a bit easier. Potted a fox at about 100 yards while still pitch dark. It was very easy to see on the thermal, but it took a bit of messing about with IR / Sumlight and focus, to spot with the NV. As with the thermal (which I have had for a while), clearly the NV takes a bit of getting used to. Later on, about 1/2 hr before sunrise, I spotted a roe fairly close on the thermal. It was just in front of some thick brush growing on a high bank, so a good backstop. It was just too dark for the binos, so I tried the NV. I just could not see a full-grown doe, which I guessed from the thermal to be no more than 100 yards away, on the NV at all. A bit more messing with the IR, a check where it was on the thermal, a touch with the focus, it moved a little and then I recognised the pale deer shape, no antlers. Bullet placement was good/slightly back, though what I did not see from the NV that the doe was slightly angled, so I missed the heart, but took the lungs out. It ran about 20 yards and was an easy follow up with the thermal.
So lessons learned: thermal and NV are a formidable, if expensive, combination. Like the thermal to start with, the NV needs plenty of getting used to, just identifying things, using the right Sumight/IR setting, less zoom than usual (avoids the pixilation problem often mentioned) and fine tuning the focus. But then you have much more time than with a lamp, for example. I have had absolutely no problem with zero retention, even when moving the adaptor from one rifle to the next (though I will probably get a second adapter). The balance of the rifle is quite different, but with a Primos 3 tripod, or a gate or post to lean on, it is fine. It is also reasonably well balanced to carry.
With the doe, there was no wind and she clearly had no idea I was there, so next time I may wait a few minutes until there is more light and try without NV.
I am relaxed about the sporting aspects of stalking with NV, just before dawn, but appreciate that others may not be.
Just to emphasise, the deer was shot about 20 minutes before sunrise this morning.
Given all the negative feedback on front-end NV, and very little written from real experience that I could find, I am very pleased with my Pulsar, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to be able to swap between NV and daylight without having to buy and carry two rifles. Needless to say, I have no connection with Pulsar other than as a satisfied customer.
Regards
Richard
First outing was after rabbits on a permission I know extremely well. The F455 was on my .17HMR with Swarovski Habicht 4-12 x 50. I have this set up with the adapter so that cross hairs are about central and I can see the S (Sumlight) symbol and the IR setting. The adapter manual is specific about how it should be fitted, and I followed the instructions exactly. It was a brief outing about 7pm, with 4 chest shot rabbits between 60 and 80 yards (I paced them out). So I had problem with the zero this time. Eye relief is a bit tricky on this combination, and you cannot see most of the bottom of the screen. I am still getting used to the IR, and focus is a fine adjustment. I am relatively tall so can manage the controls and IR button without too much trouble.
Second outing was after foxes and then deer this morning. The F455 was moved onto my .243 with Zeiss Duralyt 3-12 x 50. Similar setup to the Swarovski, but eye relief is a bit easier. Potted a fox at about 100 yards while still pitch dark. It was very easy to see on the thermal, but it took a bit of messing about with IR / Sumlight and focus, to spot with the NV. As with the thermal (which I have had for a while), clearly the NV takes a bit of getting used to. Later on, about 1/2 hr before sunrise, I spotted a roe fairly close on the thermal. It was just in front of some thick brush growing on a high bank, so a good backstop. It was just too dark for the binos, so I tried the NV. I just could not see a full-grown doe, which I guessed from the thermal to be no more than 100 yards away, on the NV at all. A bit more messing with the IR, a check where it was on the thermal, a touch with the focus, it moved a little and then I recognised the pale deer shape, no antlers. Bullet placement was good/slightly back, though what I did not see from the NV that the doe was slightly angled, so I missed the heart, but took the lungs out. It ran about 20 yards and was an easy follow up with the thermal.
So lessons learned: thermal and NV are a formidable, if expensive, combination. Like the thermal to start with, the NV needs plenty of getting used to, just identifying things, using the right Sumight/IR setting, less zoom than usual (avoids the pixilation problem often mentioned) and fine tuning the focus. But then you have much more time than with a lamp, for example. I have had absolutely no problem with zero retention, even when moving the adaptor from one rifle to the next (though I will probably get a second adapter). The balance of the rifle is quite different, but with a Primos 3 tripod, or a gate or post to lean on, it is fine. It is also reasonably well balanced to carry.
With the doe, there was no wind and she clearly had no idea I was there, so next time I may wait a few minutes until there is more light and try without NV.
I am relaxed about the sporting aspects of stalking with NV, just before dawn, but appreciate that others may not be.
Just to emphasise, the deer was shot about 20 minutes before sunrise this morning.
Given all the negative feedback on front-end NV, and very little written from real experience that I could find, I am very pleased with my Pulsar, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to be able to swap between NV and daylight without having to buy and carry two rifles. Needless to say, I have no connection with Pulsar other than as a satisfied customer.
Regards
Richard
