Hik Panther PH 50 L (cheapie 384 sensor).

[Boosh]

Hi chaps, not really a deer guy, pretty much vermin orientated in my spare time.
Have more than a good handle on foxing and rabbit control and just recently managed to finally re-direct my limited funds towards a thermal scope to stick on my Tikka .243 for foxing.
Probably have a different view from the experts on here that use certain products that they sell or review. I pay for what I have on my own rifles (eventually) and work with what I got.
Just taken the jump from NV to thermal, used a Sightmark Wraith HD for around 3-4 yrs foxing that to be honest has proven faultless and effortless to use over hundreds of foxes.
Anyone that says they could not use a Wraith, or the screen is too small, or the reticle is too thick needs to actually go out and use one.
There are better units out there, but we are humans that can adapt easily to changing situations, most folk are not premier league footballers. (Neither are the folk berating a simple sighting tool you spend a ,small amount of time behind).

Right, onto the Hik Panther.
Money limited, over a long time have thrown my 2 grand plus a bit at the Hik Panther PH 50 L.
I needed a thermal scope + rangefinder.
(We shoot in the Dale's), foxes at night can easily be 300 mtrs away on the opposite side of a gill, it's big country, without that you are screwed.
It would be nice to have the latest Pulsar Merger around my neck, but I don't have this yet, my 4 Yr old Helion XQ 38 is still going strong, and long may it live, hence a scope with rangefinding abilities.
Bottom end thermal scopes the Hik Panther just about got into my purchase zone.
Senopex A7 or 5 would have been my first choice In my budget, but the rangefinder integrated just sold it.
Would have loved to go Pulsar, but if they continue with the low base mag scopes, they may as well not exist personally.
Back to the Hik.
4.4 x base mag.
LRF
Weighs nothing.
That sets the first bit out prior the spend.
Will follow with the rest.

 

[Boosh]

Second bit.
Got the Panther.
OK it's not a Pulsar.
Build quality is not near as good like the experts have said.
It's sort of a good effort from Hik for there first dibble in the market.
Image is decent, but still does not compare to a 4 Yr old Helion XQ 38.
First run the menu found me sticking the scope in a different language, luckily ES, which I managed to find a way back to EN, (ESP + ENG).
One more letter would have helped so much.
Going through the settings I found a section which allowed me to set drop points on a reticle to match my drop points, good idea in my book.
After the software download this disappeared, now stuck with many more reticles, a red centre cross on every reticle that looks slightly out of alignment with the main reticle. This red cross cannot be turned off. The other rets look good though, especially the bdc one.

 

[Boosh]

Third bit.
Got to mounting the Panther on my Tikka.
Yep, not too bad if you use the rail that comes with it. Fits great on a picatinny on a rifle but leaving a sightline 75mm above boreline. What's the point in having a laser of .243 foxing rifle turned into a loopy trajectory like a Creedmore due to a high sightline?

 

[Boosh]

Fourth bit.
The jog dial.
This is a sensitive little piece of,
No, it's just too sensitive.
It's hard to press the jog diall button without dialling it onto the next setting on the menu.
Too sensitive.
Done.

 

[Boosh]

Fifth bit.
Not happy with leaving the scope this high above boreline.
Time to do something about height of scope above boreline.
Hence, butchers attempt to make a mount lower to boreline.
This may take a while, if took around 30 man hours in the garage with my trust old Warco drill press.

 

[Boosh]

Mounted block on the Tikka dovetails.

 

[Boosh]

Get rid of some metal.

 

[Boosh]

Rough a bit off.

 

[Boosh]

Few holes in the right/ish places and a tidy up.

 

[Boosh]

Action screws and recoil screw.

 

[Boosh]

Forgot, side clamps on dovetail.

 

[Boosh]

Panther is now 54 mm above sightline rather than 75mm above.
(Every little helps!).

 

[Boosh]

Right will keep you all informed how the Panther fares in the field.
Image is OK, lrf is great, should do the job with ease tbh for the 20 seconds I may spend behind it on a night out.

 

[Boosh]

Oh, after a boresight the Panther looked real close to zero.
Came away from zeroing on the range on Sunday with a scope adjusted 1 click in elevation and 6 clicks left for a 100 mtr zero.
Not bad for a builder with a drill press in his garage.

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

Personally I would have bought a Thermion 2 XQ50 LRF Pro that is better allround.. but it would have cost you a bit more money for the privilege … if it works and your happy then your sorted ..

 

[Boosh]

I agree it with that Ian, you sold my mate Mick the XQ thermion back in your easter sale.
Money pennies are the main reason I have the Hik Ian, Nearly a grand more for the XQ Thermion, that buys a C50 or Alpex for another rifle.
The only thing that is probably better with the Hik beyond price is the base mag. We stretch our shots out a bit, Pulsar scope base mags need to be higher to win me over Tbh.

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

I agree it with that Ian, you sold my mate Mick the XQ thermion back in your easter sale.
Money pennies are the main reason I have the Hik Ian, Nearly a grand more for the XQ Thermion, that buys a C50 or Alpex for another rifle.
The only thing that is probably better with the Hik beyond price is the base mag. We stretch our shots out a bit, Pulsar scope base mags need to be higher to win me over Tbh.

Should have taken a look at the Senopex A5 , massive difference in detail vs the Panther PH and they were on offer , although just sold the last ones this week, but no LRF .

Yes sometimes you need to take price, budget and needs into consideration too ..

 

[Boosh]

Exactly Ian, it would be Senopex all the way if it had an LRF (don't know where they would put it, between the batteries happen?).
The Senopex has been on my radar since you first started selling them, they are what I hope to progress to when I put my big boy pants on, probably would have saved a little longer and gone for the A7 if I had a spotter with an LRF.
I know I need the LRF, I'm not a 90 yrd noddy, that's another year of saving, for the upcoming Telos or the Mergers, I went through the logical though process.
Cost and needs always, not sometimes need to be considered.
Last night the Hik has been christened, and yes with a 90 yrd noddy shot!
There is still lots of Ironing out for Hik on this scope, and in general, but as said, I can work with it as it stands, and will be effective in the field until I can upgrade my current kit.
Fun bit now, I could have just held on a bit longer, bought the new Telos or the Mergers and carried on knocking foxes regularly between 250 - 300 mtrs with the Sightmark Wraith HD, but that would have had you and Brucey Jim Jim doing backflips at how sh## they are!

Will give you the call Ian when the next cash cow builds up in the bank, probably late in this year or early next for the Telos or Mergers, something worth spending money on that you don't spend 20 seconds a night behind.
Thanks as always for the input on new gear, we do listen, we just cannot always afford it.

 

[Boosh]

Used it in the field last night, worked great tbh.
Start up is slow, probably 5 seconds so will be left running from now on.
Shouldering the rifle the sensitive jog dial stands a good chance of getting pressed, so turned the scope off to move.
Spotted a fox tracking the opposite valley side with the Helion around 800mtrs away, easily got on it through the scope at 300 mtrs and tracked it in.
Recording of the shot was easy, and uploading the vid was easy through the app.

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

The Hik sight App is great and the Panthers are excellent value for money.... well not as good value for money as the Thunder TQ but there still good.

Anythings better than a Sightmark and them poxy displays... ha ha joke... .. if it works why change..