NV scope and hand held thermal advice

[Broders]

I am after some advice and field proven useage of weather a handheld thermal monocular and nv scope go hand in hand with each other, i have been looking at the Hik alpex 4k lrf and non lrf with a budget friendly thermal.

Here is the situation.

When out stalking, deer seem to be showing themselves just as the light is starting to fade and mostly on the edges of woodland and at times I find I am struggling to see where the deer are in the thick of under growth. The gent that takes me out has a thermal and we are constantly swapping his thermal so I can see what he has seen and trying to find landmarks so when I go back to glass I have a refrence, of a tree or anything really. I have a few questions for the gear.

Would having a nv scope help in the situation for seeing the deer easier in last light or am I being daft and would benefit more from having a thermal and nv scope myself? (Obvioise answer is yes but dont have 2k laying around to spend on both at once)

If yes to both do I opt for a lrf on the scope or lrf on the monocular?

And what is a budget friendly thermal that works decently in woodland and in fields? It would need to be able to have a decent range as some of the woodlands are on the sides of hiils and typiclly looking for the deer across a valley and then stalking in closer.

I am not the most experienced stalker and everytime I go out I am trying to assess my short comings and this is the latest. Any advice from users of both and either-or would be appreciated.

 

[Bo Diddley]

You're on track with the thought process. Crack on and shoot more deers.

 

[Jason The Turner]

I've found a thermal monocular to be an absolute game changer, (Hik-micro 35mm gryphon) you can see insects at about 100yards and anything like a deer at about a mile, - it stands out like a sore thumb! I wouldn't bother with the lynx series though.

 

[Smellydog]

Get a spotter and a cheap scope NV add on. Sytong 66 or pard 007.

 

[Broders]

I've found a thermal monocular to be an absolute game changer, (Hik-micro 35mm gryphon) you can see insects at about 100yards and anything like a deer at about a mile, - it stands out like a sore thumb! I wouldn't bother with the lynx series though.

I will keep an eye out for one of them. And try and have a look through one if at all possible. Do you use that paired with traditional glass?

 

[sy247]

I haven't used a NV scope but I am definitely shooting more deer since I got thermal spotter. You can cover ground quicker and see deer in cover that would cant see with binos. Doesnt always mean you can shoot them of course.

I've got a Pulsar XQ30 Pro which does everything I need it to. If I was buying now I would look for something with a 640x480 sensor.

I had a look through a Pulsar Oryx XG35 when I was out the other night and I could see heat sources that I couldn't see with mine, but they were just blobs and couldn't be identified. It's about twice what I spent on mine.

I am using glass on the rifle.

 

[Jason The Turner]

I'm a newbie re stalking so there are others who would be better qualified to say what optics to use (but like you I am also looking at the 4k LRF), but to answer your question, I use it with anything! Paired with NV for pest control is superb, but also use it for rough shooting as it punches through vegetation well, and I even use it for squirrel bashing too. A decent thermal was probably the single best thing for my shooting I've ever done.

 

[Broders]

I had a look through a Pulsar Oryx XG35 when I was out the other night and I could see heat sources that I couldn't see with mine, but they were just blobs and couldn't be identified. It's about twice what I spent on mine.

Seems they are closeish in price from blackwood. I will keep that in mind for the distance it can pick up a heat source.

 

[Broders]

I'm a newbie re stalking so there are others who would be better qualified to say what optics to use (but like you I am also looking at the 4k LRF), but to answer your question, I use it with anything! Paired with NV for pest control is superb, but also use it for rough shooting as it punches through vegetation well, and I even use it for squirrel bashing too. A decent thermal was probably the single best thing for my shooting I've ever done.

I am also trying to gauge what is the best option to get at first as a monocular with lrf might get me what I am lacking. Doesnt help that the new Hik 4k pro is on its way and not sure if I should hold out for that or commit to the tried and tested.

 

[Tf223]

Yes do it.

I use an axiom Xm30s and c50 scope for foxing and deer stalking, and have for about 5 or more years (I think).

If I were to replace the scope it would be changed to an alpex pro with lrf built in for the ballistic calculator (longer range foxes). The thermal I would upgrade to more or less the current equivalent - £1000-1400ish quids worth.

I have no need to upgrade though - the setup I have is spot on for anything sub 220 yards even if newer kit is availible.

 

[sy247]

Seems they are closeish in price from blackwood. I will keep that in mind for the distance it can pick up a heat source.

The Oryx is nearly £2.2K. I paid £960 for my spotter. I don't think you need to spend a fortune to be honest as Tf223 has mentioned.

 

[Jason The Turner]

I am also trying to gauge what is the best option to get at first as a monocular with lrf might get me what I am lacking. Doesnt help that the new Hik 4k pro is on its way and not sure if I should hold out for that or commit to the tried and tested.

I imagine the current 4k lrf does everything most people would need. I was speaking to the rep the other day and they were saying that it was designed to replace glass optics. (If I remember correctly) he said that there was no pixillation in daylight up to x12 which is more than what I would need (the traditionalists often sticking to a x8 optic). I imagine the new pro model would be lovely, but perhaps overkill for a lot of people?

 

[sy247]

I guess another question is do you want to be shooting deer right up until the last few minutes of light?

I'm looking forward to seeing what the new Alpex is all about at the Stalking Show although it's not exactly a field condition test.

I like nice glass and it will be interesting to see how it compares.

 

[Broders]

Yes do it.

I use an axiom Xm30s and c50 scope for foxing and deer stalking, and have for about 5 or more years (I think).

If I were to replace the scope it would be changed to an alpex pro with lrf built in for the ballistic calculator (longer range foxes). The thermal I would upgrade to more or less the current equivalent - £1000-1400ish quids worth.

I have no need to upgrade though - the setup I have is spot on for anything sub 220 yards even if newer kit is availible.

That is where i am currently at for a thermal and dont want thermal binos. I enjoy my glass binos. I have seen a bramd new aplex 4k with lrf brand new for very cheap money less than most are asking for. I assume because of the new model coming out.

I imagine the current 4k lrf does everything most people would need. I was speaking to the rep the other day and they were saying that it was designed to replace glass optics. (If I remember correctly) he said that there was no pixillation in daylight up to x12 which is more than what I would need (the traditionalists often sticking to a x8 optic). I imagine the new pro model would be lovely, but perhaps overkill for a lot of people?

Max i shoot on now for stalking is 15 and woildnt want any more than that especially in a wood.

I guess another question is do you want to be shooting deer right up until the last few minutes of light?

Its not ideal to shoot up until last light but if I am out and havent seen anything until last light I am not going to pass on it with it being 30-45 mins before the hour after sunset.


It is a new situation i have found myself in and hence the questions on how to approach it.

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

The Alpex 4K LRF is as good as you will get at this moment in time for low light abililty and night vision performance in humidty at range.. Even the next generation will very likely not exceed it.

This is down to the huge F1.2 lens., which does add some weight, due to the larger lens assembly..

With higher resolution 4K digital sensors comes lower sensitvity than HD 1080P sensors which are x4 more sensitive at night. To offset this a large aperture lens compensates this massively ... slower lenses still perform, but require more IR in the form of VCSEL to provide more range... BUT even with VCSEL, humidity in the air will cut IR transmission down at range, where as the faster F1.2 allows a much greater range, regardless..

At £699 this is the top performer £ for £. It provides wide field of view and excellent detail retention at long range in daylight throughout the magnification range. At night time and low light, look no further, at this current time..

HikMicro Alpex 4K LRF A50EL Day Night Optical Scope

HikMicro Alpex 4K LRF (A50EL) delivers ultra-HD day and night imaging, excellent low-light performance, with laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator.

www.blackwoodoutdoors.co.uk

 

[Broders]

The Alpex 4K LRF is as good as you will get at this moment in time for low light abililty and night vision performance in humidty at range.. Even the next generation will very likely not exceed it.

This is down to the huge F1.2 lens., which does add some weight, due to the larger lens assembly..

With higher resolution 4K digital sensors comes lower sensitvity than HD 1080P sensors which are x4 more sensitive at night. To offset this a large aperture lens compensates this massively ... slower lenses still perform, but require more IR in the form of VCSEL to provide more range... BUT even with VCSEL, humidity in the air will cut IR transmission down at range, where as the faster F1.2 allows a much greater range, regardless..

At £699 this is the top performer £ for £. It provides wide field of view and excellent detail retention at long range in daylight throughout the magnification range. At night time and low light, look no further, at this current time..

HikMicro Alpex 4K LRF A50EL Day Night Optical Scope

HikMicro Alpex 4K LRF (A50EL) delivers ultra-HD day and night imaging, excellent low-light performance, with laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator.

www.blackwoodoutdoors.co.uk

Thanks for that, i appreciate the detail. I have been debating waiting out for the new model or commiting to that model and that confirms I wont be missing out on much apart from maybe a heavier setup (in simpler term). Will this model aid in low light, around dusk, when its in day mode?

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

Thanks for that, i appreciate the detail. I have been debating waiting out for the new model or commiting to that model and that confirms I wont be missing out on much apart from maybe a heavier setup (in simpler term). Will this model aid in low light, around dusk, when its in day mode?

Absolutley, excellent in low light..

 

[Broders]

Absolutley, excellent in low light..

I will have to get in touch with you then.

 

[farrieral]

The Alpex is undoubtedly very handy and don't think you'd be disappointed at all.

The below is full dark, on a bright night, no cloud cover with no IR. For the first and last legal hour for deer, its extremely effective.

Have shot steel out to 350 with the ballistic calculator on the 243 and it works very well.

 

[Broders]

The Alpex is undoubtedly very handy and don't think you'd be disappointed at all.

The below is full dark, on a bright night, no cloud cover with no IR. For the first and last legal hour for deer, its extremely effective.

Have shot steel out to 350 with the ballistic calculator on the 243 and it works very well.

That looks like it will do me well, as i am not in darkness but just about there at times.

Does looking through the scope look much different from the videos you see eveyone posting ?