Thermal or Upgrade NV

[Sammyadds]

Hi All,

I have recently started to help reduce the rabbit numbers on a golf course and thinking of upgrading some of my kit.

Currently using pulsar n970 LRF on the .17hmr which I do love. a bit grainy sometimes but does the job!

My question for the experts, upgrade to a better NV or take the huge (and expensive) leap into thermal (a spotter to begin with)?

Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Pellet Pinger]

If you don’t have one, the best option would be a thermal monocular, especially if you are scanning using the rifle.
It will be like turning the lights on at your permissions and you will see everything thats not obscured by deep undergrowth.
You can walk around with your rifle on your shoulder and only take it off for a shot, alot easier and more covert than swinging the rifle around.

 

[Warbucks]

Hi Sammy.

I assume you are on foot walking down the rabbits on the golf course ?
My advise would be to get a thermal spotter with a in built laser range finder, with this you can walk direct into what wind there is and walk the rabbits down to the distance you want to shoot them before lifting your rifle up onto some shooting/quad sticks, some will still run off, some will stay this way your not lifting your rifle all the time, ---------this with your n970 will "probably" bag you as many rabbits as all other systems.
Sure thermal spotter/lrf and thermal scope will be 100% covert as far as no i/r, but some nights rabbits can still see you, also when an area has been shot a few times, its sort of one shot then the field clears, so its best to hit it hard before they wise up.
If you want to treat yourself to some new kit that's a good enough reason, but spending a few hundreds of pounds on expensive n/v kit if there isn't enough shooting to use it on ? only you can decide.

Dave (warbucks)

 

[The Singing Stalker]

First thing is a spotter, second thing, if you want to spend the money would be to upgrade the scope.
Decent spotter about £1500, or a Habrok about £1100. That has everything you need. Not as good Thermal with nv/range finder. I have no working experience of the Habrok, so others would have to comment.

 

[Sammyadds]

Thanks all, really helpful.

I’ll be on the search for a thermal spotter. although wincing at some of the prices mentioned short arms and long pockets.

@Warbucks - I do have access to a golf cart but not bothered to use it as they are very noisy at this club.

 

[Pellet Pinger]

There’s a second hand Iray LRF on here for £850
And you can pick up Pard 008’s for a couple of hundred and you will have as good a set up as you can ask for.

 

[finnbear270]

If you don’t have one, the best option would be a thermal monocular, especially if you are scanning using the rifle.
It will be like turning the lights on at your permissions and you will see everything thats not obscured by deep undergrowth.
You can walk around with your rifle on your shoulder and only take it off for a shot, alot easier and more covert than swinging the rifle around.

Really bad idea / practice.

 

[Pellet Pinger]

Really bad idea / practice.

Quite agree.

 

[Pellet Pinger]

For Sale: - InfiRay FH25R Thermal spotter with LRF

InfiRay FH25R Thermal spotter with LRF £875 (original cost £2399) Location - Wishaw, North Lanarkshire A great range finding thermal monocular Used but in good condition 640*512, 12micron ceramic VOx 50Hz 25mm lens 1280 x 960 display Wi-Fi which connects to the app and live footage can then...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[Warbucks]

Thanks all, really helpful.

I’ll be on the search for a thermal spotter. although wincing at some of the prices mentioned short arms and long pockets.

@Warbucks - I do have access to a golf cart but not bothered to use it as they are very noisy at this club.

No i don't have access to a golf cart -------- but if you do, what you might find is that because the rabbits might be used to this type of vehicle (usually no danger to them) they will often allow you to get nearer to them, you would need to get stability to shoot from the buggy and if your driving it yourself it will take a little longer to get on the rabbit than it would if you had an experienced driver with you.
From the thousands of rabbits i've shot over the years, weather your using fac air, .22lr, or hmr, IMO you need to hit it hard before the remainder wise up' because they will know that their being shot at .
With my rabbit and fox shooting now on all permission's i like to be totally independant, park up/walk, spot then use quad sticks, quad sticks allow you to get fantastic accuracy "in field conditions "

 

[Sammyadds]

Update - I have just brought a pulsar XM30

Thanks again for the advice

 

[B&W FOX]

Update - I have just brought a pulsar XM30

Thanks again for the advice

Get to know all the functions and the menus so you can get the optimum setting whatever the conditions are on any given night.
It will take time to get it worked out.

 

[Sammyadds]

so everyone was telling the truth …thermal is an absolute game changer! Very happy with my purchase

 

[Tazz]

Once you get your first thermal spotter you realise what a game changer they are, the only thing people ever do is upgrade, no one goes back to no spotter. Best combo thermal spotter and NV with IR you get a double check rabbit or cat etc

 

[Hunters moon]

Once you get your first thermal spotter you realise what a game changer they are, the only thing people ever do is upgrade, no one goes back to no spotter. Best combo thermal spotter and NV with IR you get a double check rabbit or cat etc

Good advice, no room for complacency.. I have spent some time just waiting for a movement to confirm my quarry before now. Biggest problem with thermal is size and distance, when I first go out with a thermal Virgin they think everything is a fox

 

[Mossy]

Retired from shooting earlier in year. But after years of buying and using different nv the best I found was thermal for spotting (used pulsar accolade xp 50) and gen 3 longbow on rifle.
Longbow still beats everything, you can see the whiskers on a fox at 400 yds

 

[jall55]

Good advice, no room for complacency.. I have spent some time just waiting for a movement to confirm my quarry before now. Biggest problem with thermal is size and distance, when I first go out with a thermal Virgin they think everything is a fox

I just dont get it how people cant tell the difference between a fox / rabbit / hare etc
Went out ratting with NV the other night and its a pain - flash back - just looking for the glow of eyes etc - Straight home and put the thermal on - happy days .... and nights

 

[Warbucks]

I just dont get it how people cant tell the difference between a fox / rabbit / hare etc
Went out ratting with NV the other night and its a pain - flash back - just looking for the glow of eyes etc - Straight home and put the thermal on - happy days .... and nights

IMO i don't care what anyone says you cannot 100% confirm EXACTLY every time what it is with thermal.
For me spot with a combination of thermal/red torch then confirm and shoot with n/v & i/r.
When i've had doubts about 100% id on fox, i have waited long enough for the fox to turn its head, i'm looking for the long nose to confirm its not a cat.

When you get a fox that is laid down 200 yds away head on to you (only head profile showing) how do you confirm its a fox with thermal only ?

Dave (warbucks)

 

[jall55]

IMO i don't care what anyone says you cannot 100% confirm EXACTLY every time what it is with thermal.
For me spot with a combination of thermal/red torch then confirm and shoot with n/v & i/r.
When i've had doubts about 100% id on fox, i have waited long enough for the fox to turn its head, i'm looking for the long nose to confirm its not a cat.

When you get a fox that is laid down 200 yds away head on to you (only head profile showing) how do you confirm its a fox with thermal only ?

Dave (warbucks)

Oh so so so simple
If in doubt dont shoot

Rather that than not see anything with NV - or not be able to see the background etc etc
To me with NV how do you know something is not behind the fox facing the wrong way or side on ?

 

[mealiejimmy]

When you get a fox that is laid down 200 yds away head on to you (only head profile showing) how do you confirm its a fox with thermal only

You do exactly the same as you described doing with NV - you wait until it moves
I agree it would almost certainly need to move more for positive ID with thermal than with NV, but the principle is the same with both technologies - so what's the problem?

Cheers

Bruce