The Night Vision Fanatics Thread

[Cajun 11705]

10 hours ago, jofus said:

Yes.


Pigs didn’t cooperate over the weekend. Deer were everywhere though.

Does it record video internally or just do individual pics?  My NOX just does pics unless I hook up the little video dvr to it which is a hassle.

I’m also curious what the native magnification is on your unit.

/no homo

Edited May 4, 2022 by Cajun

[Cajun 11705]

Pic of my shar pei using the edge detect mode on the NOX.  My Macbook doesn’t work with the thermal, so I literally just put the iphone camera up to the optic.  It looks much better through the thermal…

Edited May 4, 2022 by Cajun
Reminds me of the “Take on me” video.

[deadshank 24652]

25 minutes ago, Cajun said:

Pic of my shar pei using the edge detect mode on the NOX.  My Macbook doesn’t work with the thermal, so I literally just put the iphone camera up to the optic.  It looks much better through the thermal…

You took a thermal pic of your dog skooching across the carpet?

Kinky!!

[Cajun 11705]

20 minutes ago, deadshank said:

You took a thermal pic of your dog skooching across the carpet?

Kinky!!

I’m German.

[cabowabo 4484]

Man, this thread has really gone downhill.  I’ll try to get out in the next few days and post up video of some hogs getting whacked. Still pics of dogs and deer ain’t cutting it. 😀

[jofus 2266]

Does it record video internally or just do individual pics?  My NOX just does pics unless I hook up the little video dvr to it which is a hassle.
I’m also curious what the native magnification is on your unit.
/no homo

Yes, it takes internal video and audio.

This is an Iray Alpha. It has the same internals as an iray Rico Mk1 640, but has an updated housing, mount, and a few other changes. The base mag is 3x, which works for me, but might be too much for some.

The Rico also records audio, but it sucks. The alpha is supposed to be better, but I haven’t tested or seen anything to verify.

The halo x50 and x50 LRF also have on board video. All of the pulsar units do as well. There’s a lot to choose from.

Bering just released a 25mm 640core scope with 1.5x base mag, and it’s only $3,495. Great deal for a 640. Not sure about its recording capabilities. https://www.facebook.com/423690851062798/posts/4915549998543505/?d=n

[Cajun 11705]

@jofus  Yeah, I’ve researched just about all of them with the exception a a small few, your Alpha being one of them.  If I throw down coin for an additional unit it’ll most likely be the Halo XRF.

My NOX 35mm is a native 2.5 magnification, but there’s a few spots on the ranch where I have wished for just a bit more.  640 BAE core is always my deal breaker must have.

[solamente73 1132]

My NV rig is an ATN Night Sight HD II 5-20x mounted on a DPMS GII Hunter chambered in 7.62x51.  (IIRC, Cabo started with the same or similar ATN.)  Over the years, with this rig I’ve taken about 15 pigs at a friend’s place by Port Lavaca, but this post is about my first at my place in NE Texas.

My rig:

Home sweet home.  Feeder is at 180 yards.

Bought an ATN OTS-XLT 160 2.5-10x for scanning:

Used the thermal to spot the sounder coming in from the far fence line, about 300 yards.  White hot worked beautifully.  Switched to NV and bang:

No NV video because I was fumbling with my first use of the thermal and wanted to get the shot off; should have had shot-activated video on but I was off my game.  No thermal shots because I didn’t bother taking any photos - though the packaging was correct, inside was the 1-4x model, so I just returned it to Amazon and will pick up the correct model at the ATN store in Grapevine where I can ensure I get the correct model.

Really looking forward to using this set-up through the summer.

[cabowabo 4484]

There is no worse feeling than dropping a pig and remembering that you forgot to hit record.

[Speedtrucker 2071]

Lol I’ll also say when you do remember to hit record and then proceed to take 5 shots to bring down 1 hog…

[Cajun 11705]

14 hours ago, cabowabo said:

Man, this thread has really gone downhill.  I’ll try to get out in the next few days and post up video of some hogs getting whacked. Still pics of dogs and deer ain’t cutting it. 😀

No disagreement Hog Slayer.

Do Work!

 

[cabowabo 4484]

6 hours ago, Speedtrucker said:

Lol I’ll also say when you do remember to hit record and then proceed to take 5 shots to bring down 1 hog…

Wait until you take 5 shots and don’t bring down shit. That stings. 

[Cajun 11705]

54 minutes ago, cabowabo said:

Wait until you take 5 shots and don’t bring down shit. That stings. 

 

Edited May 6, 2022 by Cajun

[cabowabo 4484]

Got my ass out of bed this morning at 1:45am and took out this boar.  Video is the full stalk.  Man, cell game cameras have really changed the game as far as hog hunting.  No way my 50 year old ass is sitting outside that feeder at 1:45am.  It was hard enough to get out of bed, put my britches on, and complete the task.  If he had showed up at the other feeder which requires a short ride in the side by side he is still alive today.  Anyway, I forgot how fun it is to shoot pigs with a bolt action if we're not talking about sounders.  Nice and quite even with a supersonic 300 blk round.  Used my AGM Rattler TS25-384 for this kill.  For $2k, it is a great thermal.

 

 

[Cajun 11705]

@cabowaboI assume that tripod you see through the thermal a bit before the shot is what you’re walking up to to get the shot off?

Good strategery if so.

[cabowabo 4484]

1 hour ago, Cajun said:

@cabowaboI assume that tripod you see through the thermal a bit before the shot is what you’re walking up to to get the shot off?

Good strategery if so.

Yep. I had set it up before going to bed knowing the beast would likely appear. 

[Cajun 11705]

Just now, cabowabo said:

Yep. I had set it up before going to bed knowing the beast would likely appear. 

Veteran move.  
 

Respek

[williemackgarza 1826]

Jofus any updated review on that Rico Alpha?
Im looking at them.
Anyone got a hook up or at least her local to Austin that might have em in stock?

[lonestar3 274]

Have a shot at a used Halo LR for 4k. Is that value worth it, or should I drop the extra coin and get the Rico Alpha with the 5 year warranty? 

@cabowabo

@Cajun

@jofus

Edited July 19, 2022 by lonestar3

[Cajun 11705]

That’s a good price, but used optic give me a shit-ton of pause.

[cabowabo 4484]

On 7/18/2022 at 4:28 PM, lonestar3 said:

Have a shot at a used Halo LR for 4k. Is that value worth it, or should I drop the extra coin and get the Rico Alpha with the 5 year warranty? 

@cabowabo

@Cajun

@jofus

Buy the seller not the scope. I think N Vision has a 5 year warranty. How old is this scope?

[Cajun 11705]

Had a buddy call and ask about if I still had a thermal.  Says he has a swine “problem” at his place near Rock Springs.  I answered in the affirmative and accepted an invitation to do something about it this weekend.  Then I asked, “You got a bunch out there?”.

This is what I got in response…

[tx 3 putt 76859]

damn, im a little jealous. you need a shell boy ?

[cabowabo 4484]

Another one bites the dust  

 

[cabowabo 4484]

New 1280 thermal out.  Only $17,999.

 

[Speedtrucker 2071]

Iray, built for Elon and hog control at his star base TX

[williemackgarza 1826]

Im waiting on a Rico Alpha.

[Cajun 11705]

On 9/18/2022 at 2:45 PM, williemackgarza said:

Im waiting on a Rico Alpha.

 

[cabowabo 4484]

Ended up with one last night, but a pretty poor effort on my part.  It was perfect eating size.  Left it for the buzzards anyway.

 

[Cajun 11705]

Thermal life if a tough life for swine.  Very short...

[Cajun 11705]

The NOX 35 is rolling…

[Cajun 11705]

And another takes the nap…

[Cajun 11705]

It an epidemic!!!

/Mack

[fluff 87]

Without going back through everything, what is the best bang for the buck optic for shooting hogs at night?  Have a problem I need to remedy.

[cabowabo 4484]

7 hours ago, fluff said:

Without going back through everything, what is the best bang for the buck optic for shooting hogs at night?  Have a problem I need to remedy.

How much you want to spend?

[T’Boo Ted Marshall 2730]

[fluff 87]

Will a grand or 2 get anything worthwhile?  Wanting to start with something relatively inexpensive just to see where to go from there...

How is ATN? I noticed they just opened a store in the mall, is it worth giving them a look?

[T’Boo Ted Marshall 2730]

Sure. I spent less than $2k on my Pulsar XM30.

[Speedtrucker 2071]

Yeah Pulsar, Bering Optics and AGM have at least 1 model under $2k.

Especially with the Black Friday/Xmas sales coming, you can get a decent budget level thermal at about $2k

[jofus 2266]

Coyote down with my alpha.

I had my boy with me in the blind, in the dark, but the scope can stream a live feed to my phone, so he was able to watch the whole thing!

[jofus 2266]

My brother and I picked up a Black Friday thermal drone…

[cabowabo 4484]

Finally got back in the kill column after a couple of unsuccessful outings with my Springfield Hellion.  Tonight, I went out with my trusty Tavor 7 and the old Hebrew Hammer got the job done.  I much prefer the hard hitting 308 round to 5.56, especially when shooting hogs.  Zero fucks were given by the deer in the vicinity.

 

Edited December 10, 2022 by cabowabo

[Lat22 4010]

That one had been a long time regular visitor. 

[Cajun 11705]

HAD been

[Allicie 4]

On 11/26/2022 at 4:36 AM, jofus said:

My brother and I picked up a Black Friday thermal drone…
 

 

 

We had it, but there was no thermal function

Looks epic. What brand did you choose?

[jofus 2266]

Looks epic. What brand did you choose?

It’s an Autel Evo 2 640t

[Rholl 217]

On 5/7/2022 at 9:40 AM, cabowabo said:

Got my ass out of bed this morning at 1:45am and took out this boar.  Video is the full stalk.  Man, cell game cameras have really changed the game as far as hog hunting.  No way my 50 year old ass is sitting outside that feeder at 1:45am.  It was hard enough to get out of bed, put my britches on, and complete the task.  If he had showed up at the other feeder which requires a short ride in the side by side he is still alive today.  Anyway, I forgot how fun it is to shoot pigs with a bolt action if we're not talking about sounders.  Nice and quite even with a supersonic 300 blk round.  Used my AGM Rattler TS25-384 for this kill.  For $2k, it is a great thermal.

 

 

Cabo, came here to see if anyone was running this.  Long story short, a buddies wife asked me to find him a christmas present and this is where I landed.   I tried to get her to spend a little more money but this is where we landed.   Whats ypur biggest con with this unit?????

[cabowabo 4484]

14 hours ago, Rholl said:

Cabo, came here to see if anyone was running this.  Long story short, a buddies wife asked me to find him a christmas present and this is where I landed.   I tried to get her to spend a little more money but this is where we landed.   Whats ypur biggest con with this unit?????

This scope is 1.5x, and I prefer 2x to 2.5x.  That’s the only thing I can think of. It’s a great scope. 

[Dignan 355]

On 11/7/2022 at 11:06 AM, fluff said:

Without going back through everything, what is the best bang for the buck optic for shooting hogs at night?  Have a problem I need to remedy.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it on this thread, but I use the AGM Rattler TS25-256. It is on the "lower" end of thermals at about $1200, but man, it is great. My buddy uses a Pulsar (not sure which model, but it is one of the lower end ones) and he swears mine looks better. The Rattler is small, easy to use and looks great. I will try and post some video here. 

[Dignan 355]

On 11/8/2022 at 8:52 AM, fluff said:

Will a grand or 2 get anything worthwhile?  Wanting to start with something relatively inexpensive just to see where to go from there...

How is ATN? I noticed they just opened a store in the mall, is it worth giving them a look?

I have never used ATN, but I have heard don't waste your time from a few people. The price is nice on them but both former users had issues and they said customer service was bad. If you want a budget-friendly thermal look at AGM. Similar name, better product. Also the Bering Optics Hogster (Over $2,000) is good and their Stimulus is their cheapest one available at around $1500. I'd go with BO or AGM before I would ATN. But again, I have never used ATN products.