1st thermal...

[ReservoirDawg10]

Same sense I have been getting since i staryed began research, 256 is way cheaper than 384. 384 is good amount less than 640 and so on. Trying to find the happy medium in the group when it comes to monetary output and performance. AGM makes a 320, but havent seen that offering from another other company that I have found thus far. Still researching. Preciate it RD.

384 is base minimum for anything I would even consider. 640 is mucho mo betta, and now the 1280's are coming out. Played with a buddy's Voodoo-S and now everything else looks like dog crap. But still, there are so many limitations. I like thermal, but to get what I'd want out of it, it's just 'spensive. Makes my NV stuff look cheap.

 

[24on48hunting]

I just got my first -AGM Adder TS35-384 and love it. I could see hand prints on the target for a few seconds at 100 yds. I cut a 1/2" square hole in a piece of cardboard - put another piece of cardboard about 3" behind the hole with a hand warmer taped to it - any closer and the front cardboard would have a hot spot about 4" in diameter. Last 3 shots at 100 yds were tight. It took 3 shots to zero in. Rifle is a 16" Rock River 5.56.

View attachment 8824908

I have used an AGM ts19/256 for the past few years and have no complaints about the optic, considering what it is in comparison to others. The V2 is definitely the way to go since it has the battery packs with an 11 hour run time.
I use an auxiliary battery pack with my 1st gen and it’ll run all night plus more with it.
I’ve made positive ID on coyotes out past 250 yards and killed one at 250 yards with ease. I’m quite pleased with it and it does fine for my hunting areas in Ga.

 

[Bama21]

I have used an AGM ts19/256 for the past few years and have no complaints about the optic, considering what it is in comparison to others. The V2 is definitely the way to go since it has the battery packs with an 11 hour run time.
I use an auxiliary battery pack with my 1st gen and it’ll run all night plus more with it.
I’ve made positive ID on coyotes out past 250 yards and killed one at 250 yards with ease. I’m quite pleased with it and it does fine for my hunting areas in Ga.

Good to know on the 256 front, thanks for your input brother. I don't wanna have to refinance my house to get one, but don't want a hunk of junk either.

 

[mikef60]

I bought a nocpix slim h35 for its size, weight, and the mount that stays on the gun. Its 640, and a base magnification of 2X. It is designed to be hand held and quickly mounted on the gun, I have put it on and off the gun 10 or more times and it always returns to zero. It is to me more fun hand held looking at things than mounted on the gun. The resolution based on what others have said is very good. I don't know what the price is now but I paid $3000 for mine.

 

[SouthernPrecisionOutdoors]

I wish I could get use to mine,
I have the newest AGM Rattler V2 50-640
Just trying to site it in
No set directions

Give me a call if you still need help. 678-630-9758

 

[SouthernPrecisionOutdoors]

Been doing a bit of research lately and I'm considering a thermal scope for an AR (night time yotes and hogs). The few I have looked at are as follows:

AGM V2 Rattler 256 & 320

Bering Optics Hogster 256

A buddy mentioned Rix. Looked them up, seemed solid, but then suckers are high!

Any hands on experience or practical info would be appreciated. Not looking for bargain basement junk, but then again I don't have access to endless funds either. Thanks in advance yall.

Check out the Rix Optics Storm S3 or AGM Rattler V2 25-384. It really depends on how far you are wanting to shoot or identify. Feel free to give me a call 678-630-9758

 

[Burdy]

Burdy have any insight here?

My experience, thermal has come a long way, but it is still pay to play.

Low end and mid-range priced thermal optics have come a long way in terms of resolution and feature set. RIX, which the OP mentioned makes a solid product with good support and warranty.

The real issue with thermal is making the mistake that IQ equals quality. There are so many cheap sensors and panels out there. To the naked eye they can perform comparatively to the high end options. The difference is in the accuracy, RTZ, adjustment precision, prism-collimation and ruggedness. As a rule of thumb, your $15k thermal optic is highly likely to last you well more than twice as long as your $7.5k optic. You can extrapolate that up and down the price range.

With that being said, you also need to take into consideration how quickly thermal becomes obsolete Depreciation on any unit happens much quicker than NV, especially once the next gen models are announced.

So it really is pick your poison. If you NEED a thermal optic that will be reliable in adverse conditions, meaning it's use-case saves lives, do NOT compromise. After that you just need to weigh its non-IQ related performance to your intentions and budget.

 

[SouthernPrecisionOutdoors]

Give us a call 678-630-9758. We can help narrow it down and we usually have a good amount of heavily discounted trade in units too.

www.southernprecisionoutdoors.com