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Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:56 pm
by 9.3x64
At this point I am leaning towards the XM30 with Thermal imagery for $3800. I don’t see the point in going to the XM38 or XM50 as the XM30 has the widest field of view and still detects our to 1350m. I don’t see the point in narrowing the field of view and handicapping yourself?
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 8:05 pm
by SPEEDY
Gun Barrel Ecologist wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:07 pm
The cheaper unit that gets a bad review and quick resale is the old ATN. In theory the latest version is better but that is said about every new version.
That's definitely the ones, but I'm not overly fond of some of the better scopes too, as you have looked through better hand held spotters you would know that a FLIR hand held for instance doesn't just let you detect something, at 100m you can see muscle definition almost like some kind of heat X-ray.
It's similar hith hand held units, any of the sub $2500-3000 units just don't offer that kind of clarity.
Unfortunately that mid rsnge scope can only squeeze in enough electronics to provide the lower end imagery that a hand-held can provide.
I can't remember the brand of scope a mate bought, it wasn't ATN but it was that price end and even in a prrk at night it just didn't give very good clarity and definition past 50m.
The trouble with using a scope for night hunting on a sheep property is at 200m you couldn't really tell the difference between a pig and a sheep.
The best combination for hunting at the budget end would be to buy a $2500 + hand-held unit as a spotter and have a reasonable quality digital NV scope to shoot with or a good torch on a regular scope.
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 8:12 pm
by mchughcb
9.3x64 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:56 pm
At this point I am leaning towards the XM30 with Thermal imagery for $3800. I don’t see the point in going to the XM38 or XM50 as the XM30 has the widest field of view and still detects our to 1350m. I don’t see the point in narrowing the field of view and handicapping yourself?
I was told the xm30 has less focussing options than xm38. Make sure you ok with it.
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 8:20 pm
by 9.3x64
mchughcb wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2019 8:12 pm
9.3x64 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:56 pm
At this point I am leaning towards the XM30 with Thermal imagery for $3800. I don’t see the point in going to the XM38 or XM50 as the XM30 has the widest field of view and still detects our to 1350m. I don’t see the point in narrowing the field of view and handicapping yourself?
I was told the xm30 has less focussing options than xm38. Make sure you ok with it.
Thanks Chuck, I will look into it.
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 8:24 pm
by 9.3x64
SPEEDY wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2019 8:05 pm
Gun Barrel Ecologist wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:07 pm
The cheaper unit that gets a bad review and quick resale is the old ATN. In theory the latest version is better but that is said about every new version.
[/quote
The trouble with using a scope for night hunting on a sheep property is at 200m you couldn't really tell the difference between a pig and a sheep.
Your absolutely right, but we have no intention in shooting in the same paddocks as the sheep. This property joins a NSW state forest and we plan to concentrate on the land between it and where the sheep are kept. Their are cattle in these paddock though.
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 10:07 pm
by SPEEDY
That should be much better then, target identification is always 1st priority at night after safety of course.
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 3:33 am
by icebug
I've managed to upload two videos.
There is no sound as the new firmware which enables sound recording was released later
[BBvideo=560,315]
https://youtu.be/_L9XsR1PX5E[/BBvideo]
[BBvideo=560,315]
https://youtu.be/F8IHYMwRbxk[/BBvideo]
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 4:30 am
by Joe338ST
Good shooting Icebug. Great footage. That thermal you have is very affective.
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 5:11 am
by SPEEDY
I liked the double.
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 5:05 pm
by 9.3x64
Great footage Icebug, and Thankyou.
I noticed you only used a maximum of 4.5 power.
The image looks pretty good.
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2019 6:59 am
by LAairhunter
I've been using Pulsar thermal and NV equipment (as well as other brands) for several years here in the US.
Pulsar in the US has a great reputation in terms of customer service, but this may have more to do with their US distributer (Sellmark). Pulsar's thermal devices aren't quite as good in terms of image quality as the Trijicon / IR Defense devices, but Pulsar offers the best "bang for the buck" amongst the thermal equipment offered here. FLIR has good stuff, but their customer service isn't too good, and (of late) they seem to have adopted an anti-hunter stance. There are some new thermals being offered by a company called N-Vision, and they're very good devices (particularly their Halo LR 50mm).
Pulsar's software is probably the best in the industry when it comes to on-board video recording, streaming to iOS devices, etc.
I see Pulsar as the Toyota of the thermal world, and I have no qualms investing in their gear.
Having said that, the Thermion XM30 (which isn't offered here in the States) is supposed to lack a focusing ring. For me, that would be a deal-killer. I have a FLIR PTS233, it lacks focusing, and I don't like that. Also, the Thermion XM30 wouldn't be a good choice for hunting beyond 100 yards. Here in the Southeast USA, most of our shooting is done within 100-150 yards (usually closer), and the XM38 is what we use.
Regarding point of impact shift, this was an issue a year or two ago on the Pulsar Trail models (that was rectified), but I'm not aware of it being an issue with the Thermions.
Lastly, I haven't mounted the Thermion on a Blaser yet, but when I do so, I'm thinking about using the Dentler mount system so that I can move the thermal between a Blaser R8 and an AR-15 / AR-10.
M
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2019 9:37 am
by mchughcb
Interesting . Do you know what caused the issues with the trail on the zero?
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2019 10:02 am
by AxP
I apologize, I bother you with a question, a little off topic.
Why, nobody, don’t say nothing about ATN THOR 4?
In my opinion, ATN THOR 4 640 2.5-25 or 4-40, at least theoretically have much better characteristics than Pulsar Thermion, ..., have a wider angle of view (H12.5/V9.7)(H8.3/V6.2), greater detection / recognition / identification distance (1950/800/475) (3300/1450/800), and not last, the eye relief (90 mm) is much large.
All the best.
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2019 2:54 pm
by Gun Barrel Ecologist
Probably because of many online reports of buyers being burnt by early ATN scopes that didn’t meet the hype and didn’t have an aftersales service worth a damn
Re: Pulsar Thermion XM30
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2019 3:02 pm
by 9.3x64
LAairhunter wrote: ↑Sun Nov 03, 2019 6:59 am
I've been using Pulsar thermal and NV equipment (as well as other brands) for several years here in the US.
Pulsar in the US has a great reputation in terms of customer service, but this may have more to do with their US distributer (Sellmark). Pulsar's thermal devices aren't quite as good in terms of image quality as the Trijicon / IR Defense devices, but Pulsar offers the best "bang for the buck" amongst the thermal equipment offered here. FLIR has good stuff, but their customer service isn't too good, and (of late) they seem to have adopted an anti-hunter stance. There are some new thermals being offered by a company called N-Vision, and they're very good devices (particularly their Halo LR 50mm).
Pulsar's software is probably the best in the industry when it comes to on-board video recording, streaming to iOS devices, etc.
I see Pulsar as the Toyota of the thermal world, and I have no qualms investing in their gear.
Having said that, the Thermion XM30 (which isn't offered here in the States) is supposed to lack a focusing ring. For me, that would be a deal-killer. I have a FLIR PTS233, it lacks focusing, and I don't like that. Also, the Thermion XM30 wouldn't be a good choice for hunting beyond 100 yards. Here in the Southeast USA, most of our shooting is done within 100-150 yards (usually closer), and the XM38 is what we use.
Regarding point of impact shift, this was an issue a year or two ago on the Pulsar Trail models (that was rectified), but I'm not aware of it being an issue with the Thermions.
Lastly, I haven't mounted the Thermion on a Blaser yet, but when I do so, I'm thinking about using the Dentler mount system so that I can move the thermal between a Blaser R8 and an AR-15 / AR-10.
M
Thankyou mate, brilliant information.