Hi from Spain, I need some help

[Anchus]

Hi guys, congratulations for this super forum!

I am from Spain, and I am getting introduced in this night vision world for which I am already fascinated. I am a complete noob on the NV world but I am already anxious to buy a device and go hunting. Until now, I hunted boars with day vision scope and a lantern at aprox 120 yards, but this was really hard because when pigs see the light, they run away instantly, so mainly the party ends when the sun sets.

So, I want to buy a NV device and I have a few questions for you experts:

1. Digital NV or Thermal? Is there really much of a difference? Apart from the price, do you know if there is any problem to import them to Spain? (it seems hard and I'm afraid of buying it and not receiving).
2. Assuming I can only afford digital NV, which device would you recommend for a starter? How about the Pard NV008 LFR? (simplicity, performance, etc..). Do you recommend buying extra gadgets with this Pard NV008??

Many thanks, I really appreciate!

[Bob57]

Hi Anchus,
Welcome to the forum .
If I were you and could afford thermal that's what I'd buy, as there'll be no ir illuminator for them to see and spook from.

[phoenix]

This Spanish company sells Pulsar NV and thermal products so that means there are no problems about importing them into Spain
http://makers-takers.com/productos/page/2/
You will not be able to buy many NV or thermal products from the USA because of US export regulations, but I think you will find some UK companies who will be happy to send NV or thermal devices to Spain.
In particular, Blackwood Outdoors, CustomRifleScopes and the Night Vision Store are worth contacting about this
https://www.blackwoodoutdoors.co.uk/
https://www.customriflescopes.com/
http://www.nightvisionstore.co.uk/PBSCC ... ?PBMInit=1


Cheers

Bruce

[blueeyes]

A big welcome to the forum , thermal for spotting if in budget NV for ID and the shot

[jthyttin]

The boar will extremely likely spook from 850nm illuminator. 900+nm not so. So with Pard you'd need external illuminator (as you would with anything else on the market, for 120y covert illumination).

At 120y I wouldn't use thermal, even the best in consumer market have poor resolution compared to lowliest of digital NV. It's not a problem for shot placement, but definitely for identification. For spotting they're great, and even if you don't have budget for thermal spotter do yourself a favor and buy digital one. No good spotting through riflescope.

[Anchus]

Awesome! thank you for the prompt response.

Didn't know with infrared NV animals could see the IR lantern.

One other thing I'm worried about is the fact that if I buy a scope VS an adaptable monocular, each time I want to use my day vision scope, I would have to recalibrate both of the scopes, while with the adaptable device, changing from one to another will take seconds, do you know if the performance of adaptable devices is similar to the full scope one?

These are the kind of matters I want to make sure about before buying.

Thanks again and regards!

[Anchus]

The boar will extremely likely spook from 850nm illuminator. 900+nm not so. So with Pard you'd need external illuminator (as you would with anything else on the market, for 120y covert illumination).

At 120y I wouldn't use thermal, even the best in consumer market have poor resolution compared to lowliest of digital NV. It's not a problem for shot placement, but definitely for identification. For spotting they're great, and even if you don't have budget for thermal spotter do yourself a favor and buy digital one. No good spotting through riflescope.

Brilliant response! Could you tell me a little bit more about this external illuminator? Do you mean a another IR lantern >900nm? Can I fix this extra illuminator to my rifle? Do you know any model?

[Bob57]

I can't believe there's people on here that couldn't identify a wild boar at 120yds with a thermal scope, ive only got a cheapo pulsar quantum xq30v spotter and I'm pretty certain i could tell the difference between a fox, badger, muntjack and a boar at more than 120yds.
If thermal scopes were that bad surely nobody would buy one !!

[jthyttin]

Illumination wise I'd probly recommend 940nm VCSEL (Black Sun Dark Engine Covert or Wraith 940nm) but it depends on your situation and other gear.

Could you describe a little what you want to do with NV? You mentioned boars at 120y, I take that is the maximum you'd be shooting? Would you use the NV for anything else? Next thing is, what would you be using to shoot, centerfire rifle I presume, maybe 308 or larger? The make and model of the rifle somewhat influences how easy is it to attach different NV devices. Also will the rifle be dedicated to NV or do you want to use it for other purposes, if so what are them, including what sights?

Of course there's the budget, how much are you willing to spend and is it all-in or just for sight/illuminator? One thing that's important, and depends on your local legislation, will you be on foot, in vehicle, static position like feeding station? Also the bells and whistles, do you need or like LRF, recording, external display, wifi connection to your smartphone... maybe nice daytime picture also? How long will your sessions be and how about freezing temperatures (these affect choice of power source)?

If you have something available locally, I would prefer that even if price is little higher. If something goes awry it's so much easier to just drop the unit to local store or even post it locally instead of abroad. Of course if the price spread is too much or device you want is not available you have to take the plunge.

[jthyttin]

I can't believe there's people on here that couldn't identify a wild boar at 120yds with a thermal scope, ive only got a cheapo pulsar quantum xq30v spotter and I'm pretty certain i could tell the difference between a fox, badger, muntjack and a boar at more than 120yds.
If thermal scopes were that bad surely nobody would buy one !!

Hey ho, I can identify raccoon dog or hare at 150-200m with a lowly FLIR PS24. That doesn't mean people won't be shooting each other in broad daylight, using conventional optics, taking them for deer.

Just did some math for my friend this weekend. Best of the breed from Pulsar line, Thermion XM50 is only 33% of Photon RT 6x or 23% of my Sightline N475 when talking about resolution i.e. how many pixels target is at given distance.

Wishes don't prevent mistakes...