Need advice on a thermal scope

Newbie to night hunting, but I have a surplus of coons and possums here (and hogs not far away). I plan to be shooting around a feeder, with all shots being 50 yards or less, most around 30. What would fit the need? I don't need wi-fi or recordings or pictures or anything fancy, just a nice clear (or close to clear) picture of what's out there in the dark.
I was looking at the new bare-bones ATN ThOR-LT 3-6X, but again, I don't know anything about thermal scopes.
link to one example of the ATN
Am I going to be disappointed unless I get one that has a super computer and professional video capabilities, just to shoot at pesky corn thieves, or can I break into the game with around 1200 bucks?

Ideas or suggestions?

Thanks in advance!!!!!
Chuck.

(ps, it'll be mounted on a Ruger No. 1 in 30-30 caliber)

These have been out a while now. I thought I'd bump this back up the tree to see if anybody has one and maybe would review it or has any thoughts on one if they don't own it.
Thanks!

I hope you get an informed response. I would like to know also.

Unless it's a very expensive scope then the thermal sensor has the same resolution in the 320x250 range for all brands.
Thats the limiting factor in regards to image quality.
So pick one that suits your needs and vallet, and shoot away :-)

In the very cheap ones you do not get true thermal vision but instead a CCD camera without the IR filter. That gives some fine low light options but not true thermal, it still needs light to function. Be avare of that!

I use a Sight Mark photon xt and it is good to about 60 yds with built in illuminator on a dark night. Added a UNV 201R light that makes it good to 150 yds on a dark night. It will hold about 2moa on a very accurate 22-250. Cheap scope that suits me well for a hog problem. I was told not to put it on a heavy recoil gun but would think a 30-30 would be ok.

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Originally Posted by kokomokid

I use a Sight Mark photon xt and it is good to about 60 yds with built in illuminator on a dark night. Added a UNV 201R light that makes it good to 150 yds on a dark night. It will hold about 2moa on a very accurate 22-250. Cheap scope that suits me well for a hog problem. I was told not to put it on a heavy recoil gun but would think a 30-30 would be ok.

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Thermal vision and night vision is two completly different things!
Thermal vision sees heat not light, night vision sees light not heat.
Thermal works in complete darkness, fog and smoke.

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Originally Posted by 17nut

Thermal vision and night vision is two completly different things!
Thermal vision sees heat not light, night vision sees light not heat.
Thermal works in complete darkness, fog and smoke.

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And daylight!

i bought a Pulsar Apex. I think it was maybe $2000. About the least expensive good thermal. I just got it to shoot the coons and possums in the yard.

So glad I went with thermal instead of night vision!


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Yeah i forgot that!
Thermal works just as good in bright sunlight (things are harder to see but no damage to the internals).

Thermal works in the true long wave IR spectrum (furthest away from visible light) and omits no light.
The CCD camera things work in the near IR spectrum and many critters can see the illuminator and get spooked by that.

The green feeder lights are cheap enough so you can use your regular sights.

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Originally Posted by Hogtamer

The green feeder lights are cheap enough so you can use your regular sights.

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And I just might have to do that until the price comes down a bit on the thermal. The "new" should be wearing off of it before long and they'll think less of it. :popcorn:

You can have an ATN thermal for less than $1200.
Not cheap but defenetly not expensive either.

Thank you for the discussion gentlemen. This is on my interest list as well.

ive looked at lots of reviews and the atns sure seem to be liked.