SkyPup
New member
Originally Posted By: Gman757Originally Posted By: SkyPup
The FOV is great on that scope, that is what you need more than anything else at night, as those experienced at night hunting with thermals will tell you!
Anyone purchasing a thermal scope should make FOV a major consideration when deciding on a unit. Especially if you are going to hunt hogs.
Last night I was stalking a large sounder of hogs alone and after I busted them up one managed to get very close to me while I was shooting at the runners. (You are basically blind on a dark night once the animal is out of your scope FOV) I heard something growling and when I dropped my FLIR T70 down to 0.5x and swung left it was full of hog. He was going by me about 10 yards away and when he got a whiff on the downwing side the growling started. He stopped and froze with his head cocked in my direction. I had 2 rounds left in my mag so I took a shot that hit but was low due to scope offset at that very close range. I hit him hard enough that he decided to take off so at least I got him away from me. (I would normally have a backup .45 with a laser and light but I did not take time to carry it with me)
Skypup is emphasizing FOV in his posts and as you can tell from my experience last night there is a very good reason for it. I have also seen ranging enter the discussion and this will also be a challenge in the field when getting used to a thermal scope with variable magnification.
Exactly as GMan stated!
Everyone wants high power long range maximum magnification for their thermal untis, until they actually get out into the field and start hunting and experiencing everything that happens when hunting with NV/Thermal out in the woods, only then do you realize how wonderful and even life-saving a WIDE FOV truly is. The more the better!
95% of the time my thermals are on the LOWEST power possible, less than 5% of the time am I zooming in on anything....
The FOV is great on that scope, that is what you need more than anything else at night, as those experienced at night hunting with thermals will tell you!
Anyone purchasing a thermal scope should make FOV a major consideration when deciding on a unit. Especially if you are going to hunt hogs.
Last night I was stalking a large sounder of hogs alone and after I busted them up one managed to get very close to me while I was shooting at the runners. (You are basically blind on a dark night once the animal is out of your scope FOV) I heard something growling and when I dropped my FLIR T70 down to 0.5x and swung left it was full of hog. He was going by me about 10 yards away and when he got a whiff on the downwing side the growling started. He stopped and froze with his head cocked in my direction. I had 2 rounds left in my mag so I took a shot that hit but was low due to scope offset at that very close range. I hit him hard enough that he decided to take off so at least I got him away from me. (I would normally have a backup .45 with a laser and light but I did not take time to carry it with me)
Skypup is emphasizing FOV in his posts and as you can tell from my experience last night there is a very good reason for it. I have also seen ranging enter the discussion and this will also be a challenge in the field when getting used to a thermal scope with variable magnification.
Exactly as GMan stated!
Everyone wants high power long range maximum magnification for their thermal untis, until they actually get out into the field and start hunting and experiencing everything that happens when hunting with NV/Thermal out in the woods, only then do you realize how wonderful and even life-saving a WIDE FOV truly is. The more the better!
95% of the time my thermals are on the LOWEST power possible, less than 5% of the time am I zooming in on anything....
