Originally Posted By: parsonI know very little about thermal other than what I read here. I am half heartedly considering a thermal scope, not so much because I need one but think I want one. If I do I want a good one, a top of the line without getting ridiculous price wise. My question is, is there a good quality thermal scope without all the bells and whistles. I have no interest in recording, gps and the multitude of other features I read about. Just a simple straight forward quality scope. Thx You would think Bells and Whistles would lead to higher prices, but it doesn't always work that way in the thermal world. The gold standard as one of the most expensive civilian thermal brands is Trijicon and they have very few bells and whistles.
I agree with what everyone has said that the Hogster line up is a great value. A thermal scope is very nice but as many are saying, you can't shoot what you can't see. Not many people want to lug around a gun with a scope on it just to see what is out there. I am a ND coyote hunter as well, and a scanner is about the most important tool you can use to if you are serious about night hunting. I would recommend a Bering Optics 25, 35, or Phenom. The Phenom has the best image. My hunting partner wouldn't give up his 35 as a scanner for anything. For me, the FOV is a little tight for a scanner.
For the gun, for ND coyotes specifically, I would recommend the Super Hogster. Although most of my shots are 100-150 yards, there are usually multiples that provide opportunities. I have shot at least 40 coyotes this year alone at ranges over 300 yards. The Super Hogster allows you to make further confident shots.
So, vs spending 6-7K on a top tier unit, I would recommend the Phenom or Hogster 35 as your scanner and a Super Hogster for your gun. Your investment in thermal will be right at the same price point as if you went for a top tier unit but still not cost you what one Trijicon would usually cost. The image on all of these scanner is not just OK, they are really good. ND nights are also very humid and the Bering Optics thermals work in humidity better than virtually any brand I have ever used. You will put a lot more coyotes in the back of your truck with this approach vs spending a ton of money for one thermal.