Night Vision Advice please

[clubmanager]

Rethinking my plan here......

I thought the best approach was to get a thermal spotter and a good quality NV scope for hunting. I currently own a Leupold LTO Tracker HD and an old West German Orion fwiw. The Orion is really cool but I’m certain it really serves as a backup; it’s a Gen1 but really looks pretty good all in all so I’m keeping it. The Leupold is great and a keeper as well. I also have PVS7’s and a helmet mount for navigating/scanning.

The NV or Thermal is going on a PWS MK216 308 so a PVS14 is clearly out and I have no clue what would be a suitable NV optic.

Do I.....
1. Go with the Leupold to track and NV scope to shoot? If so, what scope?
2. Buy a thermal scope. I see lots on sale here and on ARfcom.
3. Some other plan I’m not aware of......

I can spend about $3K, a bit more if I sell off some items that are collecting dust anyway. Fact is, I’m only gonna actually hunt with it about 4x per year or about 8 hunts so spending on a Trijicon would be dumb. However, with all that said, I want to buy it and be happy with the performance, right? $3K is a lot of money!

I appreciate y’alls help in advance!

 

[diggler1833]

Check out Todd Huey's night vision Vs. thermal optic comparison for night hunting on YouTube (Lonestarboars). There really is no comparison...thermal is head and shoulders better.

There are a few thermal optics in the barely above $3K range that are quite useable. I'd go that route several times over before investing in anything else. If you have to, it isn't hard to scan with your rifle scope...just keep your finger off the trigger.

 

[wigwamitus]

... I thought the best approach was to get a thermal spotter and a good quality NV scope for hunting ...

I'd say that's the "classical" approach ... but these days, the vast majority of people just use a thermal scope on the rifle. If they are driving on rough unfamiliar ground then a hand held 14 to help avoid the gulleys.

$3k with some sort of discount will get you a pulsar thermion entry level scope with a 1024x768 back end display and a GREAT image.

 

[clubmanager]

That new Thermion looks RAD