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Night Vision Help me decide on a thermal monocular

Inzaneriderz

Sergeant
Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 25, 2011
190
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Mechanicsburg, PA United States
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Hello Everyone,

I am looking to get into the thermal game, as I currently have a dtnvs, pvs-14, pvs-27 clip on, and a MAWL.

I am stuck on getting a thermal monocular at the moment. I will likely be using it mostly in a hunting setting, and am stuck between the Nox18 and the Helion 2 XP50. The vast majority of the time my maximum line of sight distance will be 300 yards and less. I am intrigued by running the Nox 18 on a helmet, it seems like it may be quicker than a handheld. I would probably try to bridge it with my pvs14 for the best of both worlds, flipping one up whenever not in use. I am concerned about its base mag of 1, which would be ideal for helmet use, but would it struggle at 300? I like that it is very versatile in that it has a reticle , or could also be a handheld scanner

I like that the Helion2 has the recording and additional color pallets , and the 2 ish base mag would definitely be better for distance I feel. But its bigger, heavier, has no reticle (weapon mounted), cannot be helmet mounted, and I feel would be slower to hunt with in the sense of after ID of a target it has to be set aside for a few seconds completely off target to then be reacquired by a weapon sight. I definitely like the price point on the helion compared to the Nox18. I imagine if I chose the helion, I would run my dtnvs and flip one pod out of the way to use the helion.

After this purchase will be a Nvision scope of some type .

Your thoughts, experience, and suggestions are very welcomed and appreciated

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What are you wanting it to accomplish at 300 yards? Id at that range with an 18 could be problematic depending on conditions and environment but it will detect at several times that.
 
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It will acquire easily at that range. In good conditions out in the open with a moving animal you could Id as well. Seeing bits and pieces through the brush you need all the magnification you can get. I'm shooting at a rock pit right now and these are at 100yds on 1x and 2x. Shitty through the eyepiece pics but will give you an idea. Target is a heated 6x8 gong.
 

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For your uses id consider a nox35. It would do pretty much everything you asking plus be the scope down the road.
 
I'm in the same boat. Was leaning nox18 and could use digital mag if needed, but want something 1x to helmet mount.
 
First 70-ish posts in this thread are review from last year on the Nox-18. Showing side by sides with patrol and skeet 320


if primarily as a head mounted spotter, the nox-18 ... if primarily as an intermediate distance TWS, the nox-35 ... we have both in stock.