On the fence between the Reap IR and the MK3 60mm for coyotes. Most of my shots will be over 150 yards, open fields. 100 yards may be the closest shot. The MK3 would go on a SSG3000 .308. The reap would probably go on a AR .223. I figure if I was going to go with the 35mm might as well go with the Reap instead due to the size and weight almost same specs.
Night Vision Reap IR or MK3 60mm
- Thread starter So1ocam
- Start date
Yes the Mk3 35mm versus REAP-IR 35mm is a close call and the weight/size are a plus for the REAP with the price being the trade-off ...
For the 60mm ... it is a better long distance spotter due to the magnification giving better resolution at distance. We had a trail XP50 and a PATROL (usually on 2x) ... and the 60mm Mk3 and the 60mm had to do the bulk of the PID at distances 300-800 on hogs, yotes, deer, cows in open fields measuring 800-1600 meters per side.
For greater distance capability, especially PID, I'd go with the 60mm. The trade-off there is FOV.
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I've used both the joystick and the turret housing and not sure I have a preference.
For the 60mm ... it is a better long distance spotter due to the magnification giving better resolution at distance. We had a trail XP50 and a PATROL (usually on 2x) ... and the 60mm Mk3 and the 60mm had to do the bulk of the PID at distances 300-800 on hogs, yotes, deer, cows in open fields measuring 800-1600 meters per side.
For greater distance capability, especially PID, I'd go with the 60mm. The trade-off there is FOV.
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I've used both the joystick and the turret housing and not sure I have a preference.
Thanks for your input wig. I’ve read several of your posts. You are a very knowledgeable person, with friendly advice. I appreciate your input greatly. Forgot to mention this will be my first thermal. Have a pvs14 that I’m going to use for navigation on a helmet. I’m a little concerned that Trijicon will make updates soon to the IR hunter series since they purchased IR defense not that long ago. This is a huge amount of money to me. Also been watching what FLIR has been doing. I see they are starting to release stuff in 12micron as well. What scanner would you recommend to go along with the MK3 60?
I was in the same situation as you with owning a PVS14, and looking for my first thermal for 100-150 yard shots. I just bought a MK3 35mm. I was undecided on the MK 3 35mm or the REAP IR. I played with both, but the joystick IMHO was not easy to master. The turrets were definitely easier to use. I finally opted for the 35mm, because I could eventually upgrade it to a 60mm for the bargain price of 2k... The picture on the 60mm was noticeably better than the 35mm or REAP. The REAP was around a 1lb lighter.
Well, you have to decide what the role of this "scanner ... to go along with the mk3 60" is ...
I got the mk3 60 specifically to be my long distance scanner ... passed on the slightly better scanner, the joystick 60 (the 250xr) ... slightly better because it is lighter and smaller and has a focus ring ... but I wanted something I could shoot with also ...
I got the patrol to both fill the gap I would loose by upgrading the mk3 35 to the mk3 60 for good FOV shooting in the wooded area around my chicken coop ... and got a 3x magnifier ... to boost up the magnification for intermediate distance use. So between the patrol 1x (which I run on my head) and the patrol 1x + 3x magnifier (which I run on the rifle) and the mk3 60 ... I've got shooting and scanning for most purposes covered.
So what scanner to go along with the 60 ... depends on the use cases ... but probably I'd say the patrol ... I'm an oasys core bigot
Interesting ... last year when ... I had a SNIPE for 3 months ... and I felt the same way .. but for some reason ... now ... with the ir-patrol ... I find the joystick plenty easy ... and I've never read the manual ... I just pushed the buttons until I figured it out ... maybe my brain learned something when I had the SNIPE ?
But now I don't have much to choose between them, except it is a bit nice being able to get to nuc, 2x and inversion all on the quick menu ... with the patrol I spend 95% of my time on the quick menu.
Patrol on the right, 14 on the left and mk3 60 on the carbine ...
Good hands free spotting while moving on foot or on the 4 wheeler ... and long distance PID plus short distance shooting with the carbine ...
With 62gr tsx holds are 6 inches at 200, 12 inches at 250 and 20 inches at 300.
And a fairly light weight, mobile package.
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I’m running the Mk 3 60 and the m300w and find this an ideal combo.
For hitting coyotes over 150yds, I would definitely get the Mk3 60 over the ReapIR. The additional optical magnification will work well for your application.
For hitting coyotes over 150yds, I would definitely get the Mk3 60 over the ReapIR. The additional optical magnification will work well for your application.
i use the tcr most of the time because it is the most out of the way ... it still has 5 10 and 20 mil subtensions useful for ranging and holding for movers, just like all the others.
I tend to use the TSR reticle. The lines give me quick guesstimate on hog distance. The subtensions change as you dial up the power though.
Wig you are running a Patrol 300 too? Or which version of the Patrol? I got a little lost at the joystick 60. Also the magnifier brings it up to a native 3x so you don’t lose any clarity? I guess I’ll always misunderstood you about the 3x and assumed you meant you were using the Patrol on 3x zoom. I was drawn the Pulsar Heleion because of the lens change thing but I hadn’t heard of these before. They just screw into the front of the unit?
For those of you using the Patrol helmet mounted do you find it to too large or heavy? I guess not or you probably wouldn’t use it.
For those of you using the Patrol helmet mounted do you find it to too large or heavy? I guess not or you probably wouldn’t use it.
Yes, I have Patrol M300W ...
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What is the "Helion Lens Change Thing" ??
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The patrol is a little long and a little heavy for wearing on helmet beside 14 ... but I don't notice it in the field ... I notice the critters out there in my FOV !
The patrol is not "too large or heavy" ... at least for me ... I love it up there ! I did have to beef up the counter-weight a little.
I’ve helmet mounted the Patrol with a Hyper 14. Gets a little heavy through the night but tolerable.
Weight matters, but what I think matters more is balance. If the setup is not balanced ... i.e. if the weight on the front is not balanced by equal weight on the rear, then the tensioning system has to compensate and that means pressure on your head. Whereas if the weight is balanced then the tensioning system has less to do and the pressure on your head is reduced.
I think my neck muscles hurt a little when I first started wearing head mounted nods 4 years ago ... but maybe they strengthened up. I don't get sore neck muscles any more. So I'm a believer in balancing.
I think my neck muscles hurt a little when I first started wearing head mounted nods 4 years ago ... but maybe they strengthened up. I don't get sore neck muscles any more. So I'm a believer in balancing.
http://products.pulsar-nv.com/en/helion/34
I think I have seen prices on the other lenses at UNV too.
http://www.ultimatenightvision.com/Pulsar-Helion-XP-Model-50mm-Lens-p/pl79055.htm
Ok that looks correct !!! The reason I asked so persistently ... is because we saw these words on an Optics Planet product page (for pulsar) a few months back ... I called them and asked about it and they told me it was a "mis-print" !!!
But now looking at the pulsar page, it looks like they do have a "wide angle" lens available !!!
Thanks !!!
But now looking at the pulsar page, it looks like they do have a "wide angle" lens available !!!
Thanks !!!
I don't like the buttons and joystick on the reap ir. If I needed to be lightweght or discrete...i woukd do a reapir. it's small. If I needed to walk miles with a light gun, yes reap again
I hunt coyotes and my rig is a precision outfit so I'm already heavy. I've seen two reap irs, the joysticks suck. The menus jump around, the indicator that shows you where you are in the menu doesn't stand out enough so you never know where you are.
I use the mk 35. I can see everything in the field, 2.5X gives you wonderful FOV.
The 60mm with have better heat gathering for sure, but the 35 is just so nice to acquire targets. At 100 yards I get great left to right coverage, buy you're going to want the 60mm in my opinion.
I would definately do the 60.
AND get the ultimate night Vision battery pack and hunt all night with his ANKER battery. I run 12 hours straight on the 60 megahertz settings and that is much better than any 123 option.
I hunt coyotes and my rig is a precision outfit so I'm already heavy. I've seen two reap irs, the joysticks suck. The menus jump around, the indicator that shows you where you are in the menu doesn't stand out enough so you never know where you are.
I use the mk 35. I can see everything in the field, 2.5X gives you wonderful FOV.
The 60mm with have better heat gathering for sure, but the 35 is just so nice to acquire targets. At 100 yards I get great left to right coverage, buy you're going to want the 60mm in my opinion.
I would definately do the 60.
AND get the ultimate night Vision battery pack and hunt all night with his ANKER battery. I run 12 hours straight on the 60 megahertz settings and that is much better than any 123 option.
For a dedicated thermal sight I'd buy the MKIII. If you want the function of a monocular and sight in one unit then REAP-IR.
Since it seems like you don't mind dropping some coin to do it right, I'd get a MKIII for sight and then either a M300W or Skeetir for scanning. I personally love my M300W.
Since it seems like you don't mind dropping some coin to do it right, I'd get a MKIII for sight and then either a M300W or Skeetir for scanning. I personally love my M300W.
Pulsar had different lenses that mount on the Helion Xp series only, at SHOT.
It seemed a tad cumbersome to remove and install.. certainly something that
if one practiced would become easier.. the Rep had to fumble around a bit when
demonstrating how the lens came off and went on.
It seemed a tad cumbersome to remove and install.. certainly something that
if one practiced would become easier.. the Rep had to fumble around a bit when
demonstrating how the lens came off and went on.
