Thermal scopes can help you spot a game hiding behind a bush or other objects. As you can see the heat signature of your target, you can better estimate its size and distance, which can greatly help improve your accuracy. Best of all, they are an effective aid for your hunting anytime, whether day or night!
But which thermal scope should you pick? There are plenty of thermal scopes out there, but not all brands can manage to provide such excellent performance within a budget like the Pulsar thermal scopes. This is reflected in various awards that Pulsar thermal scopes have won regularly as a recognition of their performance and service provided to the hunting community, from the Golden Bullseye Awards to the Great British Shooting Awards.
This roundup post about Pulsar Thermal Scopes will discuss everything about their history to the best Pulsar Thermal Scopes you can pick for the money!
Why pick Pulsar Thermal Scopes over other thermal scopes?
Increased stability
When you’re using a regular thermal scope, some vibration or movement can make it difficult to keep the crosshairs on the target. But with a pulsar thermal scope, this isn’t an issue because their thermal scopes are designed to provide stability by reducing vibrations.
Excellent thermal sensitivity
When you’re hunting, all sorts of distractions can take your focus away from the shot. But with a pulsar thermal scope, you’ll see your target more clearly and tune out everything else around you, as their thermal scopes come with the best thermal sensitivity. While most thermal scopes out there have a thermal sensitivity of less than 50 mK, which is considered excellent, Pulsar Thermal Scopes range from 25 mK to 40 mK.
Advanced features at an affordable price
Pulsar thermal scopes offer unbeatable value. These products offer features and performance that rival much more expensive brands, but they’re available at a fraction of the cost.
Pulsar thermal scopes offer advanced features and functions that other brands simply don’t in that particular price range. For example, Pulsar’s Helion thermal scopes include a built-in camera that allows you to stream live video to your smartphone or tablet or the 16GB storage facility of Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50.
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Best Pulsar Thermal Scopes for professional hunters
1. Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50
Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50 is an excellent investment for any serious hunter, as it can be used in any weather, whether it is falling rain or covered with layers of foggy mist. Here is a short overview of the features you will get with this Pulsar Thermal Scope.
Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50 is packed with a NETD 40mK thermal sensor, the finest thermal sensor you can use. As a result, it can provide you with the clearest hit signature mapping regardless of the weather or the light condition.
Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50 is built with magnesium alloy, which provides its two-fold benefits. Firstly, the magnesium alloy makes it quite compatible with rifle strong recoils. Secondly, magnesium alloy makes its body more stable by reducing vibrations.
Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50 comes with a display that is fully HD. So when it comes to the quality of the image, you are getting the crispiest image quality.
It has a battery capacity of 8 hours to withstand your full day of hunting endeavors.
With a long detection range of 1800 meters and a magnification capability of 8x zoom, it can get you shot with much more precision and accuracy.
Best of all, It gets started in just 3 seconds, so you don’t need to wait for ages.
Pulsar XG50
Pulsar XG50 has similar material of magnesium alloy and a built-in memory of 16GB like the previous models we discussed, Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50. But the biggest difference between these is that the Pulsar XG50 has a detection range of more than 2300 meters, whereas the Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50 has a detection range of 1800 meters.
Another difference is that the Pulsar XG50 starts up instantly, whereas the Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50 takes almost 3 seconds. So the Pulsar XG50 got the edge here.
Besides these differences, Pulsar XG50 has similar battery life, magnification, and display type. It is a Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50 alternative if you want longer range coverage while hunting.
Pulsar Trail LRF XP38
Unlike the previous two Thermal Scopes, this Pulsar Trail LRF XP38 has a display of 640×480 resolution. So the resolution is half of those two models, although it’s got an AMOLED display too. But this doesn’t mean it is any less capable.
It has a long battery capacity of 8 hours, which is on par with the Pulsar XG50 and XP50.
Pulsar Trail LRF XP38 has a detection range of about 1350 meters, considering it has a variable zoom up to 8X.
Besides that, it is waterproof, so you don’t need to worry about rain or get wet from fog or mist. Pulsar Trail LRF XP38 can withstand up to 30 minutes in water.
However, it has one drawback, which is its price. Compared to other Pulsar Thermal Scopes in the same price range, it doesn’t live up to expectations due to the display and shorter detection range.
Best Pulsar Thermal Scopes for amateur hunters
Pulsar Trail LRF XQ38F
Pulsar Trail LRF XQ38F is an affordable thermal scope for amateur hunters rather than professional ones. Its cost is less and so do the features, but it’s a compact thermal scope if you are an occasional hunter.
The display has a decent resolution of 384×288 pixels. But don’t put it off your list by comparing its resolution with the Pulsar Trail 2 LRF XP50 or XG50. This is just the sensor resolution, not the display resolution.
It has a great AMOLED display of 1024×768 pixels with a detection range up to 1300 meters. The only downside is the magnification, which is a bit less compared to other Pulsar Thermal Scopes.
So, If you have a decent hunting experience and need reliable Thermal Scopes at an affordable price, this is one of the best Pulsar Thermal Scopes for amateur hunters.
Pulsar Thermion XQ50
Another excellent Pulsar Thermal Scope for the money, Pulsar Thermion XQ50, has even better features than the Pulsar Trail LRF XQ38F. Although both have a display resolution of 384×288 pixels, Pulsar Thermion XQ50 has the edge regarding Detection Range. Pulsar Thermion XQ50 boasts an excellent detection range of 1828 meters, making it one of the best Pulsar Thermal Scopes at an affordable price if you are looking for a longer detection range.
The downsides it has is the magnification and the battery life. The magnification is decent, starting from 3.5x. As for the battery life, it is known to provide a battery life of 6 hours. But if you consider the price and quality of the Pulsar Thermion XQ50, 6 hours of battery life is something that most amateur hunters will gladly accept.
What to check before buying thermal scopes
Resolution
Simply put, the resolution is the number of pixels that make up the image on the screen.
A higher resolution scope will allow you to zoom in more without losing image quality. If you plan on doing any long-range hunting, being able to zoom in is crucial. With a lower resolution scope, zooming in too much will result in a grainy and distorted image. But with a higher resolution scope like 640*480, you can zoom in as much as you need without losing clarity.
However, a thermal scope with a higher resolution will cost you significantly more.
Thermal sensitivity
Thermal sensitivity measures the scope’s ability to detect small temperature differences. This is important because it will affect how well you can see your target. You’ll want to think about the environment you’ll be hunting in. If it’s a cold environment, you’ll need a scope with higher thermal sensitivity so you can still see your target.
Thermal sensitivity is measured in Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference (NETD). Furthermore, the NETD values are measured in millikelvin (mK). Thermal Scopes with a NETD value lower than 50 mK are ideal for hunting.
Magnification
How much magnification do you need in your thermal scope? Most experts agree that a magnification of around four to-6x is ideal for hunting with a thermal scope. This provides enough magnification to get a good view of your target without being so powerful that it makes it difficult to track your prey.
Lens Diameter
As for your thermal scopes lens diameter, you need to consider the size of the area you’ll be scanning with your scope. If you’re only looking at a small area, then a smaller lens diameter might be all you need. However, if you’re scanning a large area, you’ll want a larger lens diameter to ensure you don’t miss anything.
Also, you need to consider the amount of light available when you’re using your scope. Using your scope in low light conditions, you’ll need a larger lens diameter to let in more light. But a smaller lens diameter will be fine if you’re using your scope in bright conditions.
Refresh Rate
When hunting, the ideal refresh rate for a thermal scope depends on the situation. If you are hunting in an area with a lot of movement, then a standard refresh rate like 30hz to 50hz will be better to see the animals more clearly.
However, if you are hunting in an area where there is not a lot of movement, then a lower refresh rate will be better so that you can save battery life.
Scope Detection Range
What is the ideal Scope Detection Range for hunting thermal scope? Well, there is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on several factors, including the type of game you are hunting, the terrain you will be hunting in, and your personal preferences. However, many experts recommend a scope detection range of at least 1,000 yards for hunting thermal scope. This will allow you to spot games at a distance and make accurate shots.
Reticle Options
There are many different types of reticles available for thermal hunting scopes. The most popular options are the duplex, crosshair, and circle dot.
The duplex reticle is the most basic option and is simply a crosshair with two thin lines running vertically and horizontally through the center. This type of reticle is best for general hunting and can be used for various games.
The crosshair reticle is similar to the duplex, but instead of two thin lines, there is a single thick line running through the center. This type of reticle is best for target shooting and can be used to take down smaller games.
The circle dot reticle is the most advanced option and is a crosshair with a small circle in the center. This type of reticle is best for long-range shooting and can be used to take down larger games.
Warranty
Before you purchase any thermal scope, do your research to ensure you understand what is and isn’t covered.
Most manufacturers offer a warranty on their products, but it’s important to know what is covered and what isn’t. For example, thermal scope warranties typically cover defects in materials and craft. This means that if your scope breaks because of a manufacturing flaw, you should be able to get it repaired or replaced under warranty.
However, some things are not typically covered by thermal scope warranties. For example, damage from normal wear and tear, misuse, or modifications is usually not covered.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. When was P6ulsar Thermal Scopes first introduced?
Pulsar thermal scopes are a line of thermal scopes manufactured by Yukon Advanced Optics Worldwide since 2009. They are a Lithuania-based optics manufacturer that has been active in the optic market since 1991.
Q2. How difficult is it to update the firmware on a Pulsar rifle scope?
Quite effortless, contrary to what many people think. Here are the steps required to update the firmware of the Pulsar rifle scope
- Install Stream Vision App on your phone.
- Now turn the wifi on and connect the Pulsar thermal scope with your device
- Go to the Stream Vision App and download the update by clicking to check for updates
Q3. What does Pulsar’s Warranty policy cover?
A three years warranty covers all the Pulsar Thermal Scopes. This warranty includes defects in material and workmanship.
Q4. What is Pulsar’s Warranty policy on their thermal scopes battery?
Pulsar’s Warranty policy covers their thermal scopes battery for one year.
Final verdict
Although it’s up to the shooter to make the shot count, having a reliable thermal scope will help you have an edge. But having great quality thermal Scopes like Pulsar Trail LRF XP50 will take your hunting to another level. If you ask my opinion, any professional hunter with the budget to spend should get a Pulsar Trail LRF XP50 or XG50.
But if you want something affordable but still can manage to cover a great distance, Pulsar Thermion XQ50 is your best bet for the money.
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