Clip on Thermals

[Daggaboy375]

Got an itch.
Clip on, as in clip on daytime scope, not rail.
Stand hunting for deer, pigs, etc under 150 yards.
To be used on VX 5 HD’s.
Blasers R8’s from 22-250 to 30-06.
Kinda looking at ATN Tico 6 256 or AGM Rattler V2- C 256.
Both around $1K.
Any thoughts or experience?
DB

 

[BenKK]

Following with interest.

 

[farmer_john]

Got an itch.
Clip on, as in clip on daytime scope, not rail.
Stand hunting for deer, pigs, etc under 150 yards.
To be used on VX 5 HD’s.
Blasers R8’s from 22-250 to 30-06.
Kinda looking at ATN Tico 6 256 or AGM Rattler V2- C 256.
Both around $1K.
Any thoughts or experience?
DB

We used agm rattler 2s last hog hunt we had about 6 guns with them. Of various models.
If your scanning with them like we do lower power is good. As well hook up to tablets and unclip and aim out window while patrolling for saunders. If your just still hunting doesnt matter.
But if your in the swamps or close quarters low mag helps wider fov.
The v3 rattlers have a lrf in them and will adjust the internal reticle to the bullets entered ballistic data for you.

But you can also use as a straight clip on and use your optics native reticle.

 

[Red Leg]

I have the Leica Calonox and it is an amazing piece of tech. I typically pair it with a Leica ERi and .223 barrel on an R8. It allows you to employ the scope's crosshairs, and I have noticed no change in impact.

 

[Andrew62]

I hunted bush pigs in Africa using my guides Pard night vision scope adapter on my .308. It worked really slick. I’m sorry I do not know more about what model we were using. I can say it clipped on my gun really easy and at 50 yards I could see really clearly.

 

[Hooked Now]

@Goose Cracker may have something to add?

 

[bashaw]

Got an itch.
Clip on, as in clip on daytime scope, not rail.
Stand hunting for deer, pigs, etc under 150 yards.
To be used on VX 5 HD’s.
Blasers R8’s from 22-250 to 30-06.
Kinda looking at ATN Tico 6 256 or AGM Rattler V2- C 256.
Both around $1K.
Any thoughts or experience?
DB

Good subject, waiting to learn more

 

[Xpraetor]

Need to get some clarity on what you consider a "clip on", as for most a "clip on" or inline thermal means the thermal optic sits in front of the scope or daylight optic & the unit doesn't have a reticle ....

As for the AGM Rattler V2 it is a good entry level thermal optic, which is a hell of lot lighter than an Armasight (ATN) ThOR 320 2x Enhanced Thermal.
The "256" is the baseline option & will have limitations primarily with range/distance, whatever optic you pair it with is not more powerful than the "256" range. Also, latency & refresh rate are the biggest issue. The higher up you go in numbers & $$$$ , the better the refresh rate.
You gave a price of $1K, and "C 256" which means it is the 19-256 (don't know of a clip on in 25-256), but for the 19 , 1000yd is its limit, so you'll be good, but the Leupold VX 5 1-5x24 or 2-10x42 would be the preferred model of scope. However, $1K for that model is high, when Full Retail is $950 , may want to shop around, I've seen those for as low $789

Also, be sure using a thermal, even in daylight, is legal in your state.

We have the Rattler V2 35-384 rifle optic, so it has a reticle

And I've had a bit of time behind a ThOR 320

The ATN TiCO would be my preferred choice , better VOx , but I am also biased as I have more experience with ATN products

 

[V.Veritas]

I have used a friend’s HikMicro clip-on in Europe and found it to be very good to over 250 yrs. A feature that I’ve enjoyed was the auto record of every shot. Somehow it saved several seconds before and after every shot/ recoil impulse.

 

[farmer_john]

Need to get some clarity on what you consider a "clip on", as for most a "clip on" or inline thermal means the thermal optic sits in front of the scope or daylight optic & the unit doesn't have a reticle ....

As for the AGM Rattler V2 it is a good entry level thermal optic, which is a hell of lot lighter than an Armasight (ATN) ThOR 320 2x Enhanced Thermal.
The "256" is the baseline option & will have limitations primarily with range/distance, whatever optic you pair it with is not more powerful than the "256" range. Also, latency & refresh rate are the biggest issue. The higher up you go in numbers & $$$$ , the better the refresh rate.
You gave a price of $1K, and "C 256" which means it is the 19-256 (don't know of a clip on in 25-256), but for the 19 , 1000yd is its limit, so you'll be good, but the Leupold VX 5 1-5x24 or 2-10x42 would be the preferred model of scope. However, $1K for that model is high, when Full Retail is $950 , may want to shop around, I've seen those for as low $789

Also, be sure using a thermal, even in daylight, is legal in your state.

We have the Rattler V2 35-384 rifle optic, so it has a reticle

View attachment 781309
View attachment 781310View attachment 781311

And I've had a bit of time behind a ThOR 320
View attachment 781315
View attachment 781316

The ATN TiCO would be my preferred choice , better VOx , but I am also biased as I have more experience with ATN products

You can turn the reticle off. Or ignore it. It will shoot true to the scopes aimpoint

 

[Xpraetor]

You can turn the reticle off. Or ignore it. It will shoot true to the scopes aimpoint

The "Clip On" model has a reticle? Didn't know that, cool feature ..... makes it versatile
And yes, you are right, one could mount a rifle version in line with a scope and ignore the reticle , but dam that would be one hell of a long mount & even more cumbersome from weight.

 

[farmer_john]

The "Clip On" model has a reticle? Didn't know that, cool feature ..... makes it versatile
And yes, you are right, one could mount a rifle version in line with a scope and ignore the reticle , but dam that would be one hell of a long mount & even more cumbersome from weight.

We use red dots for hog hunting. The thermal optic itself has magnification so its not that bad.
We found out how true the collimation is in the optic as i took one from one our guys who was calling it a night and out on my rifle for that nights hunt 0 issues for hitting targets with my aimpoint also blue tooths to tabkets so others can see what youbsee and it records

 

[Xpraetor]

Yeah, the Bluetooth feature is pretty neat, my Son fools with that as I wasn't any good at getting it to tether ..... but y'all were using "red dots" which are low magnification, using a scope with higher magnification will give a different result. Pretty sure the Rattler V2 C 256 that the OP referenced isn't recommended for anything over 8x. The ideal range for a 256x192 is something that is in the Low range - 1 to 5, like an LPVO and a 24 or 30 objective.
Even the 35-384 "Clip On" version, which is higher in resolution like the 35-384 rifle optic version we have, the "Clip On" is only rated to 1 - 6 magnification (optimal) & an objective of 30, anything bigger will more than likely have collimation issues. Despite, the max on a 19-256 is 200yds.& I'd be willing to bet real world is more like 100yds. The max we get out of the 35-384 is 300yds , anything more than that will be more $$$$ and in the 50-640 level.
There are a ton of "influencers" who have videos out giving their opinions, and the AGM is popular for what it offers at a bargain price point which should be a street price below $900.

We have an AGM Rattle & it is good, but I again feel the ATN is better quality, it has a FLiR VOx , the scope/thermal interface is better , the end user process is easier .... the caveat is I am biased due to having a lot of time behind a heavier & older ATN ThOR model. My plan is to get an ATN for me & NOT let my Son use it.

 

[V.Veritas]

I have used a friend’s HikMicro clip-on in Europe and found it to be very good to over 250 yrs. A feature that I’ve enjoyed was the auto record of every shot. Somehow it saved several seconds before and after every shot/ recoil impulse.

 

[farmer_john]

Yeah, the Bluetooth feature is pretty neat, my Son fools with that as I wasn't any good at getting it to tether ..... but y'all were using "red dots" which are low magnification, using a scope with higher magnification will give a different result. Pretty sure the Rattler V2 C 256 that the OP referenced isn't recommended for anything over 8x. The ideal range for a 256x192 is something that is in the Low range - 1 to 5, like an LPVO and a 24 or 30 objective.
Even the 35-384 "Clip On" version, which is higher in resolution like the 35-384 rifle optic version we have, the "Clip On" is only rated to 1 - 6 magnification (optimal) & an objective of 30, anything bigger will more than likely have collimation issues. Despite, the max on a 19-256 is 200yds.& I'd be willing to bet real world is more like 100yds. The max we get out of the 35-384 is 300yds , anything more than that will be more $$$$ and in the 50-640 level.
There are a ton of "influencers" who have videos out giving their opinions, and the AGM is popular for what it offers at a bargain price point which should be a street price below $900.

We have an AGM Rattle & it is good, but I again feel the ATN is better quality, it has a FLiR VOx , the scope/thermal interface is better , the end user process is easier .... the caveat is I am biased due to having a lot of time behind a heavier & older ATN ThOR model. My plan is to get an ATN for me & NOT let my Son use it.

Lol extra mag on your rifle scope is useless when your staring at a small tv screen with it. Your going to get digital zoom in it to whatever the thermal can do.
The ones we were using were in the 2k ballpark and for hog hunting and sub 200m your right. There adequate. If you want to pop something farther your going to need some very pricy gear. And the rattler has like 4 variants ones like 900 others like 5k with bigger lense and furtger range. ( never used that one)

A dedicated thermal optic or a very $$$ clip on would be a good option